How to Find Cheap Hotels In Chicago, Illinois

Nicknamed the "Windy City," Chicago, Illinois is a major U.S. city located in the Midwest. Famous for skyscrapers, Chicago style pizza, and the Cubs baseball team, Chicago is a social and friendly city with lots to do and see. Finding cheap accommodations in such a popular town takes creativity, but it certainly can be done.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A computer with Internet access

Know Your Destination

1. Brush up on your art history. Chicago, Illinois is home to many art museums and theaters. The Improv is especially popular.

2. Get ready to cheer. Chicago residents are devout sports fans and do not take kindly to rival sports fanatics.

Transportation in Chicago, Illinois

3. Buy your airline tickets. Chicago has two large airports: O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway Airport.

4. Ride the rails. Chicago's famed above-ground El trains make inner-city travel a snap.

5. Take the bus. Buses service nearly every section of downtown Chicago and the city's suburbs, and the routes total over 2,000 miles.

Cheap Accommodations in Chicago, Illinois

6. Play it safe. Well-known, mid-level chains have several hotels in Chicago, Illinois. Mid-level accommodations can range from below $100 a night to $200 a night.

7. Search the Chicago Reader Classifieds for sublet information. Sometimes staying at someone's apartment can be a cheap alternative to a hotel or motel.

8. Skip the motels. Hostels in and around Chicago offer super cheap accommodations. Rooms can cost less than half what you may be charged at a hotel.

9. Indulge yourself. Stay at the Drake Hotel, a 1920's hotel located on the Magnificent Mile. It's not cheap, but many rooms overlook Lake Michigan.

10. To book accommodations, contact Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau at (877) CHICAGO or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).

Explore the City

11. Visit the Loop, the downtown area of Chicago, Illinois. The Loop is a business district close to attractions like the library and the Sears Tower.

12. Amble along Michigan Avenue. Home to the famed water tower, Michigan Avenue boasts easy accessibility to shopping and tourist attractions, like Navy Pier.

13. Experience Illinois nightlife. Lincoln Park's upscale bars, music, and restaurants make this area a late-1920's mecca.

14. Make the scene in Wicker Park. Slightly grungy, this neighborhood has become the place for young hipsters to hang out.

Tips & Warnings

• Flexibility is key! Accepting accommodations outside the area you are interested in can save you a bundle.
• Never stay in a hostel where there is not a personal lock on your door. Chicago, although in gentle Illinois, is still a large city.
• Never pay someone for a sublet without first seeing photos and receiving a contract with all liability spelled out.