68 replies to this topic

[AlanB]

I keep finding very expensive hotels around Union Station. Anybody know a good, cheap(er) hotel in/around Chicago? It's okay as long as Metra goes there, I would want to railfan it anyway.

Google up the Hosteling International in CHI! Great place right downtown, includes free Breakfast and a Great Lobby Resturant with Delcious and reasonable food! Right off Michigan Avenue on Congress, you can walk or ride a Bus or cab there ! The staff is very helpful and people of all Ages and nationalities stay there! About $40 a Night, What a Deal!

I don't like being boxed into one option. Anything OTHER than the Hostelling International? I had a bad expierience with them.

Try using this list. All hotels are either within walking distance of a train, be it METRA or the CTA, or they offer a shuttle from a train station.

[Swadian Hardcore]

I keep finding very expensive hotels around Union Station. Anybody know a good, cheap(er) hotel in/around Chicago? It's okay as long as Metra goes there, I would want to railfan it anyway.

Google up the Hosteling International in CHI! Great place right downtown, includes free Breakfast and a Great Lobby Resturant with Delcious and reasonable food! Right off Michigan Avenue on Congress, you can walk or ride a Bus or cab there ! The staff is very helpful and people of all Ages and nationalities stay there! About $40 a Night, What a Deal!

I don't like being boxed into one option. Anything OTHER than the Hostelling International? I had a bad expierience with them.

Try using this list. All hotels are either within walking distance of a train, be it METRA or the CTA, or they offer a shuttle from a train station.

Very useful! Thanks Alan!
Do you have any recommendations?

[Ozark Southern]

I keep finding very expensive hotels around Union Station. Anybody know a good, cheap(er) hotel in/around Chicago? It's okay as long as Metra goes there, I would want to railfan it anyway.

Google up the Hosteling International in CHI! Great place right downtown, includes free Breakfast and a Great Lobby Resturant with Delcious and reasonable food! Right off Michigan Avenue on Congress, you can walk or ride a Bus or cab there ! The staff is very helpful and people of all Ages and nationalities stay there! About $40 a Night, What a Deal!

I don't like being boxed into one option. Anything OTHER than the Hostelling International? I had a bad expierience with them.

No personal experience with this yet, but we are trying to put together a low-budget Chicago trip once the HSR segment starts up in July. We have found several no-frills type hotels (Super 8, Knights, Travelodge, etc.) around the Homewood/Hazel Crest area. Depending on your travel dates, they go for $30-60. Metra serves both towns, and several of the hotels are within walking distance from the Metra stations. From what I understand, it's a decent suburban area (though correct me if I'm wrong; when I used to have family in Chicagoland, they were in the NW suburbs). Metra Electric line runs you $5 each way to get to Millenium Station, so it's not a bad deal even considering the extra cost.

[Swadian Hardcore]

I keep finding very expensive hotels around Union Station. Anybody know a good, cheap(er) hotel in/around Chicago? It's okay as long as Metra goes there, I would want to railfan it anyway.

Google up the Hosteling International in CHI! Great place right downtown, includes free Breakfast and a Great Lobby Resturant with Delcious and reasonable food! Right off Michigan Avenue on Congress, you can walk or ride a Bus or cab there ! The staff is very helpful and people of all Ages and nationalities stay there! About $40 a Night, What a Deal!

I don't like being boxed into one option. Anything OTHER than the Hostelling International? I had a bad expierience with them.

No personal experience with this yet, but we are trying to put together a low-budget Chicago trip once the HSR segment starts up in July. We have found several no-frills type hotels (Super 8, Knights, Travelodge, etc.) around the Homewood/Hazel Crest area. Depending on your travel dates, they go for $30-60. Metra serves both towns, and several of the hotels are within walking distance from the Metra stations. From what I understand, it's a decent suburban area (though correct me if I'm wrong; when I used to have family in Chicagoland, they were in the NW suburbs). Metra Electric line runs you $5 each way to get to Millenium Station, so it's not a bad deal even considering the extra cost.

I checked them, and the reviews are really bad. So Ozark, let's both not book hotels with low reviews. I have done so before and regretted it.

[AlanB]

Very useful! Thanks Alan!
Do you have any recommendations?

