Chicago vacation in December (Waukegan, Cicero: renting, hotels, safe neighborhoods)

[808Jen]

I've been browsing these forums for the past few days and have a couple of specific questions to ask.

My partner and I will be visiting Chicago (to see the Bears Vs. Packers game, 12/13/09) 12/09/09 - 12/15/09. I've been looking on the travel sites and need some assistance on hotel location. We don't need to be especially close to Soldier field since we'll only be there one day. The two cheapest hotel deals are in Elk Grove; Hazel Crest, Waukegan, and Bridgeview are the areas following Elk Grove. Are these locations far from the tourist attractions? Would we be better off spending more money and staying in Downtown Chicago? Are they safe neighborhoods? One of the hotels looks a bit sketchy. Are there any cheaper hotels in Downtown Chicago you can recommend?

We won't be renting a car and plan to get the passes offered on transitchicago.com. Does the 7-day CTA/Pace pass inclue the El? I see some of the boat tours are "limited" during the winter. Is there a good chance it'll be closed in December or does it just depend on the weather?

People from the East Coast (that work with me) are laughing saying I'm crazy to travel to Chicago during December. Any tips on clothing? I'm coming from Hawai'i where it rarely gets below 65. LOL.

Feel free to chime in on places we should definitely visit. Remember, we'll be tourists so we may hit Navy Pier.

Thanks in advance and I can't wait to visit your fantastic city!!

[chet everett]

Well I don't think you are completely crazy, but it will be a BRUTAL adjustment IF our weather is a bad as can be for a Bears-Packers game. I have been to many such games, some of which were not too bad as I only had to wear about four layers of clothers, but others were just MISERABLE as we can get terrrible freezing rain, high winds and other not-meant-to-be-outdoors weather.

I have to say it would be extremely foolish to spend a lot of money on air fare and Bears tickets and then have a long unpredictable commute from anyplace. Far far smarter to stay at the McCormick Place Hyatt or Hilton on South Michigan Ave and WALK to Soldier Field. If you have any desire to visit the Chicago museums in the area that would also be very easy from such location, as well as huge range of restaurants. Elk Grove Village is far and noisy due to over flights from O'Hare, the other towns listed are LAUGHABLY FAR -- as in you would be a FOOL to stay there and then pay a fortune to get a cab to take you to game and quite possibly get stuck in weather related traffic tie and MISS THE VERY GAME you came in to see!

You are going to be at an EXTEREME risk of not having appropriate clothing. Even for people that live locally and get a little acclimatized to a harsh winter storm it is very different to dress for sitting out in Solider Field for 4 hours watching a Bears game. You MUST have multiple layers of clothing. As you will need to walk quite a distance even if you were to get a cab or take a shuttle bus to get close to the stadium you still must walk the equivalent of about half a mile to get from the drop off point to the seating area. During that time you will sweat at least a little. Then you will sit and the sweat can literally freeze through your clothes. Thus you MUST have multiple layers to move that sweat away, insulate the warm YOU from the cold SEAT and concrete. If you do not have the kind of boots worn by ski lift operators / snow mobile riders you will need to shop for that or at least some battery powered socks to keep the cold from numbing your toes.

The worst part about all this is even if you do load a suitcase with thousands of dollars in high tech winter gear there is chance we could have a day in the upper 50 or even low 60s and they you have to strip down to just a layer of polar fleece and drink fluids so you do not overheat.

Again : get a CLOSE hotel, bring clothes that might be needed on a Alaskan pipeline repair crew, if you plan correctly you will not need to use to public transit.

[entyss]

As far as hotels go, I agree with Chet. Bridgeview is a sketchy area, and the others are way too far to travel in the winter. Stay near Soldier Field and have fun. Chicago is amazing!

[OrangeAndBlue]

For hotels, just go to hotwire and book anything in the Mag Mile area. I would recommend that over staying down by Soldier Field. There are a lot more touristy things to do in that area, and for the one day when you are going to the stadium, you can just cab it there very quickly.
It will be cold (though you may get lucky and it won't be too bad), but Chicago during the holiday time offers a lot to do: go to the Christmas market in the Loop, ice skating in the park, shopping on Michigan Ave, etc.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by 808Jen

...Are these locations far from the tourist attractions?

Would we be better off spending more money and staying in Downtown Chicago?...

...Does the 7-day CTA/Pace pass inclue the El?...

... I see some of the boat tours are "limited" during the winter. Is there a good chance it'll be closed in December or does it just depend on the weather?...

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes and no. Only the larger boats (Dinner and drink cruises) run in the Winter as far as I know.

Chicago Lakefront Dining Cruises at Navy Pier | Spirit of Chicago

Chicago dinner cruises from Navy Pier aboard Chicago's Mystic Blue Cruises

Odyssey Dinner, Lunch and Brunch Cruises in Boston, Chicago and Washington DC

[cordeliachase1974]

Even for people that live locally and get a little acclimatized to a harsh winter storm it is very different to dress for sitting out in Solider Field for 4 hours watching a Bears game.

I completely agree with this. I have season tickets to the Bears, and the December games can be absolutely brutal. The wind from the lake can really rip around the stadium. In addition to layering, make sure you have a hat, scarf, and warm gloves. You may also consider bringing a stadium blanket.

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by entyss

As far as hotels go, I agree with Chet. Bridgeview is a sketchy area, and the others are way too far to travel in the winter. Stay near Soldier Field and have fun. Chicago is amazing!

I've stayed in a few hotels in Bridgeview and there aren't many to choose from. I wouldn't exactly call it sketchy but if you're looking at 79th St yes that could possibly be sketchy. Spend the money and stay downtown as everyone is instructing you; the weather can be so unpredictable that you might not get from Bridgeview to the game in a major snow storm. What you may save in transportation will make up the difference of a room downtown. I wish you luck; this could be one heck of an experience for someone from Hawaii.

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by myrc60

I've stayed in a few hotels in Bridgeview and there aren't many to choose from. I wouldn't exactly call it sketchy but if you're looking at 79th St yes that could possibly be sketchy.

Who mentioned 79th street?

Motels around 79th and Cicero are for a '4 hour nap'!

[Venom]

Early December isn't always that cold...

January and February is what you should be worried about.

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by Manigault

Who mentioned 79th street?

Motels around 79th and Cicero are for a '4 hour nap'!

Bridgeview is not 79th and Cicero; Bridgeview is 79th and Harlem to Ridgeland. OP mentioned Bridgeview but you must have missed it.