So I am assuming everyone knows the obvious Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Cheap Tickets, Priceline and Hotwire. Then you can always checkout the airline site themselves to see if you can save some money on the same flight but avoiding the service fees the other sites charge. I found couple neat airline aggregator sites recently that may help in your search. Kayak and Fare Compare
Chicago has two airports... O'Hare and Midway. If you can get a ticket into Midway that is a faster airport in terms of landing and taxiing compared to O'Hare one of the busiest airports in America. One thing to note is that Midway is on Chicago's South Side so you want to leave the vicinity as soon as possible. Wink. Wink. Both airports are accessible by public transportation so if you don't mind lugging around your baggage and are going to a hotel downtown it is a viable option.
Thanks to our fearless government there are some new security measures to keep all you shady characters in check. One that applies to all flyers is that any unchecked baggage must not have any liquid items that are more than 3 fluid ounces. Anil has been a victim of this with most of his toiletries being thrown out a few months ago. So once you have all your liquid items under 3 fluid ounces you can only bring enough that will fit in a 1 quart Ziploc bag. I am sure the Ziploc Corporation paid someone off in the government. Oh well. So I am sure you figured that you could bring 10 of these bags on your person. Nosiree! You can only bring one of these with you. Nice try... Sucka! So again... this only applies to your carry on bags. No worries if you want to check your one gallon bottle of suntan lotion you will be using in Chicago at the end of February.
Here is something special for you Canuckleheads. At the time of the wedding you will need a passport to enter the United States if you are flying in from Canada. This requirement is brand new so don't be looking like a sucka at U.S. Customs with your student identification. Please note that this is by air only. If you choose to drive in from Canada then a passport is not required.
By far the easiest and cheapest way to drive to Chicago from Toronto is to take 401 to Windsor cross the Ambassador Bridge then follow the signs to Interstate 94 West to Chicago and you are home free! The whole trip takes 10 hours grandma-styles or 9 hours if you drive normally. This is with adequate breaks in between. Anil usually takes this route and takes a break in Windsor for lunch.
There are other routes that you can take but just make sure that you have spare change lying around for all the tolls you might pay. Many online map engines suggest taking 403 from 401 to Port Huron. Anil has never gone this way. It is supposedly faster.
One thing to note is that the Dan Ryan Expressway which is Interstate 94 on the south side of Chicago. That stretch is going through some major constructions efforts and is know for major delays. If you want to dole out some toll dollars you can avoid this construction route by jumping on 90 towards Chicago onto the Chicago Skyway then onto Stoney Island Avenue onto Lake Shore Drive. Check out this site for more details.
List of hotel options that are close to the banquet hall.
Marriott Courtyard Schaumburg 1311 American Lane Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 USA (847) 619-8100 Map
Wingate Inn Schaumburg 50 East Remington Road Schaumburg, IL, 60173 US (847) 882-5000 Map
Hawthorn Suites Schaumburg Hotel 1251 E. American Lane, Schaumburg, IL (847) 706-9007 Map
Hampton Inn 1300 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, IL (847) 619-1000 Map
Here we will outline some details of the city to help you get oriented.
Here we will outline public transportation options.
Here is some of the things you can do while in Chicago
Brief description all the best tourist traps.
Best malls and shopping districts
Favourite eating destinations
Chicago blues and jazz hot spot.
Catch a Bulls or Blackhawks Game.
Describe February weather in Chicago.
Websites to do your own research.