<p>I'm taking my daughter to see NW for the first time in April. I wanted to stay at the Orrington, but they are booked, as well as the Garden Inn. I will keep trying to get into one of those, but right now we are booked at both the Best Western and the Homestead. Are they both pretty bad? Which is the better location? Any other recommendations within walking distance to campus? </p>
<p>Also, do you recommend renting a car or just taking a taxi from the airport?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I just checked both of those out on Google Maps and they both seem good location-wise. Homestead is much closer and I wouldn’t envy your walk from Best Western to campus but neither are ridiculous. I’d take Homestead, purely from a distance pov.</p>
<p>I’ve stayed at both and would stay at either again. The Best Western lobby is not all that attractive, but the rooms have been recently redone. It’s not all that far from campus - just a few blocks more than the Orrington. The Homestead is maybe a block or so closer - we stayed here last summer and we had a huge room, complete with living room, dining area and kitchen. It’s not shiny flashy new but the rooms are clean and big and the people working there were really nice. I would pick the Homestead over BW.</p>
<p>As for the car - it’s really a matter of personal preference. You can get around campus and downtown Evanston by walking from either hotel, so you won’t NEED a car, but if you wanted to drive around and explore that’s something to consider. We typically just take a taxi to/from O’Hare- there is a flat rate which is printed on a notice in the taxis. (I think I paid $37 plus tip last weekend). Midway would be a lot further/ and cost quite a bit more.</p>
<p>We visited last week. We stayed at the Best Western, which was a further walk from campus then we expected. There are train tracks very close to the hotel. Beginning early in the morning, we heard the trains on a very regular basis. I’d recommend requesting a room which doesn’t face the train tracks, unless you are an early riser.</p>
<p>Orrington is MUCH nicer then Best Western, and closer to campus. It’s also MUCH more expensive.</p>
<p>Best Western is … well, exactly what you would expect, simple and clean. Staff is nice, and it comes with a light breakfast. Maybe a 15 or 20 minute walk to campus. Parking is available. Train didn’t bother me (or my wife who is a relatively light sleeper). Howeer on that, YMMV.</p>
<p>If you have a car – there are also a number of hotels further away (I think Skokie), but clearly not walkable.</p>
<p>I’ve never stayed at Homestead, so I can’t help there.</p>
<p>Basically, it comes down to how much you’re willing to pay.</p>
<p>On renting a car – I’ve done both. When you factor in parking at a hotel, it really doesn’t make much difference in cost. You can also go by mass transit, but if you do, budget 2 hours time. (maybe a bit more if you’re on the way back to the airport). It can take less, but not reliably so.</p>
<p>Some of the hotels in Skokie off Golf Rd. are pretty decent as many of my ex-consulting colleagues would have to stay there on assignment. They’re also about 10-15 minutes away from the university by car.</p>
<p>For us travelers, sometimes time is money. That may play into your choices with the various options. Especially if you are dealing with time zone changes, air travel, limited time, etc. like some of us.
Orrington and Hilton Garden Inn are nice and totally convenient to NU Evanston campus, but yes, they just don’t have enough capacity so can be booked full, and prices are kinda high. I wish there were several more hotels within walking distance like those two. I have found the staff very courteous at those hotels. I have not stayed at the other ones mentioned.
One option, certainly is to stay in downtown Chicago (which is fab) and take the El up to Evanston then stroll over to campus. Works fine for me, and I am not an expert on public transport.
One way or another, your daughter should definitely see a bit of downtown Evanston, there are students walking around all the time. There are many places to eat, but obviously a ton more in Chicago.
Walking around the campus and especially over by the lake is highly recommended.
One could stay in one of the numerous hotels right by O’Hare. Then taxi over.
I haven’t drummed up enough courage to try renting a car and driving in Chicago/Evanston - for one thing, parking appears very costly. I suggest checking out that aspect if you plan to drive. Other people do this, though…I am sure there are suggestions on this forum previously or someone will speak to this on this thread.
