<p>What hotel would you recommend that is near (very near) Roosevelt CCPA? While we're in Chicago, we're also going to visit Columbia College of Chicago. I understand the best way to get in from O'Hare is by train, yes? Any advice to make our trip smooth would be appreciated. We are flying in from New York City.</p>
<p>Congress Plaza is right next door. Palmer House is a few blocks away. And yes, the Blue Line from O’Hare cost $2.50 a person and takes you within a few blocks of both. For a quick bite right near the school, Cafe Cito has wonderful cuban sandwiches and great cafe con leche and it’s cheap and has free wifi. <a href=“http://www.cafecitochicago.com/”>http://www.cafecitochicago.com/</a></p>
<p>I don’t exactly when you’re going, but they had a pretty major accident on the blue line at the airport a week or two ago. It sounds like it’s running again though. <a href=“Repairs Continue At O'Hare Blue Line Station; Weekend Reopening Expected - CBS Chicago”>http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/03/28/repairs-continue-at-ohare-blue-line-station-weekend-reopening-expected/</a></p>
<p>Check to see if the train in from O’Hare is operating right now. I remember reading an article saying they were repairing it. We fly in to Midway and the orange line takes us to the Washington Library stop one block from school. Very convenient. We’ve stayed at the Blake Wyndham, the Essex, and in February got rooms for $100 a night at the Hilton. There are MANY hotels right there, I just look on Expedia for the cheapest rates.</p>
<p>The Congress Park Hotel is right next door and one of the cheaper options, but there were some iffy Trip Advisor reviews. We’ve never stayed there.</p>
<p>The tapas restaurant in the Blackstone Hotel is wonderful. Mercat a la Planxa </p>
<p>The University Center (a large dorm a block away that serves multiple schools) has a couple of apartments for rent also. We stayed there for move-in, but they go quickly. I made reservations there when she accepted CCPA the May before.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Congress Plaza for move-in and had a very nice room and stay. It’s a huge old hotel and people say it’s haunted, but we didn’t see any ghosts.</p>
<p>Austinmt would you say that the University Center is cheaper to stay at than one of the hotels - for move-in?</p>
<p>It was a bit cheaper, plus both D’s were with us and it had a small kitchen. Nothing fancy and no room service or daily maid like a hotel, but convenient and we could all stay in the one room.</p>
<p>The hotel room prices vary widely by time of year so you have to check each time. For example, the Hilton room that was $100 in February was nearly $600 when I check for rooms for the marathon in October.</p>
<p>I have also had pretty good luck going on priceline and doing the blind option where you just select LOOP/GRANT park. I got the Palmer House for $79 a night that way in January. You don’t know which hotel until you’re already committed though. </p>
<p>That’s good to know Jkellyn! I just remember reading some scary (not “ghost scary”) reviews online for Congress Plaza. (I said Congress Park above, but I meant Congress Plaza)</p>
<p>There are some pretty awful reviews of Palmer House, too, but we had a fantastic time there. (I think Congress Plaza may have had some labor problems a few years ago, which affected service, but it’s over now.)</p>
<p>The Palmer House is where Unifieds will be held. If you are coming back for that maybe stay there and get a feel for the hotel and the transportation around it. The Palmer House has always been great when I was there. We are also heading to Chicago on Friday and will be touring CCPA and Columbia next week on Mon-Wed.</p>
<p>There are some pretty awful reviews of Palmer House, too, but we had a fantastic time there. (I think Congress Plaza may have had some labor problems a few years ago, which affected service, but it’s over now.)</p>
<p>sorry about the double post, not sure what happened. @evilqueen, hope you enjoy your trip. Is your D sitting in on any classes?</p>
<p>@Jkellynh17, D is a junior this year and I did not think to ask about sitting in on classes. This will be the first school with BFA that she looks at. Did a mini tour in California last summer before she decided on the BFA route. She was not impressed with Cali at all, lol. I was!</p>
<p>We liked the Silversmith.</p>
<p>The blue line now charges a surcharge from Ohare so be prepared. I think the total is $5. The Palmer House is nice but any loop hotel is walking distance. So look for price. There are like three Hyatts down there. Check trivago.com.</p>
<p>Oh, that’s interesting. I thought my Ventra card ran out faster than it should have. Still $5 is cheaper than $30-$50 for a taxi. </p>
<p>I second @Jkellynh17 on using the “Name Your Price” option on Priceline (check BiddingForTravel first to see what people have been paying). We routinely get awesome 4* and 5* Chicago hotels for under $100.</p>
<p>I also have a much younger child and would like a hotel with a pool. Do you know if any of the nearby hotels have an indoor pool? I’m having trouble finding a hotel near Roosevelt with a pool at a reasonable price. Thanks!</p>
<p>If you’re coming from NYC, try to fly into Midway. It’s much easier and a lot less hassle than O’Hare.
SW Airlines has a hub there and a cab from Midway to where you are going is about $35 (and that is a good deal if there are two or more in your party), or you can take the Orange Line El right into town also. I have a D in grad school (VP) at CCPA and if I’m not staying with her, I really love the Chicago Hilton. Yes, it’s huge (Home Alone was filmed there) but the service is wonderful- sign up for the" hilton hhonors" membership before you leave and you have a separate check in desk and stand a great chance at an upgrade (usually to a large room with two full baths- and it never hurts to politely ask for one either!).
Often you can find Groupon rates or check with AAA or a travel agent for a package that includes airfare and discount at the Hilton.
CCPA is a 5 minute walk and you don’t hear the El from the hotel. There are a lot of little places to eat there too and you can either walk to the Mag Mile or catch a bus or the El.</p>