I need help from Locals in Chicago!!!!?

Question

Im going to be going to Chicago this August for the 1st time. Im try to find a hotel that is in a good neighborhood and has easy access to wrigley field and fun downtown areas. I like to buy my hotels on priceline but with that you dont get to pick the hotel you pick an area. Which area is best? Skokie - Niles - Evanston or North Michigan Ave - River North Area or Millenium Park - Loop & Grant Park area....

Answer 1

All of the areas you listed are safe and nice. Skokie-Niles-Evanston is the collar of the north suburbs, so you're not close to Wrigleyville or downtown.

There are two suggestions that I'd make. The first is the mainstream, but the best hotel in Chicago is The Drake on the north end of downtown. They have room specials for $98/night which is phenomenal. The other is my favorite "hidden gem". It's the Willows hotel in the middle of the most expensive neighborhood on the north side and just 2 blocks from the lake. From the outside it just looks like another brownstone apartment building, but as soon as you walk inside you're in a beautiful hotel with all the nicest amenities. The price is also awesome!

Check it out here: http://www.undercovertourist.com/united-states/illinois/chicago/hotels/lincoln-park/the-willows-hotel.html

Answer 2

Don't bother with Skokie or Niles. Those are too far away and you don't want to be in the suburbs. Evanston isn't totally unreasonable as that's a nice nearby suburb and is on the L track which will take you to Wrigley Field, but it's still a long train ride.

What you want is the Lakeview and Lincoln Park area, if that's described on Priceline. That's close to Wrigley, downtown, and all the fun areas. River North is also quite close by and has some cheap hotels and good restaurants. Millenium Park, Grant Park, the Loop and Michigan Avenue are bound to be more expensive, but also quick trips to Wrigley and place you in the heart of the action in Chicago.

What I'd recommend is giving some of the hotels nearby Wrigley Field a call directly first. There are some good deals now and then. If you pick the Days Inn on Clark and Diversey, the Best Western Hawthorne Terrace on Broadway, or the City Suites Hotel on Belmont, you're not going to go wrong, and all of them are walking distance to Wrigley Field, through fun and vibrant areas of Chicago.

Answer 3

Stay away from Skokie, Niles, and Evanston. They aren't near Downtown or Wrigley Field.

You can't go wrong with the others. Michigan Ave, Loop & Grant Park will probably be more expensive. River North has some cheap hotels in it - Best Western, for example. All are close to the Red Line (subway) which takes you directly to Wrigley Field.

My choice - Sofitel. It is near the lake, nightlife, and Michigan Ave.

Answer 4

Pick something in the Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville areas if they are listed. Those are the closest areas to Wrigley Field. Evanston is a separate city and far to the north of Wrigley Field. You could take an el train to the ballpark, but you said you wanted to be close. Skokie and Niles are out of the question. Not even close. North Michigan ave, River North, Millenium Park, theLoop and Grant Park are all south of the ballpark. Again, you can take a train back and forth to the ball park, but a hotel in Lincoln Park or Wrigleyvile will put you in relative walking distance.

Answer 5

Days Inn Lincoln Park is on Clark, you would not need a car because it is on Clark street, the same street as wrigley and a short trip to downtown. Beware August in Chicago is very hot and humid. All of the areas you mentioned are nice. I would stay downtown if I were you. Hotels in the Lincoln Park area would be best for access to downtown and the north side.

Answer 6

The key to your question is "easy access." To me that means CTA rapid transit or "el" train. It's cheap, faster than a car and eliminates high parking costs.

Both Wrigley Field & the Loop are an easy ride away from Evanston. The Loop has another connection with Metra. Check out the following site for connections:

http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/

Both CTA and METRA have stations in Evanston. There are great restaurants and the area is more "laid back" than the city. Also a few blocks from the beach.

This Google site shows a map and list of hotels in downtown Evanston:

http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=hotels&near=Evanston,+IL&sa=X&oi=local&ct=title

Answer 7

Stay at North Michigan Ave. You can take the red line 4 or 5 stops to the Addison Red Line stop. Also, you'll be right by all the other touristy stuff.