Accomodation help in Chicago
 

Message: Hello,

I will be flying into either Chicago ORD or Chicago Midway. My flight arrives on a Friday morning (from NYC) at about 11am. After my flight gets in, I need to go to the hotel, check in, change, and then get to Northwestern (Evanston Campus) as soon as possible.


I then need to spend a good part of Saturday in the University of Chicago Business School (Hyde Park Campus)

Could you please tell me:

a)Best way (using public transport) to get to these Universities

b)Good location to stay which offers access to downtown Chicago (the tourist areas, as my nephew will be visiting the city with me) and also offers public transportation to these Universities. I am looking for an area which has a range of hotels to choose from, as I am looking at budget hotels.


Thanks
RJ

A few quick thoughts:
-stay downtown (between both campuses)
-if budget is an issue: Priceline!
-CTA red line runs to Northwestern
-no CTA trains (only bus) to U. of C., but you can take Metra Electric

Edited to note that the CTA green line does run to U of C as posted below. Oops. I guess it's just my own experience that I never took it when I lived in Hyde Park as a kid...

To get to Northwestern on the train you first have to go into downtown Chicago and then change

Enterprise rents to people under 25 if that is an issue. You dont say when you are going but Oct 8-10 is family weekend at Northwesten , all hotels are booked solid :(

The University of Chicago has negotiated some excellent rates with a number of Chicago hotels. You can find the list at http://adminet.uchicago.edu/adminres...uofchotels.pdf. The Homewood Suites at $119 for a double is a good value. It includes evening snacks and morning breakfast, as well as being in a terrific location for sightseeing.

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Its pretty easy getting to all of these places via public transportation. The CTA (the "El") runs trains from each airport into the Loop (the center of the city). The train is pretty well marked at each airport and there will be staff at the stations that can assist you further. The Blue line is from O'Hare and the Orange line is from Midway.

Once in the Loop, you will have to change trains to get to your hotel (if staying in River North, which is the focus of the tourist area and has tons of entertainment/dining options) you'll most likely be transferring to the Red line.

To get to Evanston, you'll have to either take the Red line north to the end and then transfer to the Purple line, or if you're going during weekday rush hour, you can take the Purple line from downtown. The campus is a relatively short walk from the Purple line stations.

To get to the Univ of Chgo, you'll be taking the Green line south and again taking a relatively short walk.

Check out the CTA's website at www.transitchicago.com. One of its features is the trip planner which will give you step-by-step directions to get from any address in the city to any other address in the city and lets you plan by fastest route, shortest walking route, etc.

I hope these are not the OP's dates - that is also the weekend of the Chicago Marathon, and a huge graphics trade show also starts at McCormick Place.

Hi,

I plan to arrive in Chicago either on the 14th night or the 15th morning from NYC.

I have a few questions:

a) Can I take the CTA from Midway to NMA?. If so, what is the fare per adult, do they allow luggage (including one full sized suitcase) and how long will the journey take?

b) What are the stations that are near the hotels on NMA, and how long would I take from one of those stations to Foster Station, assuming I have to change from the red line to the purple line?

c) Is there any good map (online) of Chicago which shows all the hotels in the NMA/Loop area?

Thats all I can think of for now.

Thanks for your help
RJ

Yes. Follow the signs to the CTA train station. You'll be at the end of the Orange Line. Take that to State/Lake. When you get off at State/Lake, you'll be on the Loop elevated tracks. The Red Line is subway. You have to exit the station, go down the the street, then go down to the subway. Get on that northbound to the stop closest to your hotel. It'll either be 1 stop to Grand or 2 stops to Chicago. Alternate to the Red transfer is to just hail a cab when you get off the Orange Line. It should be about $5 to your hotel and will be much easier.

Luggage isn't a problem. All train fares are $1.75. You have to get a fare card, which you can get at the vending machines at Midway.

Either Grand Ave or Chicago Ave on the Red Line, which runs under State St at that point. State is 3 short blocks west of Michigan Ave.

Time depends on time of day. If it's rush hour and the Purple Express is running, get off at Fullerton and get on a purple train. At Fullerton, Red runs on the inside tracks, Brown and Purple on the outside. If the Purple Express isn't running, stay on the Red to the north end of the line, Howard St and transfer to Purple there.

Express should take about 45. Local about an hour. However, if you absolutely have to be there for an appointment, I would recommend allowing at least 30 minutes of buffer time. I have watched a Purple depart from Howard as we pulled in and ended up sitting for 20 minutes more times than I can count.

I lived in Hyde Park for 7 years.

Best way IMO to U of Chicago from downtown is the Metra Electric line. (www.metrarail.com) The beginning stop is a Michigan/Randolph. Check the schedule as they may not run as often as you'd like. Also make sure you get on the right train, verifying with the conductor or with the number on the front.

Fare is $5 flat all weekend unlimited (Sat/Sun), kids under 12 (I think) free accompanying an adult. Get off at 59th or 55/56/57th (all stop here). Right next to the Museum of Science and Industry, which you should not miss, either. Then a few blocks' walk.

I never took the Green line. My guess is that Metra would be more comfortable for you.

To/from Evanston you have to take a different train, about which I don't know much. It's a different station, too. Someone else posted about that.

You could rent a car, which will save quite a bit of time. It might cost about the same as all these train fares. Parking is not cheap downtown, though.

"Budget" hotels are hard to find in Chicago. Try Hotwire and you may find a deal, even if it's a busy time. My brother once got a room at the Sheraton (on the river near Michigan, rack rate $225 or something) for $80, even during Taste Of Chicago (food festival), which attracts millions. Concentrate your search on hotel in "the Loop" or "North Michigan (Magnificent Mile)". 3-star or higher should be fine. The Palmer House is a real nice, solid hotel in a good location. Often can find rooms for about $125, even less if lucky.

Most tourist sites are pretty close by cab if need be, and many can be reached on foot. If you are going to do a lot of tourist sites, consider a CityPass to save money on admissions.

You can always stay at the Youth Hostel for about $28 a person or so. I think it's at Wabash/Congress.

To tie this thread with another one, here is a good map from the RSNA convention web site.