This post was written for Hipmunk’s Planning a Trip Series. The opinions contain herein are my own.
Business travelers with an adventurer’s heart and a budget-friendly focus approach their visits with a plan. Not only are you generally short on time when traveling, but previous experience has taught you that a multitasking approach has a better chance of infusing your free time with meaningful memories. Yes, money can open new experiences for you in a multicultural metropolis such as the Windy City. But you also know money is not the determining factor for a real traveler.
Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)
Photo by Erik Rowley via Trover.com
Compare Price of Flights Into Chicago’s Two Busy Airports
Begin saving money by comparing flights into Chicago O’Hare and Chicago Midway airports. It may surprise you to notice prices are generally less into O’Hare than into Midway, which is closer to downtown Chicago. Public transportation can be your most budget-friendly option. The ‘L’ (train) runs directly to both O’Hare and Midway airports. Buy your tickets from machines at the station at a cost of $5. and $2.25 respectively. It is also the quickest route.
Find a Business Traveler’s Hotel That is Well Situated for Both Public and Private Transportation
There is no shortage of hotels in Chicago to meet a budget-friendly business traveler’s desires. The Conrad Hotel provides a Magnificent Mile address and contemporary upscale style putting the working day within easy access at an affordable price. Equally accessible for maximizing transportation options is an AirBnb private room in a luxurious downtown condominium.
For an Authentic Experience Identify Free Events That Bring Locals and Tourists Together
The City’s Tourism Office has packaged its local event options with a bow for visitors. You can use the mobile Chicago app to independently explore the city’s famous neighborhoods on foot; or think about joining an organized food tasting and/or cultural walking tour to go off the beaten path. Buy a City Pass that will give you 50% discount to visit five city landmark attractions. Visit one of Chicago’s free museums. Spend time at the Navy Pier, the Midwest’s ode to Fisherman’s Wharf. Each of these suggestions present opportunities to do what the locals do in their free time.
Eat Well in This Foodie Town
To eat well does not necessarily mean to eat expensively. There are online deals with great values offered daily. Eat while enjoying the Chicago skyline on a dining cruise. Step beyond the Loop and into the Beverly neighborhood for a meal and to experience the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Visit Bronzeville, home to many during the Great Migration. Eat at a local Andersonville independent esatblishment. It is yet another quirky, independent neighborhood where there are no big box stores and independent shopkeepers keep the economy moving.
Work, good eats, drink and merriment are what Chicago offers. It is an exciting city and even though it does not routinely make the various ‘Top Lists,” it never disappoints. Chicago is a city on the edge because it continues to reinvent itself.
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