Goodbye January, Hello February. I’m still mad at the groundhog for seeing his shadow this morning. You see, I’m a spring and summer kind of gal, and I’m just about ready to say goodbye to winter. On a positive note, luckily it’s been extremely mild here in the northeast, unlike last winter when we literally had a blizzard every week for several consecutive weeks – yuck!
Well now that the month of February has entered the picture, you can sure bet that I am still sticking to my 2012 resolution which is to include spurts of [monthly] spontaneous travel. Last month I took an impulsive Texas Road Trip, and this month I’ll be headed to Chicago with a girlfriend[s].
Last month, I was lucky to be able take advantage of Public Chicago’s $1 Sale and score 2 back-to-back reservations for $1.16 per night including taxes. If you missed out on the sale this time, round two is just around the corner, and they will be releasing 270 more rooms for $1 soon. To be notified of the sale, you just have to register your email and act fast when it’s open (it sold out in less than 10 minutes when I booked my room).
Being the bargainista that I am, I waited to find the perfect flight deal, and today just happened to be the day! I booked a round trip flight from LGA to ORD for $96.59 all inclusive of taxes and fees on Spirit Airlines via Orbitz.
If you’re in the NYC vicinity planning to visit Chicago anytime soon, I totally recommend taking a look at some of the the fares posted today – it’s definitely a steal. My only worry is that I have yet to fly with Spirit airlines, and have heard mixed reviews all around, so it’ll be an interesting experience. However, I’m rarely picky to begin with, and my total trip is costing $96.59 for the flight + $2.32 for two nights at Public Chicago, bringing me to a grand total of $98.91!
Does anyone have any experience with Spirit Airlines or can recommend some fun things to see and do in Chicago?
Good luck on Spirit. Figure on that fare increasing by a decent chunk if you need baggage (including carry-on) or a seat assignment in advance or any of a number of other things they charge for. Their all-in prices are often not all that much less expensive than the other carriers, and their service sucks. I was wholly unimpressed last time I gave them a chance, and that was just a 25 minute flight.As for what to do in Chicago, the architecture cruise on the river is pretty cool. You can go to the bar in the Hancock building rather than the observation deck and generally get in faster and get a drink in exchange for your cash instead of just the views.Have a great trip!
Millenium Park to see the bean, Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, Marilyn Monroe on Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, and of course eat (deep dish pizza, italian beef, etc), lots to do. :) Have fun!
Things to do in Chicago: a date with me! (I don't care if that was creepy!)You won't be far from the great shopping on State and Michigan Aves, and I always recommend going to one of Chicago's many great museums (as well as the Shedd aquarium or Adler Planetarium).
@Wandering Aramean: Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with Spirit… I'm preparing for the worst, LOL. Oh… and I refuse to let them "win" with charging for a carry on (such BS), so I will be boarding with nothing but a backpack (and a cute inside purse, duh), because apparently there are no charges for backpacks. Luckily I'll only be away for 2 nights and won't need too many things! Thanks so much for all the Chicago suggestions. I'm getting excited now :)@oneeyejack: Thanks! I had me some great deep dish Chicago pizza for the first time in Oct 2011 for the seminars, but didn't really branch out into Chicago – we were about 25 minutes away in Elks Grove, IL. I'm excited to explore all of Chicago's landmarks and attractions. Thanks for sharing!@Matt K: Aw, ::blush:: Thanks for your suggestions – I'm def down for some shopping and I'll add the aquarium/planetarium to my list!Thanks all! I think I have my days planned out based on these suggestions – how easy was that? Who needs TripAdvisor when you have some great reader contributions? Thanks again!