Inexpensive stay for a wedding in Chicago

My husband and I and our two girls (13, 15) are coming for a weeding to Rolling Meadows, IL near Chicago. The church and the reception are on Sunday June 17th. We are arriving on Friday and leaving on Monday, and would like to see Chicago on Saturday. Since we are there for the first time, I have no idea what hotel to stay in. It seems a better idea to stay outside in the suburbs closer to the wedding place, but then we wonder how to get downtown. I鈥檒l appreciate any recommendation on where to stay, how to get downtown (drive or take Metra) and what to see on Saturday as well. We鈥檒l be driving from/to Maryland.

Thanks in advance for you time.

Inexpensive stay for a wedding in Chicago

June is a particularly busy month in terms of downtown hotels and rates are rather steep, although these dates don%26#39;t seem quite as bad as the rest.

You can drive to a nearby Metra station if you stay in the Rolling Meadows area (see metrarail.com for schedules/info) and then take the train downtown.

In terms of specific hotels, it depends on budget. You could also stay downtown for Friday and Saturday and stay out there Sunday, etc.

In terms of staying downtown for a room with 2 beds in a nice 3-4*, you would be looking at approximately the $175-225 a night range. In terms of staying out towards Rolling Meadows, you%26#39;d probably be in the $100 (maybe $125) range for a 3* (such as the Doubletree in nearby Arlington Heights, which is $99.) Let me know which option would be of interest to you and I%26#39;d be happy to go into more specifics on which hotels are available.

Inexpensive stay for a wedding in Chicago

I%26#39;d agree with staying out in the %26#39;burbs by the wedding. Generally traffic between city and suburbs on the weekend is pretty smooth, but if you hit a snag, better to be late for a museum visit than for a wedding....

If you have a car you will definitely be better off driving into the city for your day of sightseeing than depending on the commuter trains. The trains are great BUT the weekend schedules are very limited (typically, one train every hour or two), and it will take twice as long both ways. The cost of parking will be in the same ballpark as 4 train tickets ($5 per person for a ';weekend pass';). Search the forum for parking tips.

The Metra trains will take about 35-45 minutes to downtown, but you do get off at Union (or Ogilvie) stations, which are on the West side of the Loop. From there, you do need to walk or take public transit to many of the main sights.

Metra has a family pass on weekends that is $5 for the whole bunch of you. The trains do have their drawbacks, but kids love them. There are water taxis to North Michigan Avenue, the Shedd Aquarium and Navy Pier from Union Station, much more fun that the bus! Get a very early start on Saturday before the museums get crowded.

This deal might work for you - hotels.travelzoo.com/chicago-hotels/301843

%26lt;%26lt;Metra has a family pass on weekends that is $5 for the whole bunch of you.%26gt;%26gt;

That%26#39;s $5 per person, not per family. Kids 11 and under are free with fare-paying adults, but a family of 4 ages 13 and up would pay $20.