Hello,

Heading to Chicago for 3 days and wondering if renting a car or actually using the CTA is a good or bad idea/advice?

Groupon has a $9 Three Day Pass for sale,which I got,but my friend that is staying longer was thinking of renting a car for us. She will be there until midweek where I am only going on the weekend.

Thanks for your time. Have a wonderful day.

What are you planning on doing? Where are you planning on going?

If you are just going to do the tourist sites in the downtown (central business district) area, then a car will be an expensive nuisance.

If your travels will take you beyond the city borders, then a car may be a necessity.

If you are going to be going to be visiting places outside the downtown area, but still within the city, a car may or may not be useful, depending on how widespread your travel will be (will you want to visit the NW side and the South Shore area all on the same day?), what kind of neighborhoods you want to visit (do you have a desire to explore the inner city?), and what time of day you will be traveling (beyond the lakefront and the area within walking distance of the Red and Blue lines there is minimal public transport in the wee hours).

Planning on staying near O'hare. I want to see Sears Tower (new name I heard) and The Bean,and that theater where the sign Chicago is located in.

And to eat anywhere,not picky where just want good eats while in Chicago.

A car would be an expensive burden. Assuming your O'Hare hotel has a shuttle to or easy access to a Blue Line station, the train and, if needed, a taxi here or there will be cheaper, easier, and more convenient (not to mention, faster during rush hours) to get to and see the downtown sights.

Also, consider staying downtown - there are a lot of not-too-expensive hotels and you can take the train directly from the airport to downtown.

Agreed. Not worth taking a car downtown. The CTA is good enough to take you to the places you want to go, whether it's by train or bus. A car for your friend, however, would be doable if she plans to go places outside of downtown. Metered parking isn't too hard to find in neighborhoods in the North or Far North Side.

The reason why I would want to stay in the Westin (rosemont) because she will stay early part of the week for her job. But I have seen a hotel called Essex Inn in Chicago,reviews seem ok and I believe it has a train stop near by.

So I think I want to stay in downtown now and just take the train back to O'Hare and she can stay in the Westin.

I think I will try to convince her to rent her car from Sunday to Wednesday.

I already paid for two CTA passes for three days which should be handy if we stay in Rosemont or Downtown Chicago.

The Essex is kind of crummy.

A car downtown will cost $30+ a day to park. Then more to park if you move it. Not worth it.

Crummy huh,well that is good to hear before booking. What location would you recommend,using hotels.com

I have been hearing that as far as parking rates.

Just want something walking distance to most things or hop on public transportation and go.

Thanks for your information

You have to give us travel dates and your budget. Many downtown properties are relatively inexpensive on weekends. Essex's location is Ok, close to tourist sites and public transportation; it's just the hotel is a bit rundown.

Arriving Thursday March 7 to Sunday March 10. I am thinking no more then $450.

Groupon has about three options right now and was offering the Essex Inn,Lincoln and another hotel.

I have been looking at Hotels.com and there are a few that interest me but would like to be close to a train stop and near or walking distance to some attractions.

Well...a quick look reveals a number of options better than Essex. Lincoln is OK, but slightly farther north than I would have liked.

Hyatt Regency Chicago and Hyatt Magnificent Mile offer pre-paid rates in $125 - $135 range (under $450 total). Sheraton Chicago Towers and W Lakeshore from *wood, newly redone Doubletree and Embassy Suites from Hilton, Courtyard Mag Mile from Marriott, and boutique Sax and Allerton are also options.

All of the above are close to all the downtown tourist places, although maybe a bit of a walk from CTA Blue Line. Magnificent Mile is more fun at night than the Loop. Enjoy the city!

Thank You for your suggestions and help,very much appreciated.

Ok,but do you think it will snow to be out and about,maybe my silly mind thinking it will be hard to walk around.

I Will!

Hilton Doubletree Mag Mile @ $109 looks decent. Rates are a bit high that weekend for some reason. Maybe some folks from the big Home and Housewares Show ending on the 5th are staying a few extra days. And there is a Bulls game the 8th.

I have never been in the Hotel Lincoln. It may be nice, but as legalalien says, a bit north. Looks like $89 Groupon Junior Suite availability for your dates. Check TripAdvisor.

Often Priceline/Hotwire (4-star level?) downtown will get you the Hyatt Regency on Wacker (the river). Perfectly fine hotel and location, couple long blocks from Millennium Park one way and Mag Mile shopping the other.

First of all Thank You for your advice and information. Much Appreciated.

I actually been looking at this hotel for two days, my only wonder would be we will be arriving at around 11pm on Thursday night,and since I bought CTA passes I would love to milk the $9 value I paid for each on Groupon.

I notice I can take the blue line in but then probably get a taxi from the nearest station to this hotel. Google Map states to walk or take a bus,but my friend is not much of a public transportation person like I am,so at night I am sure she would love to take a cab from the airport to the hotel (expensive in my taste).

Taxis are pretty cheap in Chicago. I would take the Blue Line to State/Lake for $2.25 each and get a cab. Probably $5-7.

You could spend the first night by ORD. Could save some money and not have to worry about going into a strange city at night. Plenty of free shuttles from the airport to nearby hotels.

Cab from airport would be somewhere around $40+.