While one can sometimes get lucky with a downtown hotel, especially if there are no conventions in town, personally I'd look at hotels out near the airports. They tend to be much cheaper and you can still ride the subway/L to get to those locations, saving money over needing to use METRA. So far I've only stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn out by O'Hare. On other occasions I've lucked out and/or used points to stay downtown.

So I really can't help to much more than that.

[AlanB]

No personal experience with this yet, but we are trying to put together a low-budget Chicago trip once the HSR segment starts up in July. We have found several no-frills type hotels (Super 8, Knights, Travelodge, etc.) around the Homewood/Hazel Crest area. Depending on your travel dates, they go for $30-60. Metra serves both towns, and several of the hotels are within walking distance from the Metra stations. From what I understand, it's a decent suburban area (though correct me if I'm wrong; when I used to have family in Chicagoland, they were in the NW suburbs). Metra Electric line runs you $5 each way to get to Millenium Station, so it's not a bad deal even considering the extra cost.

I can't speak to Hazel at all, but I've seen a few people post that Homewood is not exactly the safest station around and I think I've even seen a news report or two about crime in the parking lot at Homewood. So I'd be careful about going there.

Perhaps someone from the Chicago area can comment further on this and that station's safety.

[trainman74]

While one can sometimes get lucky with a downtown hotel, especially if there are no conventions in town, personally I'd look at hotels out near the airports. They tend to be much cheaper and you can still ride the subway/L to get to those locations, saving money over needing to use METRA.

Check rates at the couple of hotels in downtown Evanston, too -- that's 'L'-accessible and is a safe, walkable area. I can vouch for the Hilton Orrington being a nice hotel, although it's been almost 20 years since I stayed there.

[MikefromCrete]

No personal experience with this yet, but we are trying to put together a low-budget Chicago trip once the HSR segment starts up in July. We have found several no-frills type hotels (Super 8, Knights, Travelodge, etc.) around the Homewood/Hazel Crest area. Depending on your travel dates, they go for $30-60. Metra serves both towns, and several of the hotels are within walking distance from the Metra stations. From what I understand, it's a decent suburban area (though correct me if I'm wrong; when I used to have family in Chicagoland, they were in the NW suburbs). Metra Electric line runs you $5 each way to get to Millenium Station, so it's not a bad deal even considering the extra cost.

I can't speak to Hazel at all, but I've seen a few people post that Homewood is not exactly the safest station around and I think I've even seen a news report or two about crime in the parking lot at Homewood. So I'd be careful about going there.

Perhaps someone from the Chicago area can comment further on this and that station's safety.

Homewood is a perfectly safe place, with a excellent downtown with many nice restaurants. The station and parking lots are right across the street from the police station, so I wouldn't be concerned about your safety in downtown Homewood. Now, the hotels around Interstate 294 and Halsted street are another story, They're not within easy walking distance of the train station and the clientel at some of them probably aren't the best. I can't think of any hotel/motel within walking distance of any Metra Electric station (except at McCormick Place and the downtown stations). It would probably be best to check at some of the hotels/motels on the outskirts of the Loop near Union Station. The motels just south of Midway Airport are also a good bet, especially if they offer shuttle service. The Orange Line CTA will take you close to Union Station, although some walking, at both the airport and the downtown end, is necessary.

[Ozark Southern]

No personal experience with this yet, but we are trying to put together a low-budget Chicago trip once the HSR segment starts up in July. We have found several no-frills type hotels (Super 8, Knights, Travelodge, etc.) around the Homewood/Hazel Crest area. Depending on your travel dates, they go for $30-60. Metra serves both towns, and several of the hotels are within walking distance from the Metra stations. From what I understand, it's a decent suburban area (though correct me if I'm wrong; when I used to have family in Chicagoland, they were in the NW suburbs). Metra Electric line runs you $5 each way to get to Millenium Station, so it's not a bad deal even considering the extra cost.

I can't speak to Hazel at all, but I've seen a few people post that Homewood is not exactly the safest station around and I think I've even seen a news report or two about crime in the parking lot at Homewood. So I'd be careful about going there.

Perhaps someone from the Chicago area can comment further on this and that station's safety.

