Yeah, unless you're talking a seedy hotel that charges hourly rates, or staying either downtown or out by the airport, hotel accommodations are slim in Chicago. I think that your best bet might be to stay at that days inn in lincoln park. You'd still be by the L--you'd just have to take the Red Line downtown and transfer to the Blue Line to get to either Wicker Park or O'Hare.

Also, if you stay there, you can take the brown line out to lincoln square and check out another cool neighborhood with plenty of bars and shops and a cool record store (laurie's planet of sound).

There is a Hilton right at the airport. I don't know what the rates are, but since you are only in town for a day, if you have the budget, just stay there and take the blue line into the city and back. Half hour ride each way, or thereabouts.

or stay at one of the hotels by midway and just hop on the orange line into the city, like 25 minutes to downtown. the midway hotels are not a bad price, even cheaper if you say you work for one of the airlines
oh wait you are flying into ohare, yeah just stay out there and ride in on the blue line, still tell them you work for an airline they will give you a big discount and they dont ask for ID or any proof, trust me.

Had a quick look at Days Inn.I like how they mention "Internal Corridoors" as a feature.Sounds like a potential band name.I actually found somewhere cheaper(thru expedia) though downtown which looks like a reasonable base. http://www.thewhitehallhotel.com/home_index.html Not too large and impersonal,though maybe aimed at besuited business travellers.It'll be nice to get some odd looks at breakfast.Unless anyone thinks I've made a fatal move (let me know) I thank you all for the quick considered responses

There's also this bed and breakfast...my dad stayed here when he came out to visit and it was a lovely spot.
http://www.twourns.com/

fantasmatical thorr wrote:i've NEVER heard 'cheese and kisses' for 'the missus' before...

try the HoJo on van ness? i stayed there, there's a lovely little diner by reception, it's near the blue line for damen and all the cool record shops..

it's not van ness though. what the hell is it? the big road....by the crazy big macdonalds and the hard rock cafe and teh sports place? anyway, there.

It's at Lasalle and Superior in River North, just a few blocks from the Magnificent Mile. It's not what he wants. But the diner is pretty good.

Hey I'll sleep out on the couch while you two take the bedroom for the right amount. <Ukranian village>

When are you traveling? I could maybe find someone to put you up for the one night.

can you stay at electrical?