How to plan a trip to Chicago, Illinois on a budget

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Are you planning an upcoming trip to Chicago, Illinois?  First of all, great choice for a city; Chicago is a really fun city for a vacation.

But like most travel these days, it’s not cheap.  But luckily, there are ways to make sure your Chicago trip stays in your budget.  And you can do it while still being able to visit a lot of the top Chicago tourist attractions.

You do this by making sure you save money on every facet of your trip.  So let’s start with the first part: getting to Chicago.

Getting to Chicago

Depending on where you live, you may need to fly to Chicago.  You can find cheap flights to Chicago starting at $58 here.  You can find cheap transportation from the airport here.

If you want a car during your stay, you can find Chicago car rentals for as low as $13/day here.

Staying in Chicago

Once you get to Chicago, you’ll need a place to stay.

You can find the cheapest rates for hotels in Chicago here.  You’ll find some amazing deals on some pretty great hotels.  Also, you’ll find some unbelievably low rates.

If you would prefer to rent a house, condo, or apartment, check out these Chicago rental options.

Chicago Attraction Passes

So once you are in Chicago, I am sure there are Chicago attractions you’ll want to enjoy.  One way to enjoy multiple Chicago attractions at a discounted price is with the Chicago CityPass.  This includes attractions like the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, and Skydeck Chicago.

We talk about when the Chicago CityPass saves you money (and when it doesn’t) in this guide.

Another attraction pass that can help you save money is the Go Chicago Pass.  This can get you admission to top attractions like Big Bus Chicago, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier Ferris Wheel and Rides, Adler Planetarium, Chicago Children’s Museum, Chicago History Museum, Heritage Museum of Asian Art, Lincoln Park Hauntings Ghost Tour, TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour, and more.  You can save money on the Go Chicago Pass options here.

Chicago Attraction Coupons

You can also save on individual attractions in Chicago with these coupons:

You can also package your hotel together with attractions to help you save money with one of these Chicago vacation packages.

Chicago During the Holidays

Chicago is a city that goes all out for holidays, so it is always fun to visit Chicago during any holiday.  Here are some guides to Chicago during some of these holidays, with tips on how to save money during these celebrations: