Staying at the Drake,do I need a car?
 

Chicago will be our final destination after a week-long road trip with our rental car originating at ORD. The hotel parking is $45 per day. Should we drop off the rental car after we arrive in Chicago? Airport shuttle from the hotel would be $50 for the 2 of us. We are staying 3 nights.
This is our first trip to Chicago and will be seeing the normal tourist sites. Does the Drake have easy access to public transport to museums and such?

Or is there a cheaper option to park nearby other than the hotel parking?

I would definitely drop the car off. You'd be paying $45/day for the parking and however much more the rental would cost you.

How much luggage do you have? train from ORD would be $2.25 each. If you don't have too much stuff, that's an option too.

The Drake is easily accessible to transportation. If you want specific directions to something, just ask, there's plenty here who know the CTA well. Cabs around the area won't be too bad either.

+1

You can drop off the car in the city. There is a Hertz office in the Westin on Michigan Ave, which I think is very close to the Drake. We generally stay at the Park Hyatt, and pick up our Hertz car when we are ready to leave the city. We used to use Avis, but their office is quite a bit further from where we stay, so not nearly as convenient.

We have never had a drop charge when renting in the city and dropping at ORD or the reverse. It saves substantial time to drop the car in the city.

That's a good call. If OP can find a drop near the Drake, swing by the Drake, drop luggage off/check in, then go drop the car.

You definitely don't need a car in that area. I live two blocks away from the Drake and you can get anywhere in the area by public transportation, cab or walking (the weather is getting better daily).

Shuttle for $50 to the Drake? Take a cab - it will be quicker (no other stops) and actually cheaper (~$37 before tip).

The Westin on Michigan Avenue which SanDiego1K refers to is one block away from the Drake.

No real cheap parking options in the area, sorry to say.

Appreciate all the responses, thank you. Rental car will be Hertz.

Going from the Drake to all the normal attractions, what form of transit card should I purchase that's applicable to all modes of public transportation ?

Depends on how much you are using. Probably just put money in the transit card machine, and a transit card would come out.

If you think you are only going to one museum a day, which involve two bus rides, just put money in a transit card would be enough. As it would only cost $4.

If you think you would do more rides, then maybe a one day pass, it cost $5.75. One day pass in chicago CTA is good as it is actually a 24 hour pass.

One day pass can only buy from Walgreens, CVS, etc, not from train station transit card machines though.

For more fare information:
http://www.transitchicago.com/travel...s/default.aspx

For Museum of Science and Industry (and Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House in Hyde Park), the Metra Electric Line (www.metrarail.com) is more pleasant and faster than the bus, though you have to walk about 3 blocks. Get off at 55th/56th/57th Street, exit at the southern end of the station, and turn left. A couple of excellent bookstores (Powell's and O'Gara and Wilson) are within 2 blocks west (the other way) on 57th.

Same line takes you from Millennium Station to Museum Campus (second stop) for Field Museum and Aquarium, but it's only 1.5 miles, so a cab is better. Or it makes a nice walk in pleasant weather.

Metra has a $5 weekend-long pass (unless they raised it, which they were talking about).

Definitely drop the car. The money you save could be used for cabs, which are pretty reasonably priced for a big city. Then again with public transit you can save even more.

There are a bunch of express buses that go to the Museum Campus too from the Michigan Avenue area.

No need AT ALL for a car there in Chicago- if anything it'd be more of a hassle. You can take public transportation or cabs to anywhere in the city. And both are extremely reasonable. I live walking distance from there and take advantage of all that the city has to offer.

PM me if you want more information about getting around- or what to do while you're in town. :) I'm more than willing to help!

+1, I live nearby as well and most of the places you will go, except Science and Industry will be a $5 to $10 cab ride away. You are in a great location to visit, enjoy your trip.

Thank you very much. You all are so kind. We are on a road trip to my husband's college reunion, will look forward to Chicago in a few days. Keep the suggestions coming.