Hi guys,
As I remember, the airport is some 25 miles from downtown so get a shuttle bus in.
Budget accommodation: trivago, lowcostholidays, hotels.com, hostelbookers, etc.
Things to see and do. Try the worldguides site for Chicago. I cannot post a link to it here.
Is Chicago safe?
Chicago is as safe as anywhere in the US. No problem in the day time but at night, maybe best to stay in and watch some TV.
Chicago is quite safe day or night depending on where you are staying. Having lived there for 20 years and now make almost monthly (if not more) visits for family/friends/TP Meet-ups and the like. The city at night is fun.
First off, check the TP Travel Guide area for . It will list hostels ad other cheap accommodations.
Personally, and if you want to see a real slice of Chicago - skip the shuttle buses unless you are staying near the airport (which ain't cheap). A shuttle to downtown will be ~$50 for a round-trip ticket. They are mostly used by the pilots, flight attendants and business people who can write it off. The Chicago Blue Line train is easy enough to find within the O'Hare terminal and about $5-10 if you go for a 2-3 day pass. I believe a one-way ticket is still ~$2.50. It will make stops along the way, but faster than shuttles if it's rush hour. And, it's great for people-watching. I love the train. The pass also allows you to travel around parts of the city without paying more. There are several options for the passes too (ie: 1 trip, 1 day, 2 days, etc.). Most any airport employee can easily tell you how to find the train terminal to get downtown (just say "Blue Line to the city" and they will point you in the correct direction. There are signs for it everywhere too.
As in any large city around the world, just use common sense and you'll be fine. Keep you wallet, money, credit/debt cards in you front pant's pockets if your hitting the an area with a bar scene. Your profile doesn't state if you are male or female. If female, have a purse that is sealed completely at the top (not just a single snap type). Also, that it's not just a clutch someone could grab away from you easily.
Chicago is not scary and it is safe. Take in some nightlife as there is a whole lot of cool stuff there and still budget-friendly.
The boat tours of Chicago are amazing and a great experience (especially learning about the city and architecture, it's around $30). You also can't miss the Millennium Park and there are many museums if you want to visit those as well (like the Field Museum, Science and Industry Museum, and the Art Institute). There are segway tours, Willis Tower Skydeck, and Chinatown.
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