Chicago Travel Advice

vlagrl29 · April 2016

So I'm seriously considering going to the yoga workshop June 10-12. I'm not totally sure where in chicago this studio is at. I've been to chicago 1 time back in 2008 for 5 days and honestly not very familiar with the city. Below is the yoga website. Does anyone know of any good not super expensive hotels nearby:

http://www.mokshayoga.com

I don't want to spend a ton of money on this so anything I can save would be great. I'm starting to realize that I'm trying to push TTC out of my head and replace it with other things. We don't have travel plans this year like we have years in the past so sometimes I think it would be nice to just escape with DH and go somewhere. lol. I'm realizing too that I may be harboring a little bit of resentment towards DH - I feel like its all about his studio and maybe I'm being selfish and silly and just need to get over it. There are other real world problems that are much greater. I have to remind myself we are healthy. Trying to work on living in the present as well.

brij2006 · April 2016

Which location will you be at? There are 3 listed on the website.

brij2006 · April 2016

Also, which airport would you be flying into? Midway or Ohare?

vlagrl29 · April 2016

Its Ohare I believe - I didn't know there was another airport. The address is 700 N Carpenter Street.

brij2006 · April 2016

Will it just be you, or your H and DD also?

brij2006 · April 2016

So there really aren't hotels in that area. It's more of an old industrial area. You could stay closer to the city, but of course those hotels are going to be expensive. I'm finding $25-350+ per night for a decent hotel. The Crowne Plaza is south of there, about $284/night. However, I would recommend to stay closer into the city if you're going to be there just yourself. That way you are within walking distance to sites and restaurants.

Another option would be to try and find something on Airbnb. There are some private rooms available right in that area for that weekend for around $100-150/night.

I would rely on Uber for transportation since parking in Chicago is insanely expensive and minimal.

If you want to be in more of the "action" then I would look closer to the Michigan Ave area and then take Uber back and forth for the classes.

vlagrl29 · April 2016

Yeah originally I was thinking it would just be me. I am trying to find a yoga friend to go with but realistically it will probably just be me and DH. For me I'm just going there to do yoga so not really sight see - I would be fine staying away from the more expensive hotels near the Michigan Ave.

smerka · April 2016

Just so you know that weekend is Blues Fest so I would stay away from the Millenium Park area. I would call the yoga studio and ask if they have any recommendations for hotels. I would suggest Ohare because the El can get you downtown.

vlagrl29 · April 2016

smerka said:

Just so you know that weekend is Blues Fest so I would stay away from the Millenium Park area. I would call the yoga studio and ask if they have any recommendations for hotels. I would suggest Ohare because the El can get you downtown.

Thanks for that bit of info!

julieanne912 · April 2016

Also, the blue line train runs from OHare to the Loop. That studio is right off of the Blue Line Chicago stop, so it would be easy to get up there from the Loop, but I'm not sure I'd stay down there during Blues Fest.

But yes, what most people said was true, there are no hotels right there. But, you could stay somewhere closer to Mich Ave and either Uber it (would be cheap) or take the Chicago Ave bus across... it's not far at all.

My BFF owns a condo literally right there (the building next door), too bad she doesn't use it for Air BnB, she has a regular renter. But there are tons of condos in that area so I think that might be a good option for you instead of a hotel. Your H could take the train down to the Loop to sight see while you're yoga-ing (unless he does it with you?) and it's only like a 10 minute ride. There's also some fun little restaurants and bars right there too.

brij2006 · April 2016

vlagrl29 said:

smerka said:

Just so you know that weekend is Blues Fest so I would stay away from the Millenium Park area. I would call the yoga studio and ask if they have any recommendations for hotels. I would suggest Ohare because the El can get you downtown.

Thanks for that bit of info!

Yup. That's what I would do. Didn't realize Blues Fest was that weekend.

If I'm remembering correctly, you would take the blue line in from Ohare and the Chicago stop should get you within a block of the studio.

I would just be sure to find a hotel near the airport that either has a couple of restaurant options in it, or at least a few options within walking distance around it. It isn't exactly a "hopping" area.

We've stayed at the Four Points Sheraton and it was about $100/night. We've also stayed at the Westin there, but of course that's more $$$.

julieanne912 · April 2016

brij2006 said:

vlagrl29 said:

smerka said:

Just so you know that weekend is Blues Fest so I would stay away from the Millenium Park area. I would call the yoga studio and ask if they have any recommendations for hotels. I would suggest Ohare because the El can get you downtown.

Thanks for that bit of info!

Yup. That's what I would do. Didn't realize Blues Fest was that weekend.

If I'm remembering correctly, you would take the blue line in from Ohare and the Chicago stop should get you within a block of the studio.

I would just be sure to find a hotel near the airport that either has a couple of restaurant options in it, or at least a few options within walking distance around it. It isn't exactly a "hopping" area.
We've stayed at the Four Points Sheraton and it was about $100/night. We've also stayed at the Westin there, but of course that's more $$$.

It's more hopping than you think... there's quite a few really cute restaurants and bars right around there.

