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!

Amy's Downtown Nightlife Ideas

Looking for a couple of cheap drinks downtown Chicago on a Saturday Night? Here are a couple of good places to try out, all within walking distance of HI-Chicago.

Franklin Tap
325 S. Franklin St. (300S, 300W) (Franklin – Between VanBuren and Jackson)
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 212-3262
Saturday Night Specials
½ off appetizers after 5 pm with a drink
$3 call drinks
$3 all bottled beer
$5 Patron Silver Shots
$5 Jameson shots
Free WII – get your golf on!
Run-of-the-mill bar with some video games, great, high windows made for people-watching, and good service. Honestly though, it’s the $3 Bacardi drinks and half-priced pretzels appetizers that draw me in. For $3.50, you get 2 generously-sized warm pretzels.

Stocks & Blondes
36 N. Wells St. (50N, 200W) (Between Madison and Washington)
Chicago IL 60606
(312) 372-3725
Everyday Specials
$10 High Life pitchers
$4 Miller light and Coors Light stadium drafts & $3 refills
This place is a classic dive bar and kind of random for downtown. Perfect to just get some cheap beer, served in 85 Bear themed pints, and enjoy some greasy fries.

Exchequer Restaurant & Pub
226 S. Wabash Ave. (200S, 100E)
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 939-9128
Everyday Specials
$3.75 Monthly Beer Special
This is not my favorite of the four, but their good drink specials and delicious pizza are worth noting. Also, the hostel offers coupons for 10% off. Girl loves a deal!

Brando's Speakeasy
343 S. Dearborn St. (350S, 50W) (VanBuren & Dearborn)
Chicago, IL 60604
(773) 216-3213
Best Special
$2.00 PPR
The bar is more of a lounge with super friendly service (we got a free round of drinks after chatting with the bartender - score!). A mixed group of patrons, so the people-watching is great. On Saturday nights expect some karaoke in the early evening.

-Amy Weber, hostel volunteer

NYE 2009

Whether this night is the cherry that tops off your year or your least favorite over-hyped holiday, chances are you have a plan of what you'll be doing that night. So what is it?! Personally, I'm going to spend my $ on dinner that night and then go out dancing somewhere cheap (tba where).

What are you all doing?

Any cheap ideas for our hostellers?

Gaper's Block featured this cheap deal at Quenchers:

"For those of you who don't want to break the bank, but still want to have a good time and hear some live music, head on over to Quenchers at the corner of Fullerton and Western where the cover is only $10. Local bands Tight Phantomz and Cougars will rock your face off with some hard hitting, classic rock 'n roll. Quenchers is located at 2401 N Western Ave. Music gets going at 9pm."

-Jessica