Visiting Chicago and confused...please help :) (Schiller Park, Irving: rental car, rental, hotels)

[AndreaSoup]

Hi - I hope someone can help me!

I am attending a wedding in the Logan Square neighborhood in April. My hotel is the Hilton at O'Hare.

1) How safe is it to take the Blue Line from O'Hare to the wedding (it's right off a stop), mid day on a Sunday, and then BACK to O'Hare around 8 PM? It will either be myself or me and my husband/small kids. Would I be better off renting a car for the one day?

2) We also have the option to fly into Midway. I don't think the transportation/accommodations there are as convenient, but it might be cheaper all around. How long would it take to get to Logan Square from Midway? And same time frame - around 1pm on a weekend day and back again around 8 or 9 pm.

Pre-kids I was all about adventure and exploring new places alone, etc. But I have become a big fat chicken in the last few years. Its' all overwhelming to me!!!

[Vlajos]

What is the price difference between the Midway vs. O'Hare stay and flights?

Personally, I would do O'Hare and use the Blue line. No need for a car.

[Drover]

Every single visitor to Chicago who uses the Blue Line to get into town gets mugged. It's considered part of the "Chicago experience." It sounds unpleasant but after you experience it once, you wouldn't want it any other way.

You don't even want to know what they do to visitors coming in from Midway on the Orange Line.

[Warsie]

Disregard the below statement:

Originally Posted by Drover

Every single visitor to Chicago who uses the Blue Line to get into town gets mugged. It's considered part of the "Chicago experience." It sounds unpleasant but after you experience it once, you wouldn't want it any other way.

You don't even want to know what they do to visitors coming in from Midway on the Orange Line.

[chet everett]

Folks the humor is probaly NOT HELPFUL.

First I have been to an awful lot of weedings in my lifetime I not once have I worn clothing that I would feel comfortable riding on the EL at 8PM on a Sunday. Short of having an Amish Hat you would not look more "out of towners". With the new cars being more "NYC" style the family will likely NOT be able to cluster together around the little kids. That is a BIG downside as even the most patient EL riders are not going to come your aid on a 8PM Sunday. I have also never been to wedding that broke up ON TIME and it would be nuts to try to "make up time" if for whatever reason there are delays for a wedding you are FLYING from out of town for. Did run this idea past your friends / relatives? I gotta think not even the greenest tree huggers would recommend relying on the El for a once-in-a-time event.

Get a rental car.

As for flying into Chicago I often do prefer the much LOWER FARES of SW and the relative ease of dealing with Midway which technically is less isolated than O'Hare but if you already have reservations at The O'Hare Hilton (which is far and away the freakiest hotel you ever likely to encounter as it is completely surrounded by the airport terminals and parking deck) I would cancel them. The only things that place is good for is hooking up with George Clooney and dealing with airport blizzards. It sucks. If you are OTOH staying at the "Hilton Garden Inn O'Hare you have a vastly different problem. Though this place is MUCH more children friendly and NOT swirling in Jet Fuel Fumes and Exhaust it is actually in DesPlaines and as such is one of the cheapest places to stay anywhere near either airport. Although it is right up the street from the casino in DesPlaines and a short shuttle ride to the River Rd Blue Line station it would be stupid to stay at this hotel if you are going to a wedding in Logan Sq and flying into MDW. There are very few decent hotels near MDW and even the decent Hilton Garden Inn Midway down there is VASTLY overpriced simply becuase it has no good competition nearby.... If you want "cheap and easy" there is not much that would fit your situation. If you can find a deal on the "submit a bid" sites I would STRONGLY encourage you to shoot for a 4+ plus place in River North and SPLURGE a little . If you want dirt cheap stay at the Motel 6 at Lawrence and River Rd or one of the value priced palces in Schiller Park near Irving Park Rd. They ain't hugely convenient but with a rental car it'll let you see pretty much everything between MWD and ORD....

Allegedly there is some kind of "inn" at the hipster "Longman & Eagle" which is near Logan Sq but I have no idea if that is the kind of thing that you would feel comfortable staying with little kids / a family... It looks really cool but it ain't cheap. Important Message Neither do I have direct experience with the IHSP hostel it looks pretty interesting and MIGHT be the PERFECT compromise IF you can get a guaranteed "en suite" room -- IHSP Chicago... A European Guest Inn - FAQ's

[Lucky Clover]

Originally Posted by drover

every single visitor to chicago who uses the blue line to get into town gets mugged. It's considered part of the "chicago experience." it sounds unpleasant but after you experience it once, you wouldn't want it any other way.

You don't even want to know what they do to visitors coming in from midway on the orange line.

lolz

[jdiddy]

You'll be fine taking the Blue Line with the fam.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Folks the humor is probaly NOT HELPFUL.

[chet everett]

From out of town. At 8PM on a Sunday. With kids. Trying to catch a flight. In wedding clothes. After 'celebrating'.

NOT LIKELY!

(cute picture Drover, if I could figure out how to turn on avatars I might use it...)

[Midwest Revival]

Blue Line is safe, I dont see whats wrong with Midway though. Ive flown out of both multiple times, Midway is a little calmer.