Heading to Chicago... need help where to stay

[cytor]

Fellow CFer's...

Headed to see a concert at the United Center this summer and looking to stay in an Air B&B near there. Any areas to steer clear of? Do I stay north of 290? South of 290? Can I take the L to the United Center? Where can I stay to be safe? I know in the past, that area of town was not ideal. Any suggestions would be a huge help! Thanks all!

 

[Beerbrat]

Fellow CFer's...

Headed to see a concert at the United Center this summer and looking to stay in an Air B&B near there. Any areas to steer clear of? Do I stay north of 290? South of 290? Can I take the L to the United Center? Where can I stay to be safe? I know in the past, that area of town was not ideal. Any suggestions would be a huge help! Thanks all!

Around the United Center.

I personally like staying in River North due to the number of hotels. You can always get a decent hotel for pretty cheap and there are a lot of restaurants and bars around. It is also walkable to a lot of things. West Loop is fun but less hotels than River North.

 

[BCClone]

Fellow CFer's...

Headed to see a concert at the United Center this summer and looking to stay in an Air B&B near there. Any areas to steer clear of? Do I stay north of 290? South of 290? Can I take the L to the United Center? Where can I stay to be safe? I know in the past, that area of town was not ideal. Any suggestions would be a huge help! Thanks all!

Not going politics, but you need to check where protests in cities are happening. Can definitely affect your ability to get around.

 

[Cycsk]

If you are a typical Iowan, then just about anything near the United Center will be a bit scary. But it doesn't need to be. The area is incredibly better than when I used to go to the old Chicago Stadium across the street. RIP.

If you are using AirBnB, read the comments on the ratings. They will give you a good sense of what the place is really like.

Are you driving? If so, then parking should be a priority in your planning. I use SpotHero when I go to Chicago, but I've never used it near the United Center.

The L doesn't go right next to the United Center and you may not want to make the walk from its closest stops. There are buses, but again, you may not be comfortable with them as they will be very crowded before/after an event.

 

[AllInForISU]

If you are a typical Iowan, then just about anything near the United Center will be a bit scary. But it doesn't need to be. The area is incredibly better than when I used to go to the old Chicago Stadium across the street. RIP.

If you are using AirBnB, read the comments on the ratings. They will give you a good sense of what the place is really like.

Are you driving? If so, then parking should be a priority in your planning. I use SpotHero when I go to Chicago, but I've never used it near the United Center.

The L doesn't go right next to the United Center and you may not want to make the walk from its closest stops. There are buses, but again, you may not be comfortable with them as they will be very crowded before/after an event.

The UC has plenty of parking. Spothero is good if you’re in the city though for other things.

 

[Cycsk]

The UC has plenty of parking. Spothero is good if you’re in the city though for other things.

Do you think the average Iowan would be comfortable walking from UIC to the United Center? I don't. However, if they get an AirBnB that is close to the United Center, then it might make sense to park at UIC and then use Uber to get back and forth to the AirBnB. It eliminates the issue of parking for the event and probably saves money.

 

[dafarmer]

Parking downtown can run $50, a Lyft or Uber makes sense. Been downtown only during the day, but son says the el can get pretty sketchy at night.

 

[Gonzo]

Fellow CFer's...

Headed to see a concert at the United Center this summer and looking to stay in an Air B&B near there. Any areas to steer clear of? Do I stay north of 290? South of 290? Can I take the L to the United Center? Where can I stay to be safe? I know in the past, that area of town was not ideal. Any suggestions would be a huge help! Thanks all!

Honestly I'd book a hotel downtown and just Uber everywhere. Yeah it'll be pricier than AirB&B or VRBO but you won't have to worry about parking, you can just valet, and you'll be covered. Ubering over such short distances won't cost that much.

