How much money should I save for a 7-day trip in Chicago? (Lincoln: apartment, rentals)

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by madeyes4u

Thanks so much for answering me this fast. Do you know any decent, cheap hotels/ motels in Chicago? I'm really not looking for a sleazebag of a motel, nor do I have the money to pay for an expensive one.

I'm a little afraid of hostels at the moment, too. Does anyone know of any reasonably priced motels/hotels in the city?

Go to hotwire.com. Any hotel downtown that is 3 stars and above will not be bad. You can get one for between $60 and $100 a night easily if you plan ahead enough.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by madeyes4u

What specific details do you need?

I plan on using the bus or a taxi as transportation. (Do people even really use Chicago taxi??) I also plan on staying in a cheap hotel...if there are any.

I can recommend this place for a cheap stay downtown.

Lots of people use taxis. For example in the winter I usually commute to work via taxi (because I'm lazy). And tourists who aren't trying to save money use them a lot, too. And young professionals out for a night of barhopping or eating out. Not usually budget travelers, though.

For four days, not including the cost of getting to Chicago, you could probably spend anywhere from $500 at the low end to around $1,000 at the mid-range, to, well, as high as you wanted to go.

[aragx6]

You could do it for less, but I would say, with Amtrak fare, you'd probably want $1000-$1500.

Also, don't discount drinking in Chicago. That's one of my favorite things

[Chicago60614]

If you're not going crazy on spending, you can easily just eat food at more cheap places, find cheap drinks, and spend a LOT of time doing free things like wandering downtown, going to Navy Pier, etc.

Can you come during the week, or weekend? You can get by on $100 a day or less if you're not going crazy (not counting hotel!). I've gone to NYC and cities in Europe and basically only spent $20-$30 on food the entire day and spent the rest of it exploring and doing outside activities.

It's only when you start going to shows, museums, etc. that expenses pile up.

[knitgirl]

Originally Posted by emathias

I can recommend this place for a cheap stay downtown.

Lots of people use taxis. For example in the winter I usually commute to work via taxi (because I'm lazy). And tourists who aren't trying to save money use them a lot, too. And young professionals out for a night of barhopping or eating out. Not usually budget travelers, though.

For four days, not including the cost of getting to Chicago, you could probably spend anywhere from $500 at the low end to around $1,000 at the mid-range, to, well, as high as you wanted to go.

I second emathias's recommendation of airbnb, just make sure the location is where you want to be. Also when you say downtown, what do you really mean? Our downtown is the business center which includes The Loop. If you just mean you want to be near cool stuff to do, at your age, Wicker Park/Bucktown or Lakeview might be more fun.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by emathias

I can recommend this place for a cheap stay downtown.

Stuff like that is kinda creepy.

[GreatLakesDrifter]

Originally Posted by madeyes4u

I'll be coming from Columbus, Ohio & I'll most likely take Amtrak all the way to Chicago. I'm very excited, but kind of nervous at the same time. Any tips? You guys are pretty smart, so that's why I've come here instead of Yelp lol

As for the getting here part, you might want to take a look at Megabus; more than likely it will be a cheaper option than Amtrak and could leave you with a bit more money for when you're actually here.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by GreatLakesDrifter

As for the getting here part, you might want to take a look at Megabus; more than likely it will be a cheaper option than Amtrak and could leave you with a bit more money for when you're actually here.

Right on.

[css9450]

Originally Posted by madeyes4u

I'll be coming from Columbus, Ohio & I'll most likely take Amtrak all the way to Chicago.

Not from Columbus, you're not. Amtrak doesn't go there.

Like the others, I recommend the bus.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by css9450

Not from Columbus, you're not. Amtrak doesn't go there.

Nice catch.