I need help in new role for me: visitor to Chicago (Lincoln: apartments, hotels)

[edsg25]

Strangely for a city/metro area I've lived in all my long, long life (most of it admittedly in North Shore and n.w. suburbs), I now find myself in the strangest of circumstances:

I'm going to be a visitor to Chicago.

I have a friend coming into town for a four day visit in late August. I obviously will be "showing him the town" (although he has been here before). My friend likes to have a room of his own when traveling. He can easily afford that. My assumption is that he will probably stay at a hotel around the Mag Mile.

What I want to do is to find a reasonably priced hotel room nearby. In that respect, all I need is a room....I'll only be there to sleep. I guess this would be my greatest need of what I have to figure out for his visit.

Any suggestions on the best way to go about booking on line with services like Expedia? Since i don't know where he will stay, I cannot yet pinpoint where I'd like to stay. If he does stay in the Mag Mile/Streeterville/River North area, I wouldn't have a problem with a decent walk to Michigan Avenue. My sense is that somewhere between Clark and LaSalle, the properties become cheaper. I would be comfortable walking from this area to Michigan Avenue. Even Wells and Franklin aren't too far.

I'll be picking my friend up at O'Hare so (for better or for worse), I'm stuck with a car downtown for 2-3 days. I'd like to keep parking expenses as low as possible. Obviously the prices for parking...either at the hotel or nearby can be exorbitant, especially as far west as Dearborn. I would think they come down bit in the further reaches of River North.

Thus, if I can find reasonable parking near where I am staying, I'd go for it. There is something else I considered: I don't really have to keep my car downtown if I have easy access to getting it when needed. I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but my thinking is if I could find a good parking location somewhere mid-north I wouldn't have a problem with using that. I could get to my car by cab or CTA. I'd prefer CTA. L over bus.

Figuring that I would be staying in the part of River North I mentioned. I would be fine with catching either a red or brown/purple line train at their respective Chgo Ave stations..both of which would give me access to Fullerton (probably as far north as I want to go). Segwick on the brown and North & Clybourn on the red would be areas I'd consider for parking too.

That's pretty much it. It's 99% about getting a room and parking. But other info that you can offer wouldn't hurt. I know the city very, very well, but I'm more than open to suggestions that might make all aspects of this "trip" better.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

[fusillirob1983]

If you don't mind a short EL ride:

There's free non-permit parking on Sheffield between Clybourn and Armitage. Still watch for certain signs non-parkable areas regarding intersections, hydrants, etc.

If that's full, try around Jonquil Park at Lincoln and Sheffield. It's generally free around the perimeter of the park.

I can't be of help regarding rooms.

[damba]

It doesn’t sound like either of you needs a car during this visit. I’d spare yourself that headache and leave it at home. Although Typically when a guest of mine is staying near michigan ave/etc and has a car, I stick their car in grant park or mileneum park garage for <$60 (3-4 days). The spothero app can come in handy.

[personone]

As others have said, you wouldn’t need a car if you are downtown. If you did, for some reason, there are tons of Zipcars available.

I would use one of the discount sites like Trivago, Hotels, Expedia, Orbitz. I personally like Trivago. Staying in one of the modern, clean hotels in River North or Downtown (Loop) would be my preference. You could get them at a decent price with the discount sites. There are also more vintage (less modern) apartments for cheaper. It just depends on your preference.

[damba]

Originally Posted by personone

As others have said, you wouldn’t need a car if you are downtown. If you did, for some reason, there are tons of Zipcars available.

I would use one of the discount sites like Trivago, Hotels, Expedia, Orbitz. I personally like Trivago. Staying in one of the modern, clean hotels in River North or Downtown (Loop) would be my preference. You could get them at a decent price with the discount sites. There are also more vintage (less modern) apartments for cheaper. It just depends on your preference.

I have used trivago too- it’s good.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by fusillirob1983

If you don't mind a short EL ride:

There's free non-permit parking on Sheffield between Clybourn and Armitage. Still watch for certain signs non-parkable areas regarding intersections, hydrants, etc.

If that's full, try around Jonquil Park at Lincoln and Sheffield. It's generally free around the perimeter of the park.

I can't be of help regarding rooms.

wow. That would be great. Am I right that that would be only a one block stretch betw Clybourn and Armitage. Also isn’t that about 5 blocks to brown line on Armitage, right?


that

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by personone

As others have said, you wouldn’t need a car if you are downtown. If you did, for some reason, there are tons of Zipcars available.

I would use one of the discount sites like Trivago, Hotels, Expedia, Orbitz. I personally like Trivago. Staying in one of the modern, clean hotels in River North or Downtown (Loop) would be my preference. You could get them at a decent price with the discount sites. There are also more vintage (less modern) apartments for cheaper. It just depends on your preference.

Cč


I guess my thinking was the car would be the best option for picking up my friend at O’Hare. Also, of course I would be mostly downtown, but I might want to take him to MSI or to see the view from Adler. But I think it helps to have this other option of leaving my car at home...so thank you..very helpful

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by edsg25

wow. That would be great. Am I right that that would be only a one block stretch betw Clybourn and Armitage. Also isn’t that about 5 blocks to brown line on Armitage, right?


that

I think Clybourn runs into Sheffield around 1700 N. I think it would be the equivalent of a couple block walk if you parked near the south end. I have a friend around Armitage and Sheffield. I normally park there if I drive to his place. Typically can find something within 1-2 blocks of the Armitage Brown Line.

[fusillirob1983]

It sounds like edsg from his other posts lives in the burbs but is planning to pick up a friend at the airport and stay downtown a couple days and doesn't want to pony up for parking - I don't blame him.

I think finding free parking on the street in exchange for 20-30 minutes of round trip commute to the car is worthwhile.

[BOBNCHI]

Why mess around? Take the Blue Line from ORD (or park at the Cumberland station) to downtown and stay near N Michigan Av . Several hotels available for under $180/nt.. The Knickerbocker is under $100 depending on dates through Expedia. From there you can easily walk, take the L or take the water taxis to most of the major sites. Take the SSL to MSI. We do this all the time with visitors and works great without having to worry about traffic and parking.