Chicago people, I need assitance with lodging information/recommendations

Star Wars Celebration is coming to Chicago in April 11-15 at McCormick Place.  I have my 5 day ticket (which sold out in 3 days, other tix still available) and plan to be there with the 501st in costume.  Now it's hotel time...

Everything I and SWMBO see is fairly expensive, I don't expect to get away with $50/night, but looking for deals especially with 4 night stay.  Hotels, AirBnB, friends, all options.  I'm willing to stay up to about 30 min away.  Some forum guys have mentioned using the train but I'll be lugging a 50 gal rolling bin with stormtrooper costume so I need to drive the xB.

Anyone local have decent options?

Would you be in a position to sign up for a new credit card and shift normal spending to hit a sign up bonus?  The Hyatt card from Chase offers a 40,000 point bonus after $2k in spending in the first three months, with an additional 5,000 available for setting up an authorized user who makes one purchase in the same time frame.   The Hyatt Place downtown Chicago is 12,000 points per night.  After hitting the sign up bonus your point balance will be 47,000, which would put you 1000 points from making the whole thing free.  

The card earns 3 points per dollars at Hyatt hotels, and the loyalty program pays out at 5 points per dollar for a total of 8 points per dollar...so about $125 in Hyatt hotel nights would get you over the line - and then all you have to pay for is parking your car.

Hyatt has other properties in the Chicago area that would be free with the points you would get with the sign up bonus with points to spare.  
 

I'd explore AirBnB pretty hard. Within the city limits (and even parts of the suburbs), if you're looking for anything "nice" (meaning, bed bug free and drug deals are not going on in the lobby) you're looking at at least $150. That, and within 30 minutes means  you're still in the city limits. Unless you're willing to leave at 5:30AM, traffic is going to be a bitch, especially on the weekdays. 

Add in the parking, it is going to be expensive. I think McCormick place is $24 for the day (16 hours), and $36 for 24 hours. And if you're going back and forth, you'll need parking at the hotel as well, which, if the hotel is in the city limits, you're going to be paying for as well. I recommend spot hero for that. 

Within the city, going North of the loop, you'll want to be as close to LSD (Lake Shore Drive) as you can. Same with south of the loop. If you're south of the loop, make sure the neighborhood is called "Hyde Park" or "Kenwood". Otherwise don't bother--a rash generalization, but for the sake of the conversation lets just leave it at that. Don't really have to worry about the neighborhood going north, as long as you stay... Uh, lets say Eastof Western until Fullerton, then east of Kedzie until Addison, then after that it doesn't really matter. Anything near UIC or the Loop will be fine. 

For suburbs, on the south stay close to 55. Robbie can probably help you more here as this is his stomping grounds, but the closer to 55 you are the easier the commute will be. On the west, Oak Park/Forest Park/Berwyn (but careful of the area in Oak Park--go west for safer) will probably be about as far as you can go to have a reasonable drive in. I wouldn't go north, unless maybe Evanston. 

In general I'd tell you to figure out a way to get the stormtrooper costume on you and just ride the Metra or the El. Or uber. 

As an aside, I don't want to make it sound like Chicago is really Chiraq by these comments, but having a car in the city adds some challenges--that and finding affordable lodging. FWIW, my house is 20 miles from McCormick place. It takes me about an hour to get there any time between 6:30AM and 9AM on a weekday.

Can you get a rolling rubbermaid and take the train? Metra train from my house goes straight to McCormick. 5 minutes walk to train, you'll probably walk further from McCormick parking to McCormick. There's probably a few airbnb around here, and there is a really cool hotel one train stop closer to McCormick (http://labanquehotel.com/hotel.html in downtown homewood - 2 minute walk from train) looks like rooms start at $200. It's an old bank building that has been converted into a small hotel with an incredible French restaurant below. Very small place, so my guess is if you call that far in advance to book the week they can do something for ya.

If you airbnb down here, the easy rule is to stay south of i-80 or west of i-55 or both. Lots of small pockets of nice places but I don't really know without going there. Actually, if you're going to airbnb, I'd look for a condo downtown, and leave your car parked somewhere all week (for example you could park here and train in/out once). Just uber around downtown.

Finally, if you are interested I'll ask my wife what we are up to that week (I HIGHLY doubt we have plans that far in advance) but you can stay here. You'll have to deal with my 4 and 2 year old, and I guess they'll be pretty interested in the star wars costume ;).

