Visiting Chicago in 2 weeks, , what areas should I avoid? (Lincoln: apartments, rent)

[weare73005]

A friend and I will be visiting Chicago for the first time in 2 weeks. Someone was to show us around and now they can not. What areas should I avoid? What are decent but not expensive hotels?

[Chicago60614]

Avoid all the areas that you will never be near in the first place. That's pretty easy.

[Slanderous]

What do you consider "not expensive"? I'd try priceline or hotwire and pick River North, Streeterville/Water Tower, Gold Coast or the loop since that's where most of the hotels are. O'hare area is another big hotel spot but it's far from the city center and a lot of the hotels are still expensive.

Unless you plan on buying drugs or stumbling around drunk at 3 AM, you'll be fine.

[Lucky Clover]

For hotels, you have to define expensive before anyone can really suggest any hotels.

[weare73005]

Expensive $100 and up a night.

And that's really not an area, for all I know all of Chicago could be dangerous. So a little more info please and thanks.

[Michael Scott]

Originally Posted by weare73005

Expensive $100 and up a night.

And that's really not an area, for all I know all of Chicago could be dangerous. So a little more info please and thanks.

What they're saying is, if you're staying around the "touristy" parts, like Grant & Millennium Park, Gold Coast and Mag Mile, Navy Pier, etc., you have nothing to worry about.

[marothisu]

Unless you are not a typical tourist, you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about. Chicago is not dangerous unless you venture miles outside of the touristy areas to the South or West or the well known areas like Lincoln Park, Lakeview, etc. Honestly, if you are around the Loop, River North (Near North Side), you have nothing to worry about at all. You'd have to walk for miles before you get anywhere bad and it's on the south and west sides.

Stay away from areas like Humboldt Park (west of California Avenue...east of it isn't terrible), East/West Garfield Park, Englewood, Austin, West Englewood, Roseland, Chicago Lawn, etc and you'll be fine but honestly, if you even so much as stumble upon these parts from being a tourist, I'd be really surprised. These areas are miles from downtown.



As far as hotels go, I'd check on HotWire or Priceline because sometimes some hotels in the Loop can be under $100/night. Otherwise, I would check on Airbnb.com to see if there's anything good that is under that price with good ratings. Airbnb is a service which you rent out peoples' condos/apartments/flats. Very good especially ones with ratings. Last time I used it was a few months ago in Istanbul and got an amazing deal (like $21/night per person versus having to pay over $100/night in a normal hotel).

[Lucky Clover]

Originally Posted by weare73005

Expensive $100 and up a night.

And that's really not an area, for all I know all of Chicago could be dangerous. So a little more info please and thanks.

Honestly I would visit this > Priceline - Illinois - Priceline and Hotwire Forum

People use Priceline's name your own price tool and get some good deals on 3 and 4 star hotels. They report what they bid and what they ended up getting so it'll give you an idea. That's your best bet. I personally have had success with it too. I don't think you'll find a hotel in the downtown area for $100/night on regular prices. Maybe in other areas though.

Airbnb is also a good option like marothisu recommended.