Can anyone familiar with Chicago tell me approx. how much it costs to make it into the city from Midway to the Hotel Monaco (225 North Wabash Avenue)?

 

Is the el the best option?

Yes.... the "El" is a very good option.  Should drop you off within a block or two of the Hotel as I recall.

 

Here's a link to a map of the "el" Downtown Loop....it runs almost directly over Wabash.  Depending on when you arrive at Midway, it should take you maybe 15-20 minutes to travel into Downtown.  There are plenty of signs at the Baggage claim at Midway to direct you to the El station.

 

http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/maps/200804D.html

 

Link to CTA Map showing the "Orange" line from Midway:

 

http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/maps/200804C.html

thanks noozer!  how many greenbacks will this set me back...? will $20 cover it?

As I recall, it was only a few bucks, but it has been 4 or 5 years since I've used it...

The orange line will take you from midway to downtown for 2 dollars

 

 

If you're going to be in town for awhile, stop at Union Station or the Sears Tower and pick up a CTA Visitors Pass.  A 3-day pass for unlimited bus and train rides is $12.

Aren't visitors passes available at the airport El stations?

^Yes.  I bought a pass at the airport the last time I was there. 

I was on the green line yesterday!  Visited Chicago for the day and as someone stated above, it's $2 to ride.

By the way, we're talking about Chicago, not New Yawk or Philly.  That makes it the `L', not the 'el'.

 

The Orange Line is the best way downtown from Midway.  Right now the Blue Line to O'Hare is having intermittent construction and is slow zoned to death.  I don't recommend it unless you are really pinched for cash, but if you do, budget at least an hour.

 

Aaron.

 

The Orange line is definitely your best bet - great views coming into the city from the south. The only thing is - if you pack a heavy suitcase (like me), make sure it has wheels. I was expecting the station to be like Cleveland's (i.e. directly in the terminal, not far from baggage claim) - at Midway, it's a little more of a hike.

By the way, we're talking about Chicago, not New Yawk or Philly.  That makes it the `L', not the 'el'.

 

The Orange Line is the best way downtown from Midway.  Right now the Blue Line to O'Hare is having intermittent construction and is slow zoned to death.  I don't recommend it unless you are really pinched for cash, but if you do, budget at least an hour.

 

Aaron.

 

 

Unless you're in a big hurry and/or on an expense account, an hour on the Blue Line for $2 still compares favorably with cab fare. It's been more than 10 years since I took a cab from O'Hare, but it seems to me it was around $20 then. I have no idea what it costs now, but I'll bet it's a bunch.

 

... a heavy suitcase ...

 

Suitcase? :? For some reason, I always pictured at least two steamer trunks. :wink:

The Orange line is great.  It's fast & smooth - one of the few lines in the entire CTA network that isn't hampered by slow zones.

"Suitcase?  For some reason, I always pictured at least two steamer trunks."

 

Thanks to TSA (and my partner saying something about "do you REALLY need your ENTIRE wardrobe?"), I'm relegated to a wheeled suitcase. Mind you it's well over three feet tall, expandable, and routinely comes off the baggage carousel with a "Warning/HEAVY" sticker. :-)

"Suitcase?  For some reason, I always pictured at least two steamer trunks."

 

Thanks to TSA (and my partner saying something about "do you REALLY need your ENTIRE wardrobe?"), I'm relegated to a wheeled suitcase. Mind you it's well over three feet tall, expandable, and routinely comes off the baggage carousel with a "Warning/HEAVY" sticker. :-)

 

Another reason to bring back passenger trains. Picture alighting from your Pullman and beckoning for a red-capped porter who loads your bags onto his cart and wheels them to your limo waiting at curbside, or better yet, has them delivered directly to your hotel. Such elegance.

 

Air travel has become such a Philistine experience in many respects, not least of which is the proliferation of such coarse-looking luggage. All that plastic and synthetic fabric! I wouldn't think of taking my leather suitcases when flying, for fear the barbarians will damage them even more than they already have.  :-(

The Orange line is great.  It's fast & smooth - one of the few lines in the entire CTA network that isn't hampered by slow zones.

 

I agree.

The Orange line is great.  It's fast & smooth - one of the few lines in the entire CTA network that isn't hampered by slow zones.

 

Well, yeah... Because it was built in the 1980s, not the 1890s.

A cab from O'hare to downtown is probably about $40.