Heart 'O' Chicago Motel

Ok Motel, but in a Bad Location

This motel was just ok. The price & room were fine. The rooms were clean, comfortable, & the continental breakfast was nice. My main complaint was the motel location & distance to downtown. My friends & I had come to Chicago to sightsee & see a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Despite doing research beforehand, we found that it is actually way north of Wrigley, not south. Upon our arrival, we were told by the manager that there was no subway nearby & we would have to take a cab everywhere ($25-$30 from downtown), & to be careful at night b/c there were gangbangers. He even recommended a restaurant right behind the motel, but told us not to walk there b/c of the neighborhood! The motel is on a busy street -- we were awoken at night due to car crashes, police sirens, etc. The Red Line El is 6-7 blocks from the hotel -- walking to & from was not an option. We took a nearby bus to the El, which was ok as long as it was daytime. It is a 5 min. bus ride to the El and then 35-40 mins. to downtown. There is not much to do in the hotel area. I am disappointed that the hotel did not give further info on their web site. The location is not ideal for sightseeing or nighttime activities. I feel like the hotel was doing some false advertising in not mentioning this. For peace of mind, if you are going to Chicago to sightsee, I would recommend paying a little more money and stay closer to downtown; if going to Wrigley, pick a place closer to the stadium.

Traveler's tip on saving a few bucks

I recommend the CTA Unlimited Rides Passes -- a 1-Day Pass is $5.75 and you can use it for unlimited rides on all buses and El lines.

Cheaper, Nothing Special, Perfect for a night or two

This hotel is good if you are looking to stay a quick night or two and just need a place to shower and crash. My husband and I went there for a concert at the Aragon and it worked out well. I didn’t do a ton of research, but it seemed this was the cheapest in the area and the parking was free. No amenities to speak of (bring shampoo/conditioner), but there is a (barely) breakfast of cereal and packaged muffins in the morning. The guys at the front desk were very nice and helpful. Neighborhood seemed pretty safe.

Nice Location

Around the corner from cute shops and restaurants and across the street from the world’s greatest neighborhood dive bar.