Summary of Vacation
We went to Chicago last week for vacation. We left Thursday morning and arrived back Wednesday evening. Total cost: just under $700.
We took the MegaBus there and back: $11.50 with a change fee. Before the fee, $4.50. Sweet. But, one flaw – it advertised free wi-fi and we couldn’t get connected on the way to Chicago. We don’t know if it worked coming back or not; at that point, it wasn’t worth unpacking it if it didn’t.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Skokie: $190 after employee discount. Very nice hotel and friendly staff. All were helpful too except the evening staff who didn’t know when the hotel shuttled seemed to run. Example: they okayed a 7:15 am shuttle to the yellow line on Thursday. We were in the lobby at 7:12 and I let the staff know we were their 7:15. They told me the yellow line shuttle ran at 7 and the next wouldn’t run until 7:40. Thanks; this was the one day we needed to make a connection. (Miscommunication happened 1 or 2 other times also.)
Once there, we got around with the CTA: $56, one trip on the Metra (mistake): $7, and a cab ride after the CTA stopped running to our location: $19. We could have avoided the Metra had we known there was a difference between CTA and Metra. The cab we expected to pay for because the CTA didn’t run to Skokie that late, but it was more than I expected due to the short distance (5 miles).
Our favorite outing was the Blue Man Group: $156 + a DVD: $20. So worth it! We decided Friday night to go and were still able to get in the poncho (wet) section. It was simply amazing.
Skydeck was our lowest enjoyment attraction due to crowding: $32. The view was awesome, but with so many people on the floor, we couldn’t stand in awe for too long.
We spent nearly 4 hours in the IL Holocaust Museum: $24. Much, much better than I had anticipated. If you are interested in the time period and are in Skokie, do it.
Quiet day at the mall: $32 (theater and a game we played later at the hotel). This was much cheaper than what we had planned for the day. We were both sick so less people and more fresh air was a very welcome relief for us. Patrick also picked up my birthday present for me.
Adler Planetarium (not again), Shedd Aquarium (enjoyable), Field Museum (eh), and the Science & Industry Museum (would have a membership if we lived there): $0 each. We didn’t plan our vacation around the free dates since we booked the hotel before thinking about attractions. However, once we figured it out, we did plan to visit these attractions on their respective free days.
We also checked out/walked around Navy Pier, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, Michigan Avenue, Millenium Park, and some smaller parks/gardens. By default, these are free.
We had a couple miscellaneous expenses (padlock for suitcase, batteries, new toothbrush covers, etc.): $20.
The rest was all food so that wasn’t the greatest by any means. Breakfast was included with the cost of the hotel. Lunches were fast food since we were out and about. Dinners were either at the restaurant attached to the hotel or with the groceries we had picked up. We ate out 2 nights that we had planned on staying in so we brought a couple grocery items home and tossed a couple others before the trip home. FYI, groceries are much more expensive in Chicago – here you can buy a 24-pack of Dew for $5; there the same amount buys you only half.
We were sick nearly the entire time – I still am – so that hindered our fun a wee bit.
Overall though: awesome, well-deserved, much-anticipated, worth-it trip!
