5 Ways to Save Money While Traveling in Chicago

1.      Cook in our Awesome Kitchen 

Eating out for every meal adds up quickly, so why not grab food from the grocery store and cook in our large, fully equipped, self-service kitchen instead? If you need an idea, pasta and vegetables is a cheap and popular meal choice among travelers. Maybe you’ll even score something from the free food shelf or meet fellow travelers to share a meal with! 

2. Use the CTA 

The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) is our public transportation system around the city. It is quick, reliable, and cheap. It costs $2.25 per ride, or if you’re staying a while we recommend purchasing a 1 day ($5.75), 3 day ($14), or 7 day ($23) pass for unlimited rides on any CTA bus or train. The elevated trains are also a great way to get a mini tour of the city before you set out to explore on foot. 

3. Check out “Free Things to do in Chicago”

Take a look at Free Things to do in Chicago , which provides a nice sampling of current low-cost events in the city. Favorite free destinations in Chicago include Millennium Park, Grant Park, Navy Pier and in the summer the miles and miles of beautiful beaches. And of course Lincoln Park Zoo is always free.

(The Bean: always free, always an amusing picture)

4. Check out Groupon and Living Social

These websites are an excellent source for purchasing discounts to restaurants, bars, attractions, and much more. With the right deals, you could potentially have a night out in the city (dinner, drinks, and a show) for half the price. Especially useful are the “Now” deals that you can purchase and use immediately – perfect for those of us who like to be spontaneous without spending too much cash. 

5.Ask the hostel's front desk and info desk for discount coupons

We have loads of discount coupons in the hostel for you to use during your stay with us. Also, your hostel key card can get you discounts at various restaurants, museums, and tours in the area. Check at the info desk for more information. 

Bonus! Go on an HI-Chicago Free Walking Tour

Take advantage of the awesome weather we've been having lately and sign up at the info desk for one of our free volunteer-led walking tours or cheap excursions. Examples include free walking tours of downtown Chicago and excursions to comedy clubs, festivals, and blue's bars. It's a great chance to mingle with locals and travelers alike!

The Down-Low on Tuk -Tuks

Quick! What sputters and swerves down the streets of Thailand, spilling smoke and scaring countless tourists? I am of course talking about the automated rickshaw of Thailand, affectionately named the “tuk-tuk” by foreigners for the loud gasping breaths it makes as it barrels to every destination in Bangkok and beyond. It is impossible to travel in Thailand without encountering the crazy machines, so here are some tips for dealing with tuk-tuks and their notoriously colorful drivers.

1) Only use tuk-tuks for short distances. For longer distances, go with taxis or songthaews (modified trucks), which are much more cost effective. However, if you want to get somewhere within a few miles as fast as possible, jump on a tuk-tuk and enjoy the ride as it breezes through traffic like an unleashed roller coaster.

2) ALWAYS agree on a price first. It is very common for tuk-tuk drivers to ask for exorbitant prices after dropping you off, especially in Bangkok. It is also possible that while in transit, they will try to get you to pay them more by using excuses such as high gas prices or mention of a “tuk-tuk mafia”. Seriously, those were the exact words one tuk-tuk driver used! No matter what, ignore these requests and stick with the agreed upon price. Be strong!

3) Beware tuk-tuk drivers who try to steer you toward other destinations. It is highly likely that they will lead you to high pressure sales situations so that they can collect a commission.

4) Share tuk-tuks as often as possible. Some tuk-tuk drivers will try to double or triple the rate, but remember that you have the buying power. You should be paying 50-75% less per person.

5) Try a tuk-tuk ride at least once! It is one of the coolest vehicles ever invented and part of the Thailand experience.

Don’t be scared by any of this advice. Tuk-tuks are safe and fun, and tuk-tuk drivers are real characters with lots of stories. Don’t miss out!

-Ted Gault, former hostel intern

Albany Park

One of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country, Albany Park is an entry-neighborhood for many of Chicago’s newest immigrants from East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. A single strip mall can provide you with Latin American groceries, Jordanian breads, Korean BBQ, Lebanese music, DVDs of Japanese soap operas, and more. Lawrence Ave, nicknamed “Little Seoul Drive,” is the main street in Albany Park and hosts the Chicago Korean Festival every August. Nearby Bohemian National Cemetery, the burial place of several notable Czech-Americans, is notable for its elaborate limestone entrance and its two Albin Polasek sculptures, as well as an unusual way for Chicago Cubs fans to show their team loyalty.

 KNOWN FOR: Ethnic restaurants and groceries, especially Middle Eastern; thrift store and inexpensive shopping; vibrant community life such as the Albany Park Theater Project
 DON’T MISS: Al-Khaymeih (4748 N Kedzie Ave) for some of the best Lebanese food around; Lawrence Fish Market (3914 W Lawrence Ave) for unpretentious and excellent sushi; the many Middle Eastern bazaars for hookahs, jewelry, and more – Hookah Village Bazaar (4505 N Kedzie Ave) is a good one.
 GET THERE: Take the Brown Line to Kimball.

Megabus

Megabus is an discount intercity bus service that began in 2006. Fares start at a mere 1.00 dollar and a 50 cent booking fee although these are primarily promotions. A more typical fare like from Chicago to Minneapolis, MN is still only 20 bucks. Megabus manages to have such incredibly low fares by having very little infrastructure. For example, there is no Megabus station, with Chicago departures leaving from Union Station at a designated bus stop. Also, all purchases are done over the internet and riders must print out their reservation. Despite the low fares, Megabus manages to provide free wi-fi for its riders and its fleet of buses is soon to have electric outlets as well. It's also considered to be a more comfortable ride than Greyhound. Megabus looks like it is laying the ground work for country wide bus service but it is still only servicing three regions: Midwest, Northeast and Southwest. Below are the maps and routes:





To take advantage of the cheapest deals you have to make a reservation in advance although there usually are seats available in the last minute at highly affordable rates. Consider Megabus for your travels!

Special Offer:
100,000 seats are available for free for travel between the dates of Jan. 6, 2010 and March 20, 2010.
Use the promo code GETAWAY today to access sale seats that are available.
FREE seats are subject to availability and the $0.50 booking fee applies to all purchases. Promotion ends when all free seats are reserved.

Take the Train!

There is no better way to become acquainted with a city than by using its public transit. The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) runs Chicago's train and bus operation with over 650,000 passengers daily moving all across the city. Although Chicagoans often complain about the constant construction, delays and rising fares ($2.25 = one trip) taking the train is defiantly an urban adventure.


From people watching to the street performers to the intense rumble of the subway, the train is a quick, cheap and interesting way to get around in the city. The train lines are colored coded and most alternate between being above and below ground. The Brown Line, however, stays above ground its entire route and provides some fantastic views of the city and its neighborhoods. All the train lines have stops in walking distance from the hostel and the Blue and Red lines run all night.


you can plan you trip on the CTA right here:
www.goroo.com/goroo/index.htm