Going to Chicago, hralp

[Shannacore]

I'll be in Chicago in mid-April for a conference. I am having a HELL OF A TIME finding a hotel for 8 days that won't run me a total of like $1500+. This is probably because I am looking in the Downtown area. The conference is right in the middle of downtown (I think), so I'd reallllllly like to try to find a hotel that is within walking distance (2 miles at most-ish).

If I move 10-15 miles away, hotels are much more affordable. I know Chicago is pretty renown (In the US anyway) for its public transpo system. Just how user friendly is this? Especially for a nub that that never used public transpo in her life. I am not opposed to taking a bus/subway to the venue every day if it's not going to be ridiculous to figure out.

Also, any recommendations for sightseeing / good eateries? Conference is 5 days, but I'll be staying an additional 2 to roam the town.

[Autotune]

Doesn't matter, odds are you'll be shot and killed long before 8 days. I'd recommend hiring someone to go in your place.

[Quiksilver]

H-O-T-W-I-R-E

Hotwire DOT com [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

http://www.hotwire.com/hotel/details...d=344593654149

EDIT: How to use hotwire somewhat effectively - Cross reference the dates/prices with the other hotels you see listed next to the "mystery" price. Be sure to adjust the price. Hotwire always sells their rooms slightly cheaper than on the actual hotel site.

[Shannacore]

Originally Posted by Quiksilver [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

H-O-T-W-I-R-E

Hotwire DOT com [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

http://www.hotwire.com/hotel/details...d=344593654149

EDIT: How to use hotwire somewhat effectively - Cross reference the dates/prices with the other hotels you see listed next to the "mystery" price. Be sure to adjust the price. Hotwire always sells their rooms slightly cheaper than on the actual hotel site.

Interesting. For some reason I always had it in my head that those hotel/flight search sites always overcharged.

[Autotune]

Originally Posted by Shannacore [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Interesting. For some reason I always had it in my head that those hotel/flight search sites always overcharged.

not really.

Hotel charges say $180/night
Hotwire charges you $160/night
Hotel gets paid $130/night from Hotwire

That's about how it works most of the time.

[Hasbinbad]

Originally Posted by Shannacore [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Interesting. For some reason I always had it in my head that those hotel/flight search sites always overcharged.

That's probably because you had a bad overall experience booking a plane ticket and a hotel room one time.

[Sirken]

if u get a hotel outside of the down town area, look north. do not go to far south or west.

all museums are free on Tuesdays

public trans trains are better than buses

food = Fogo de Chao or Als Beef or Giordanos or Lou Malnatis or Lawrys

and everything down town is within walking distance of itself

have fun!

[Greegon]

Originally Posted by Shannacore [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I'll be in Chicago in mid-April for a conference. I am having a HELL OF A TIME finding a hotel for 8 days that won't run me a total of like $1500+. This is probably because I am looking in the Downtown area. The conference is right in the middle of downtown (I think), so I'd reallllllly like to try to find a hotel that is within walking distance (2 miles at most-ish).

If I move 10-15 miles away, hotels are much more affordable. I know Chicago is pretty renown (In the US anyway) for its public transpo system. Just how user friendly is this? Especially for a nub that that never used public transpo in her life. I am not opposed to taking a bus/subway to the venue every day if it's not going to be ridiculous to figure out.

Also, any recommendations for sightseeing / good eateries? Conference is 5 days, but I'll be staying an additional 2 to roam the town.

If you want a cheap place to eat try the white palace grill, grubby, really fuckin old 24/hour dinner with some of the best and actually decently priced food youll get around downtown area (canal and roosevelt). Always come out of there greasy as fuck needing to unbuckle my belt. Another must-have is a polish sausage from Jim's (I go to one near me, on maxwel(or a block south?) and a block east from halstead.

A really nice place I've been to is Jake Melnicks. It's by chicago and somewhere, look it up, haven't been in a while since I changed jobs.

