I can't speak to Hazel at all, but I've seen a few people post that Homewood is not exactly the safest station around and I think I've even seen a news report or two about crime in the parking lot at Homewood. So I'd be careful about going there.
Check rates at the couple of hotels in downtown Evanston, too -- that's 'L'-accessible and is a safe, walkable area. I can vouch for the Hilton Orrington being a nice hotel, although it's been almost 20 years since I stayed there.
Homewood is a perfectly safe place, with a excellent downtown with many nice restaurants. The station and parking lots are right across the street from the police station, so I wouldn't be concerned about your safety in downtown Homewood. Now, the hotels around Interstate 294 and Halsted street are another story, They're not within easy walking distance of the train station and the clientel at some of them probably aren't the best. I can't think of any hotel/motel within walking distance of any Metra Electric station (except at McCormick Place and the downtown stations). It would probably be best to check at some of the hotels/motels on the outskirts of the Loop near Union Station. The motels just south of Midway Airport are also a good bet, especially if they offer shuttle service. The Orange Line CTA will take you close to Union Station, although some walking, at both the airport and the downtown end, is necessary.
All right, good to know. This is the sort of thing you can't tell from Google Maps/Street View. Well, I guess we'll stick with what we know: the Elk Grove Village/airport area. That's where my late aunt used to live, and we visited there often. Very nice suburb, as are the neighbouring Mt. Prospect and Des Plaines. Still fairly cheap hotels, as well, due to the proximity to O'Hare.
There's a Comfort Inn hotel almost adjacent to the Aurora Metra station. It would be very convenient. It is just on other side of the Roundhouse Brewery/Restaurant from the station.
No problem with that....I like mayo on my fries!
In Chicago, that's spelled 'L' (yes, with single quotes) -- surprised one of the other folks on this forum didn't jump on you for this first!
Aaaaaargh... I keep doing that. It's a habit from an old chat I used to haunt where the "L" would get all screwed up, so we changed it to "El" for the purposes of chatting.In Chicago, that's spelled 'L' (yes, with single quotes) -- surprised one of the other folks on this forum didn't jump on you for this first!
Some suggestions have already been given in this thread. What's wrong with them -- sold out? More expensive than the posters thought? Too far away?
In fact, all of them were more exoensive than the poster thought. too far away is not a problem, but the nightmare is bacause all the poster underestimated the price by up to 40%.
Not knowing the dates makes it difficult to make suggestions. When I personally looked at rates at the Comfort Inn in Aurora on dates I was interested in, I generally found rates under $100.
Yeah, for my dates that is now $120.
Yeah, I know that. You're talking about the Ogilvie Center, formally North Western Terminal, unless I am mistaken again.
You are mistaken. Ogilvie Station is formerly North Western Station. Formally, it is either Ogilvie Transportation Center, or Citigroup Center, depending on which part of the building you're referring to.
Oh, come on, man. I'm just a guy trying to find a hotel.
What hotel?
