Chicago Suburb Hotels About This Page:

[RogerRabbit]

We are thinking about going to Chicago for a few days in a couple of weeks. I'm looking for a nice burb with a nice hotel. I'm going to look for a cheap room downtown, but I want a place for a backup.

Can anyone give me any ideas?

Thanks,

Michael

[Rainbowy]

We love the Double Tree. Its in the northern suberb up towards Northwestern University. We thought the rooms were great, and the Hotel was out of the "HUSTLE AND BUSTLE" Also there was an Ihop across the street that was so convenient.

[Chelledun17]

Love, love, LOVE the Renaissance Schaumburg. Sometimes you can get a really good deal with AAA!

[minemoz1]

Use Hotwire. We use it all the time for weekends downtown. As long as you choose 3-4 star, you can usually get something between 60-120 a night. My brother just got the Wyndham Chicago for $69 last Friday. We usually end up getting something in the $100 range. You can also use it for the burbs. Look up the Schaumburg-Elk Grove-Itasca area and pick 3+ stars. We have been getting the Sheraton Suites Elk Grove village for about $40-60 a night. It's right off I-90 near the airport. Not much right around the hotel but there are a few restaurants close by and Woodfield Mall/Ikea are only 15 minutes west. Oak Brook also has very nice hotels and a mall close by.

For something in the burbs, there is a sheraton northwest chicago in Arlington Heights that has an indoor waterpark and is located right next to Arlington Park Race Track. We also like Eaglewood resort in Itasca. They have a nice spa and a bowling alley but they are a bit pricey.

[RogerRabbit]

I was looking at the CTA map for trains and there is two lines that run out of an area called Oak Park\Forest Park. Is this a nice area? If it is, is there any nice hotels?

Thanks,
Michael

[jjjmranch]

Oak Park has B&B, not a lot of hotels. It is a very cool suburb. The "L" goes through some tough neighborhoods en route to downtown Chicago, I must warn you.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by jjjmranch

Oak Park has B&B, not a lot of hotels. It is a very cool suburb. The "L" goes through some tough neighborhoods en route to downtown Chicago, I must warn you.

That's worth knowing. Isn't Oak Park where the Frank Lloyd Wright House is or am I getting mixed up? That's something I'd like to see on our next trip to Chicago.

[statelady01]

I think it is Chez- my mom was born in Oak Park and she mentioned that to me several times.

[RogerRabbit]

Originally Posted by jjjmranch

Oak Park has B&B, not a lot of hotels. It is a very cool suburb. The "L" goes through some tough neighborhoods en route to downtown Chicago, I must warn you.

Like "tough" enough you wouldn't ride it to and from downtown?

I was trying to make this real cheap. We could get CTA 3 day passes for $14 to ride the L and buses. Now your making me rethink this?

Michael

[minemoz1]

I think almost all L lines go through some tough neighborhoods. As long as you're not riding late at night, you should be fine.

You can also check out the hotels by O'Hare. The blue line runs out there and is easy to get downtown. The O'Hare hilton is within walking distance to the line or a quick drive over. There are also TONS of other hotels in the area which may get you a good deal. Parking at the station is inexpensive. The only negative is that it's a very corporate/industrial area.

If you are thinking about staying downtown, parking will cost you around $30 a day. Sometimes a bit more than that.

You can also try taking Metra Metra - Welcome to Metra which is more of a commuter train. It doesn't run as frequently as the L and does not run after 1 AM, but there are always conductors on the trains and sometimes security depending on if there is an event downtown. They offer a $5 weekend pass for adults for Sat and Sun and kids 11 and under ride free (up to 3 kids) with paying adult. You'd have to walk or bus it once downtown. I believe metra runs through Oak Park too.

Good luck with your choices.

[taymaesmom]

I frequently visit Oak Park and find it to be a lovely little area. We stay at the Carleton of Oak Park and it is very nice, it is also only steps from the "L". My SIL was even got married and had her reception there, its beautiful inside. Its pricey but they have cheaper rooms (motor inn), we stayed in one once, its just ok, stick with the pricey main building rooms. Oak Park is home to many Frank Lloyd Wright homes/buildings. I have taken the "L" from there and back many times, yes you will see some rough areas but nothing to be afraid of, I travel with just me and my two girls, we gotta make those trips to the American Girl Place. The Metra also leaves from the same station. I love to shop downtown Oak Park, its has alot of nice stores and good restraunts.

We also sometimes stay at the Holiday Inn in Countryside IL, its about 20 mins from there so not super convienent to the "L" but we have made it work in the past. Its clean and has a great pool area!

[Carousel96]

Oak Park is the site of the FLW home and studio.
If you're a Wright fan, you will also want to visit the Robie House in the Hyde Park area of Chicago, near the Museum of Science and Industry.