I have taxiied O’Hare - Evanston each time (unless I stayed in downtown Chicago, in that case take the El directly there and walk to your hotel, or if you have too much luggage, I would taxi it) and this is ok.
When you taxi either direction you can just get into a taxi in a lineup or phone for one of the better-known taxi companies (which I would recommend instructing your daughter to do if she attends NU and needs to get right to the airport with a reliable taxi company (and flat rate) in the early dawn, for example, which brings peace of mind in a city…perhaps share a cab with a fellow student). I envy those parents/students who pull up in their loaded minivans, a scenario we never have had and never will have in our family…
Taking the El from O’Hare to NU just looks like too long a time IMO (it does not go in a direct line); energetic people who have taken brief flights in the same time zone may disagree and be willing to lug their…luggage to this extent, and take this time, but I don’t recommend that. Better to spend your time at the school. Would be super cheap, though.
I believe the best very reasonably priced option I have heard about, which also shouldn’t take too much time in transit, is a bus from ORD to a local El station (where one would walk to the hotel or campus) - someone can provide specifics on this, frequency of operation, etc.</p>
<p>There is a cute little hotel called the Margareta European Hotel (something like that) that is very nice, they might still have availability. You can try hotels in Skokie which is pretty close - driving only, but still. Hotels in Evanston usually only book up during a NU event - could it be that you’re attending during admitted student days? We actually wound up doing that 4 years ago and it was a great time to go as we “snuck in” with the admitted Theatre students and learned a great deal more about the program than you would on a more typical tour. Good luck!</p>
<p>Sorry, didn’t see the car question but everyone answered it - if you’re walking distance from the campus then just take a cab, if not, you’ll need to rent a car.</p>
<p>When we went in the fall the Orrington was booked until right before- liked it much better than the Garden Inn and they were about the same price- and there is a whole foods only about 2 blocks away :)</p>
<p>When I visit Evanston, I always stay at the Best Western. It’s not the most upscale, but it’s not terrible either. You get your money’s worth there.</p>
<p>Thank you! What a wealth of information.</p>
<p>Whe we visited in the Fall, we flew in from NJ, rented a car from Hotwire (sooooo cheap) and drove to campus. There is a parking lot that is not too expensive right near admissions. We didn’t stay over because we had to be home for an event the next morning so we took a late flight home. There are directions and parking options on the website.</p>
<p>BTW, when is admitted students day??</p>
<p>lateparty - There’s a much faster and more direct option for getting from O’Hare to Evanston/NU: PACE 250 bus.</p>
<p>Fare is $1.75 each way and takes about 60 minutes depending on the time of day.</p>
<p>It allows avoidance of having to take Blue -> Red -> Purple/201.</p>
<p>@Oyama, thanks for the specifics - as I mentioned in my post, we have heard about this bus only didn’t know exact details. A great option.
That makes sense except sometimes we operate on short timeframes. Taxiis are expensive but they move fast and know the shortcuts. Sometimes it’s worth it to be early/prompt to O’Hare on those certain days when conditions wherever lead to flight issues - I don’t like to be the last one in line there.
Best advice for parents/students from out of area like us, is to know and consider all the options.</p>
<p>Hey Stacespace, I posted this on another thread but I am assuming that you or or child are an ED accceptant? I called admissions to ask about the admitted students day and technically speaking the ED accepted students are not included. I guess since they have them as a captive audience, they don’t need to use their resources convincing them to come. They did say that IF they have room, they may extend an invitation for ED kids to come on the last weekend. We are not counting on that so we are doing an independent trip in May.</p>
<p>No, my D is RD, but I thought if by some chance at all she gets in, I would like to take her so I would want to block out the weekend! Chances are slim to none as it is her reach school, but better safe than sorry!!! If she gets in, I think we might have a huge party and not wait until graduation!</p>
<p>Good luck to yoru daughter, stacespace!!!</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I’ve gained 10 lbs on chocolate and wine!! I think the saying of the year was, “Can we send that to Northwestern?” with ever last thing she has done this year!! LOL!</p>
<p>Good luck to you and your D. Hopefully you will be ordering a complete purple wardrobe like we did in December.</p>