The Northwest suburbs of Chicago include suburbs such as Schaumburg, Arlington Heights and Rosemont. This area also surrounds Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. If you're looking for a cheap hotel, your best bet is to get a bit farther west of the city and O'Hare. As of late 2010, in Arlington Heights, you can book at night at Motel 6 for less than $60 a night, or the Jameson Suites for about $100 a night. Motel 6 has locations all around the Northwest suburbs. If you're looking to stay close to O'Hare, check out the Holiday Inn Express or the Best Western at O'Hare; each costs less than $100 a night.
The Western suburbs are close to downtown Chicago, as well as close to locations in western Illinois, such as Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and Wheaton College in Wheaton. Naperville, Illinois is about 45 minutes from the Loop and the NIU campus, and it has held the distinctions of being one of Money Magazines "best places to live." Super 8 Aurora/Naperville offers standard rooms for less than $80 a night, as of the end of 2010. Best Western also has a Naperville location, with rates starting about $65 a night.
The South suburbs are closest to Midway International Airport, making them convenient for travelers flying into the city's second-largest airport. Holiday Inn Express has a location near Midway, with rates starting about $135 as of late 2010. For a cheaper alternative, go a little farther from the airport to Burbank, and find the Best Western, which has rates starting about $90 a night. Real estate is at a premium in the South suburbs, so rates tend to be a little higher near Midway than near O'Hare.
