I think my wife would prefer your suggestion, she's worried about the length of the trip. 3 flights! She was saying we'd have to take a taxi from Midway into town.

I mentioned O'Hare because my brother keeps complaining about having to drive there to pickup/drop off people.

> It isn't that bad getting over to I-90 from Midway. You can either head
> slightly back up towards town on I-55 to connect to I-90, or make your way
> due east on surface streets straight to I-90.

> The only reason I could think of to steer you to your other option, would
> be if you actually wanted to do anything that evening of your arrival.
> There is NOTHING to do at Midway, while Union Station is in an interesting
> corner of downtown.

We'll go there on the way back -- our train doesn't leave until 7PM, we'll probably get to Chicago around 1pm.

> Since you are eventually departing from Union Station after dropping off
> your car, it does make sense however to drive all the way to the Avis
> office you mentioned. Going back to Midway, and then taking the El to the
> Station represents a lot of unnecessary and even hellacious complication.
> The I-90 practically deposits you at Union Station, although I might advise
> you to take the Roosevelt Road exit (east) just slightly south of where you
> want to be, and then head north up Canal street about 5 blocks right to the
> Station. This will avoid the nightmare interchange of I-90 and I-290.

Thanks. One more question. If we stay near Midway overnight, I guess we could still go into Chicago in the am and pick up the car near Union Station (which might be sensible if we couldn't get a deal that allowed us to pick up the car at Midway and drop it off in town). Would driving out of town from there (Union Station area) be worse than from Midway, at around 9 or 10am on a Saturday?

> By the way, I can't think of any hotels near Midway Airport! I hope you
> know more about this area than I.

Priceline seems to have some. They'll probably be a taxi-ride though.

Doug Weller Birmingham, England http://www.ramtops.demon.co.uk