Taking the train down there from the airport would take at least an hour, once you factor in the time to get to the train from the hotel etc.

vlagrl29 · April 2016

Yeah I'm going to contact the studio and see what neighborhood it's in. I went on travelocity and there did seem to be some pretty good deals. Its just now if DH goes with me it basically doubles our $$ - I was looking to spend $400-$500 total and its closer to $800 if he goes with me

I need to start working on my yoga friends. DH doesn't want me going by myself.

julieanne912 · April 2016

vlagrl29 said:

Yeah I'm going to contact the studio and see what neighborhood it's in. I went on travelocity and there did seem to be some pretty good deals. Its just now if DH goes with me it basically doubles our $$ - I was looking to spend $400-$500 total and its closer to $800 if he goes with me I need to start working on my yoga friends. DH doesn't want me going by myself.

The neighborhood it's in is called River West. Like I said my BFF lived next door to that address and still owns her condo there (that she rents for $2400/mo so it's not like it's a low rent area) and the neighborhood is fine. It's a bit quiet late at night but there's still things to do and it's not somewhere I'd feel unsafe in...but I also lived in Chicago, and lived around a mile due west of there for a bit... so it'll depend on your comfort factor there. I'd feel safer there than late at night in some of the more touristy/popular areas though, since those are the areas that get targeted more often.

brij2006 · April 2016

julieanne912 said:

brij2006 said:

vlagrl29 said:

smerka said:

Just so you know that weekend is Blues Fest so I would stay away from the Millenium Park area. I would call the yoga studio and ask if they have any recommendations for hotels. I would suggest Ohare because the El can get you downtown.

Thanks for that bit of info!

Yup. That's what I would do. Didn't realize Blues Fest was that weekend.

If I'm remembering correctly, you would take the blue line in from Ohare and the Chicago stop should get you within a block of the studio.

I would just be sure to find a hotel near the airport that either has a couple of restaurant options in it, or at least a few options within walking distance around it. It isn't exactly a "hopping" area.
We've stayed at the Four Points Sheraton and it was about $100/night. We've also stayed at the Westin there, but of course that's more $$$.

It's more hopping than you think... there's quite a few really cute restaurants and bars right around there.

Taking the train down there from the airport would take at least an hour, once you factor in the time to get to the train from the hotel etc.

Haha. We must have been going to the wrong spots.

Forgot that I've also stayed at the Double Tree and the Hyatt there as well. Believe the Hyatt has a sushi and martini bar. They're expensive but delicious.

Erikan73 · April 2016

Watch groupon for hotel deals in that area. Depending on location & dates, you can find amazing deals for good hotels in the area. If hubby is going along, it may be worth it to get a hotel downtown if you find one for a good price & then taxi or uber to yoga studio. Then hubby can go walking around town while you are at yoga. And then when you aren't at yoga again, the two of you can walk around the city. If you go this route, you can eliminate the need for a rental car because you can take a shuttle or taxi from airport to hotel. While in Chicago, check out the double decker tour buses. Great way to see the city, they let you on & off at different tourist locations & you aren't on a limit. You buy a day pass. The nice thing is that you get stories & history of the city between stops. Also check out the Chicago Groupon page for dining & entertainment deals.

short+sassy · April 2016

vlagrl29 said:

Yeah I'm going to contact the studio and see what neighborhood it's in. I went on travelocity and there did seem to be some pretty good deals. Its just now if DH goes with me it basically doubles our $$ - I was looking to spend $400-$500 total and its closer to $800 if he goes with me I need to start working on my yoga friends. DH doesn't want me going by myself.

Fully realizing I am butting my nose in where it doesn't belong, your DH's attitude irks me. I realize it is coming out of a place of love and concern for his wife, but it still doesn't change the fact that you are a grown woman who is perfectly capable of safely traveling to a large city by herself. There's always the possibility a terrible thing can happen, but that's true anywhere.

I had the opportunity to go to Atlantic City and NYC on the same trip, for very little cost. I'd never been to either place (at the time), but had no qualms about going by myself. My H wasn't against the idea at all. A little concerned, but about the same level of concern that he has if I'm going to be coming home late at night or driving in extra bad weather.

vlagrl35 · April 2016

short+sassy said:

vlagrl29 said:

Yeah I'm going to contact the studio and see what neighborhood it's in. I went on travelocity and there did seem to be some pretty good deals. Its just now if DH goes with me it basically doubles our $$ - I was looking to spend $400-$500 total and its closer to $800 if he goes with me I need to start working on my yoga friends. DH doesn't want me going by myself.

Fully realizing I am butting my nose in where it doesn't belong, your DH's attitude irks me. I realize it is coming out of a place of love and concern for his wife, but it still doesn't change the fact that you are a grown woman who is perfectly capable of safely traveling to a large city by herself. There's always the possibility a terrible thing can happen, but that's true anywhere.
I had the opportunity to go to Atlantic City and NYC on the same trip, for very little cost. I'd never been to either place (at the time), but had no qualms about going by myself. My H wasn't against the idea at all. A little concerned, but about the same level of concern that he has if I'm going to be coming home late at night or driving in extra bad weather.

I understand - he just worries about me and after having been married to a man before him who literally could care less about my safety it makes me feel loved. weird i know. one time I went on a walk with DD around the neighborhood and didn't tell him - he wondered what the heck happened to us and was driving around the neighborhood to find us.

BTW - I changed my screen name a bit because I was having a hard time logging in today.

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