Lol, two Chicago folks already telling you to take the train instead. Seriously, take the damn train! Especially if you can stay with Robbie, as he's on the Metra Electric line.

Couldn't you just wear the costume from wherever you stay to the convention? Surely in a city as big as Chicago you won't be the strangest sight on the train/sidewalk. Although I could see that being a problem if it's hot or heavy. 

In reply to mtn :

Hehe the tote is on wheels at least, I forget the brand (looked at Stanley and another at Home Depot, SWMBO bought for my b'day gift).  I just didn't think it would be convenient on a train.  Especially if it's a crowded one, I haven't ridden a train in Chicago since post-bootcamp school in the Navy in 1985.

I'm willing to try any option at this point.  Even if I have to entertain some kids with my costume shenanigans.  :)

Are we talking something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-037025H-Gallon-Mobile-Chest/dp/B000Q5LZT4

Take it on the train. Go before or after rush hour. You'll be fine on either Metra or the EL. Better on the Metra. 

In reply to mtn :

I believe that's the one.  If not it's incredibly similar.  If that's cool on a train then maybe that's the answer, depending on where I end up anyway.

Jerry said:

In reply to mtn :

I believe that's the one.  If not it's incredibly similar.  If that's cool on a train then maybe that's the answer, depending on where I end up anyway.

Worst case scenario, you'll have to stand and your crate gets your seat. If you have SWMBO with you, it is easier since she won't complain about the crate. Put on the helmet, and the conductors will probably think its pretty cool and won't say anything.

 PriceLine.com still exists, I think. 

I have used that lots of times in years past to get good deals in Chicago. Especially good if I knew I wanted to be downtown but was not particularly specific of what part of downtown. 

Screw that. Ride the Metra in full gear. Make someone's day.

Or stay in Evanston and Rock the Purple line in full gear. You wouldn't be the strangest person I've seen on the Purple line.

As a Milwaukeean that goes to Chicago for vaca or work.

• Take the train.  Even with work paying for valet park its pain to have a car in Chicago.
• Stay at the Kinze Hotel downtown or Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile
• Eat at Lou Malnatis.  Get a deep dish pizza.

Thats all I really have to offer.  

Re: riding the train in full gear

If there is a Star Wars convention going on at McCormick, I can GUARANTEE you will not be the only person riding the train in full gear. Maybe not even the only person on your particular car.

McCormick Place is like an Island.  All the hotels and restaurants are up in the River North area - that is where we have stayed for work and did major damage to the company expense reports.  Parking is not cheap in this area - $30-$50 a day - the hotels just screw you on valet parking too.

There is a Hyatt attached to McCormick which is usually booked and expensive but you are walking to the show never going outside - 1 restaurant not counting the McDonald's or Connie's Pizza that is inside McCormick Place.   

Staying in the River North area and not parking your car in that area is best.  Taking the train or cab is best.

There is a little hotel near Chinatown that will help you encourage the "interesting" parts of the city.   http://chinatown-chicago-us.book.direct/en-us

I also suggest The Italian Village (upstairs) for dinner - old school 60 year old Italian waiter guys that speak broken English.   Great food and a lot of fun.   

https://italianvillage-chicago.com/the-village/

93gsxturbo said:

As a Milwaukeean that goes to Chicago for vaca or work.

• Take the train.  Even with work paying for valet park its pain to have a car in Chicago.
• Stay at the Kinze Hotel downtown or Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile
• Eat at Lou Malnatis.  Get a deep dish pizza.

Thats all I really have to offer.  

Lou's is good, but if you are close enough go for Pequods if you want Deep Dish. If you want thin crust, the easy button is Aurelios (chain), but the better buttons are Vito and Nicks (south side), Romanos (Des Plaines aka O'Hare), or some other neighborhood joint.

Robbie said:

Re: riding the train in full gear

If there is a Star Wars convention going on at McCormick, I can GUARANTEE you will not be the only person riding the train in full gear. Maybe not even the only person on your particular car.

I thought that myself, this is a major convention...  But I will want a break occasionally so civilian clothes are still a good idea.  Plus I've heard sitting down in this thing does not work.  (During filming of the original movie they built wooden saw horses for Luke and Han to lean on while in trooper disguises.)

Food ideas are always welcome as well!