Homewood is a perfectly safe place, with a excellent downtown with many nice restaurants. The station and parking lots are right across the street from the police station, so I wouldn't be concerned about your safety in downtown Homewood. Now, the hotels around Interstate 294 and Halsted street are another story, They're not within easy walking distance of the train station and the clientel at some of them probably aren't the best. I can't think of any hotel/motel within walking distance of any Metra Electric station (except at McCormick Place and the downtown stations). It would probably be best to check at some of the hotels/motels on the outskirts of the Loop near Union Station. The motels just south of Midway Airport are also a good bet, especially if they offer shuttle service. The Orange Line CTA will take you close to Union Station, although some walking, at both the airport and the downtown end, is necessary.

All right, good to know. This is the sort of thing you can't tell from Google Maps/Street View. Well, I guess we'll stick with what we know: the Elk Grove Village/airport area. That's where my late aunt used to live, and we visited there often. Very nice suburb, as are the neighbouring Mt. Prospect and Des Plaines. Still fairly cheap hotels, as well, due to the proximity to O'Hare.

[Swadian Hardcore]

I'm a bit confused now. So you guys say to look at hotels around the airport? Anywhere that does not require transfers out of Union Station? How about Elgin, Aurora, or Joliet? Are they safe?

Edited by Swadian Hardcore, 13 February 2012 - 06:22 PM.

[MikefromCrete]

I'm a bit confused now. So you guys say to look at hotels around the airport? Anywhere that does not require transfers out of Union Station? How about Elgin, Aurora, or Joliet? Are they safe?

There's a Comfort Inn hotel almost adjacent to the Aurora Metra station. It would be very convenient. It is just on other side of the Roundhouse Brewery/Restaurant from the station.

Harrah's Casino in Joliet has a hotel that is three-four blocks from the train station.

Downtown Joliet is quite safe during the day. At night, it's petty empty, except around the casino or if there's a baseball game at the stadium adjacent to the train station.

Edited by MikefromCrete, 13 February 2012 - 06:51 PM.

[dabrilloman]

I guess I'm bound for Hell, but I like Mayo on my dog.

I'm with you, Bob - that's what I eat them with.

No problem with that....I like mayo on my fries!

[Sorcha]

We always stay at the Heart O'Chicago Motel. It looks sketchy, but it's really very nice, safe, and clean. It just has that 1950s vibe because they haven't changed the sign since then. The rooms are straight out of the 1980s.

It's $80/night for a king-size bed, and you get free Wi-Fi (ask the desk for the password). They also have free parking, which is unheard of in the city limits. I know you're rail-fanning, but I wanted to toss that out there anyway.

It's on the #22 bus line (Clark). It's also a short walk or bus ride to the 'L' (red line).

If you want a neighborhood to associate it with, it's in the northern part of Andersonville, up at the tippy-top of Lake Shore Drive.

Edited by Sorcha, 14 March 2012 - 02:07 PM.

[trainman74]

It's also a short walk or bus ride to the El (red line).

In Chicago, that's spelled 'L' (yes, with single quotes) -- surprised one of the other folks on this forum didn't jump on you for this first!

[Sorcha]

It's also a short walk or bus ride to the El (red line).

In Chicago, that's spelled 'L' (yes, with single quotes) -- surprised one of the other folks on this forum didn't jump on you for this first!

Aaaaaargh... I keep doing that. It's a habit from an old chat I used to haunt where the "L" would get all screwed up, so we changed it to "El" for the purposes of chatting.

I'll fix it.

[Swadian Hardcore]

Still checking for hotels. The hotel should be lower than $140 per night. Thanks for the help, but I am still bogged down.

[white rabbitt]

if u take metra to the brookfield station
a short walk to the rodeway inn on W. Ogden Ave.
in lyons
59 a night there are resterants close by and a starbucks on the corner
i have stayed there when ever i was in chicago for events and concerts

[Swadian Hardcore]

Just wanted to update that I have still not been able to find a hotel, and time is running out ever so quickly! No offence, but this has become a nightmare!

[Trogdor]

Just wanted to update that I have still not been able to find a hotel, and time is running out ever so quickly! No offence, but this has become a nightmare!

When are you traveling?

[Swadian Hardcore]

Just wanted to update that I have still not been able to find a hotel, and time is running out ever so quickly! No offence, but this has become a nightmare!

When are you traveling?

I just told you in the PM.