Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Chicago (Airport Midway MDW Area) Doubletree Chicago Alsip

[TrueNorth]

Looking for help identifying a one star hotel on the Mag Mile. I'm heading to Chicago on June 3, staying for three nights and rooms are VERY expensive. There is currently a one star available at $126 per night. There are no Hotwire reviews but the amenities listed are: Free parking and High-Speed internet access.

It doesn't appear this hotel has been ID' yet, but just wondering if anyone has a guess as to what it might be. The Red Roof Inn, or something else possibly?

Thanks for any potential guesses.

[TrueNorth]

After a little more digging, and based on the location and free parking. I'm guessing this is the Howard Johnson.

I checked out their website directly and they are offering basically the same price (within a few dollars), and it is refundable. I booked through their website, and will keep an eye for anything better showing up.

If anyone thinks the one star is something else, please let me know! Thanks!

[AaronJB]

I'd actually guess a 1* in this zone may be the Ohio House. I don't believe the Hojo falls under this zone, although that may have changed since the zones were recently redone.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[TrueNorth]

So I'm an idiot and while trying to get a free re-bid zone for downtown, I selected the Midway Airport Area instead of Midway Airport North.

We were planning on spending our time downtown, does anyone have any advise on the best way to get downtown, besides driving? Is parking available at the Red/Orange lines and is it safe to leave your car their for the day? Any other ideas or suggestions, or should I just bite the bullet and drive downtown and park for the day?

I did use the PRICELINE link to book my hotel, and ended up getting my price reduced thanks the the Priceline Big Deal Gaurantee.

[AaronJB]

Sorry to hear about the situation. :(

What hotel did you get?

I'd suggest taking the "L" from Midway (Orange Line, there is park and ride - http://www.transitchicago.com/parking/) rather than driving downtown. Otherwise, there's really not other options to get downtown, although depending on where your hotel is, it may be near a Metra line (Metrarail.com)

Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.

[TrueNorth]

Sorry, forgot to list the hotel! I ended up with the Doubletree Chicago Alsip. It looks like a nice enough property.

I was thinking the orange or red line would be the best option, but thanks for confirming and for your sympathy!

[AaronJB]

Thanks for the follow-up; hopefully the stay will still work out okay - this property does offer free shuttle to Midway, according to PRICELINE, so hopefully you can use that instead of having to drive over and park.

[bgodbout]

The Alsip Doubletree is not that far from the Blue Island Metra or the Oak Lawn Metra (about 2 miles). www.metrarail.com

For Blue Island, you have the choice of either the Rock Island line (into the Loop at Board of Trade) or the Electric Line which goes to Michigan Avenue with stops at the Museum Campus.

For Oak Lawn, you would take the SW Suburban line. That drops you at Union Station. Parking at the Metra stations is about $1.25.

If I had a choice, I'd take the Metra. The Metra would be fine to take late at night as well.

It's much closer than the Orange line at Midway and certainly do not take the Redline to 95th Street (not the greatest area).

[thereuare]

bgodbout,

Thanks for the additional info. :)

[TrueNorth]

Thanks for all the information. We ended up using the the free shuttle to Midway Airport and then took the Orange Line downtown. The hotel shuttle even picked us up at night, so considering my mistake, things turned out to work quite well!

[AaronJB]

Glad to hear that things turned out well! :) Thanks for the follow-up.