<p>We haven’t visited a lot over our four years but have stayed everywhere–the Wooded Isle Suites near campus, the loop, a hotel at Midway, International House, and in rooms offered by the university in a dorm. No option is perfect, but they all have their attractions. The Wooded Isle has little apartments, close to campus and a little run down. You could cook if you want. The loop hotels are standard downtown nice places, and they’re great for the city experience, but they’re not exactly close. I agree with JHS about the Midway hotels, but we stayed at one once when we couldn’t find anywhere else for Family Weekend–we had a car, and it was pretty simple to go back and forth to Hyde Park. I House is convenient, as it’s right on campus, but fairly low end for parents. The rooms in the dorms are even further down the list. </p>
<p>As for transport, we’ve used the bus from Midway (the 55, same number as the street it mostly takes), the trains (to our downtown hotels) and rented cars. Our daughter has taken cabs and other transport from Midway on occasion. We’ve avoided O’Hare, but if you can’t, just take a deep breath and suck up the longer drive or more expensive cab.</p>
<p>For move in, we had the downtown hotel and took a cab to campus–a really good deal, as we were directed to the front of the line for drop off. We didn’t make any shopping trips, and that was fine with everyone. For graduation, we are opting for I House, as we’re only going for a quick trip, not the week of festivities, and we want to be right there. We haven’t decided whether to rent a car, and the nice thing is, we don’t feel we have to decide until the last minute. It would be really nice if there were more near-by hotel options, but there aren’t and that’s just the way it goes. At least we didn’t have to make reservations for graduation four years in advance, which is something that people do for other schools. </p>
<p>Have a great four years, Honeybee5. It will be over before you know it!</p>