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In response to "you can ask -- nm" by groiny

i expect nothing! okay, here goes.

Posted by colin (aka colinski) Jul 20 '15, 07:49

so.. I'm going to be in Chicago from 1 October until end of November. Working in the meat packing district, so there's street parking while I work. Planning on buying a car since we'll be close to a lot of things we want to visit (Michigan, Green Bay, maybe Minneapolis) plus road tripping for the month of December on vacation.

We'll also have our dog with us, so we need a pet friendly hotel. I'm looking at Marriott suites since I have a good rewards program with them, but I have NO idea about driving/commuting.

Right now, planning on paying for garage parking via work for two months to store the car and staying in the River North area downtown. But I'm wondering if it's worth being farther outside the city and driving in since that's an option. Any thoughts, or better to stay downtown?

Responses:

Colin, if your costs are covered, stay downtown. Save the commute, there's more to do and it's easier to get stuff done. It's not a close call IMO. -- nm - pmb Jul 20, 08:30 1
- done. appreciate the feedback from everybody :) -- nm - colin Jul 20, 08:54
What costs will be covered by your work? And are you getting a hotel with a kitchenette, or will you be eating out for most meals? -- nm - Roger More Jul 20, 07:58 12
- up to $75 a day in food, hotel is fully covered. I'd like to not eat out, so kitchenette is important. -- nm - colin Jul 20, 08:01 3
  - I think I'd just stay downtown. The costs are covered, the supermarkets downtown are probably nicer and you'll get a more Chicago experience -- nm - Roger More Jul 20, 08:08 2
    - ok. and I like the idea of a shorter commute... 40 min - 1 hour is a lot of time if I don't have to. -- nm - colin Jul 20, 08:10 1
      - Especially stuck in a car not moving much. I hate driving downtown and take the CTA/Metra whenever I'm home. -- nm - spamlet Jul 20, 08:12
- yeah, just get a residence hotel. almost all of them allow dogs. also, if you know you're there for two months, negotiate a better rate. - fabulous squad Jul 20, 08:00 7
  - the hotel downtown is a residence hotel with separate bedroom, kitchenette, dog friendly..initially why I picked that location. Plus quick commute. -- nm - colin Jul 20, 08:02 6
    - where exactly will you be working? - groiny Jul 20, 08:04 2
      - near the Morgan Lake station, Fulton Market. Hotel looking at is on West Kinzie/N Dearborn -- nm - colin Jul 20, 08:06 1
        
        yeah, you might be better off staying down there if work is covering the hotel then. nm -- nm - groiny Jul 20, 08:10
    - if the hotel is fully covered, wouldn't parking there be covered as well? -- nm - fabulous squad Jul 20, 08:03 2
      - the hotel downtown has absurd $50/day parking.. not a lot of space. the office next door has negotiated rates.. about $150/month. - colin Jul 20, 08:04 1
        
        are you still London based? how is the rental in Houston going? -- nm - Pippy the Blank Slate Jul 20, 08:25
IMO..... - groiny Jul 20, 07:55 6
- is Midway airport a decent area to stay in? my wife will be with me and I don't want to strand her in a place with nothing nearby (stores, bars, etc) -- nm - colin Jul 20, 07:58 5
  - yes, there is plenty nearby. - groiny Jul 20, 08:01 4
    - work covers most cost, so that's not the issue.. i just want a place that's going to be comfortable for 2 months. also, you up for meeting up? -- nm - colin Jul 20, 08:03 2
      - I am. Since I work downtown, I can do weeknights easy enough. - groiny Jul 20, 08:05 1
        
        awesome. look forward to it :) -- nm - colin Jul 20, 08:07
    - there's public transit too. I mean, it's not like she can only walk. -- nm - fabulous squad Jul 20, 08:01
Could you just do a long term rental on a car when you need it? or weekend rentals if you're doing weekend trips? - spamlet Jul 20, 07:54 3
- i could, but we do plan on driving the month of December, so it would be nice just to have something we can abuse a little and not worry about. - colin Jul 20, 07:58 2
  - I'd at least call one of the big rental car companies and see what there rates are for a month. You might be surprised. - spamlet Jul 20, 08:09 1
    - good point. I'll make some calls! -- nm - colin Jul 20, 08:55

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i expect nothing! okay, here goes.

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