 

[DGC]

I don't have an answer to your question but can offer some advice.
If you don't have a transponder for the toll roads, log on to the website and pay. We flew out of O'hare for the Ireland trip and caught a Bears preseason game the night before. I did not log in to pay and they sent me a bill, and the tolls were almost double than if I had logged on.

 

[JP4CY]

I have started to stay more often at the Westin on the River. Great lobby bar and walkable to a lot of activities.
Take an Uber to the UC.

 

[PineClone]

Geneva is great! Lots of cool shops, bars, restaurants, outdoor musicians, etc.

 

[Cycsk]

I don't have an answer to your question but can offer some advice.
If you don't have a transponder for the toll roads, log on to the website and pay. We flew out of O'hare for the Ireland trip and caught a Bears preseason game the night before. I did not log in to pay and they sent me a bill, and the tolls were almost double than if I had logged on.

Good advice. I still use the EZ pass that we bought 20+ years ago before moving here to Iowa. I saved at least $20 every time I go to Chicago.

 

[Cycsk]

I have started to stay more often at the Westin on the River. Great lobby bar and walkable to a lot of activities.
Take an Uber to the UC.

Generally speaking, I think Uber is a good idea. However, what will it be like trying to get an Uber after the concert?

 

[JP4CY]

Generally speaking, I think Uber is a good idea. However, what will it be like trying to get an Uber after the concert?

The UC has a dedicated spot for Uber.
There are also some buses waiting to go that will bring you straight to Michigan Ave.
I did that after the Sweet 16 a few years ago. Assume thats still happening?

 

[GoSTATE71]

I’ve lived in Chicago for 15 years. Stay in the west loop. It’s pretty close to United center plus tons of great restaurants and bars if that’s your thing. The Hoxton Hotel or Nobu Hotel is great. Would highly advise against Airbnb in Chicago as Airbnb is largely not prohibited in Chicago so a lot of those places end up being way sketchier then advertised

 

[GoSTATE71]

Fellow CFer's...

Headed to see a concert at the United Center this summer and looking to stay in an Air B&B near there. Any areas to steer clear of? Do I stay north of 290? South of 290? Can I take the L to the United Center? Where can I stay to be safe? I know in the past, that area of town was not ideal. Any suggestions would be a huge help! Thanks all!

One additional note, the area around United center does get a little sketchy at night, south of United center is an absolute no no that’s one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in all of Chicago. A lot of the west side of Chicago is pretty dicey especially if you go west of United center or northwest. When in doubt just stay in river north, west loop or loop that’ll have the most hotels. Ubers are way more reliable than the train and train isn’t very convenient to United center anyways imo.

 

[AllInForISU]

Do you think the average Iowan would be comfortable walking from UIC to the United Center? I don't. However, if they get an AirBnB that is close to the United Center, then it might make sense to park at UIC and then use Uber to get back and forth to the AirBnB. It eliminates the issue of parking for the event and probably saves money.

I didn’t say UIC. I said the UC as in the United Center. Parking for spothero around the event is probably just as expensive as parking in the United Center lots.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Best hotel in the city is the Palmer House.

https://www.palmerhousehiltonhotel.com/

Easy EL ride on the Green Line out to the United Center.



Never failed me.

Took the whole family there for a week over July 4 to rave reviews.

 

[Cycsk]

I didn’t say UIC. I said the UC as in the United Center. Parking for spothero around the event is probably just as expensive as parking in the United Center lots.

Thanks for the correction. I still think first of the old Chicago Stadium and University of Illinois Chicago. Haven't made the transition to United Center as UC. Give me another decade or two and I'll get there. I still sometimes refer to UIC as "Circle Campus" (the only university originally named for a highway interchange).

 

[Peter]

As others have said, avoid the united center. Dicey area. Get in and get out. West loop or river north (slightly further away) are close by and much safer neighborhoods with things to do. If you want to stay a bit further out (like a 20 minute drive) stay in Wicker Park or Logan square. Very cool neighborhoods with lots of things to do. Restaurants, breweries, etc.