I wouldn't say the CTA is that user friendly, but it's 2.25 a ride on the bus or train and if you get on another bus or train within two hours it only costs 25 cents for a transfer ride.. Don't bother buying a one day pass, shit is way over priced now, and if youre going to ride the bus twice a day every day I'd say buy yourself a 7-day. Also expect the bus to be late lol.. but you can track the arrival times @ www.ctabustracker.com

Originally Posted by Autotune [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Doesn't matter, odds are you'll be shot and killed long before 8 days. I'd recommend hiring someone to go in your place.

lewl all of chicago isnt engelwood

Originally Posted by Sirken [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

if u get a hotel outside of the down town area, look north. do not go to far south or west.

all museums are free on Tuesdays

public trans trains are better than buses

food = Fogo de Chao or Als Beef or Giordanos or Lou Malnatis or Lawrys

and everything down town is within walking distance of itself

have fun!

Fuck the trains, smells like piss, crowded with assholes, prefer the bus myself. Lou malnatis is a win though, Fogo way over rated :P Definitely find a hotel not in downtown.. can always look up the metra and take that in, will be extra time but youll save some $$. A cool restaurant bar I like also is the elephant and castle.. always expect to pay too much for food downtown though. Shedd aquarium is pretty sweet.

AND AVOID PUDDLES IN THE STREET IF YOURE WALKING. YOU WILL BE SPLASHED. In your face/mouth



also, i forgot that you live in chitown sirken, don't it suck. that is all

[Greegon]

Definitely the asshole (or bus driver) that drives in the puddle next to you.
As for the red line, I used to semi frequently use it but I actually live like 3 blocks from a blue line stop, I take buses instead usually cause they drop me off closer to where I'm going + I can track them with the website.

Bahhahah also, never been to fogo, but I've been to Brazzaz and I liked that place [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

ALSO I forgot to mention don't leave Chicago without going to harold's chicken. And I'm super fucking serious about Jim's, youll be burping up the nasty taste of rotten sausage and grilled onions for hours its great.

Originally Posted by Sirken [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Chicago > all
i've been all around, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, ND, OH, SD, TN, WI, WY
and Chicago = best food, and fewest natural disasters.
im a big wuss when it comes to earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and other dumb shit.

This is true. I think I've let the shit colored snow and wetness get to me... And you know, seeing that same bum that gets out of his wheelchair and walks away at the same time every fucking day, everyone asking you for money or cigarettes constantly every block, or the disgusting lady with her baby (yes actual infant) getting a 'ticket to elgin' every day for a fucking week. Or the nasty homeless white kids with a disgustingly sickly dog that could just call home and live nicely... sigh. And more but I'll stop bitching guess I could be in detroit.
edit: Plus some days chicago just has that smell, like the smell of dump or brownies? Or maybe a mixture of the two. Smelled it today walking home pretty strong.


Gotta love them white sox [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
Also home to the best basketball team seen ever in the NBA... everything I owned growing up was bulls. 'cept my sox sweatshirt

[MrSparkle001]

Originally Posted by Sirken [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Chicago > all
i've been all around, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, ND, OH, SD, TN, WI, WY
and Chicago = best food, and fewest natural disasters.
im a big wuss when it comes to earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and other dumb shit.

I notice you left out NY - specifically NYC. Chicago has good food, but nothing compares to the greater NYC area.

I'll take the occasional threat of a hurricane here over the fucking cold of Chicago too. It's also turning into a murderous shithole. I just heard that they're starting sex ed in kindergarten. WTF. Good food though. They have a good italian influence which is important because without it an area's food just sucks, like in Virginia or other areas I've been to where the food and the restaurants are terrible. Some areas don't even have good chinese takeout, and that's like a staple around here.

Originally Posted by Sirken [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

you east coasters have to fold your pizza so it feels less like cardboard with shit on top of it. Modern science does not allow for chicago style pizza to be folded. and yar, the Shedd Aquarium is A+ . but we also have the art museum (Ferris Buller), the history museum, museum of science and industry, and the planetarium. and Chicago > Florida because hurricanes [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

We have the best pizza in the world here dude. Chicago style is good but it's a gimmick. NY style pizza is the best in the world and the most imitated. We fold it because we know how to eat it.

Don't even get me started in a pizza war. You will lose. I have the best pizza place for miles around nearby http://www.famousrayspizzanyc.com/Page_entrance.php. I guarantee if you had it you'd instantly recognize all other pizzas as inferior. Pizza is serious business in this italian area I live in.