Hotels in Chicago can be quite expensive for one on a strict travel budget. Someone from IgoUgo recommended that we stay in Oak Park, which is about 10 miles west of Chicago in order to save money, and about the only hotel that fit my budget was The Write Inn, which is located on Oak Park's main drag, Oak Park Avenue.

I spent 4 nights at The Write Inn, and I must say I was pretty happy with the accommodations. I shared my room with another IgoUgo traveler to save costs even more, and the fourth floor suite suited my needs perfectly with two separate rooms and a shared bathroom. The rooms were nice and clean with a Murphy bed in one room, and my room had a nice bed with a TV, armoire, and bureau for putting my clothes in, and a nice view of Oak Park Avenue and the condo building across the way. My matress was a little soft for my liking but comfortable, and the old windows were hard to open when I wanted some fresh air (thank God for all of that heavy lifting I do at work!). No worries! I was just there to sleep and shower, and I don't need the Plaza on my trips.

The Write Inn is located a short walking distance to several restaurants and shops in the downtown, and they have a nice little restaurant called Hemmingway's in the Write Inn. I had breakfast in there one morning, and the prices were reasonable, and the food was good, but I would recommend going outside the hotel for most meals in order to save money.

The architecture dates from the 1930s and 1940s, and it is like going back in time when you step into the lobby. While waiting to go out, I would sit in the lobby and read the paper. One night, the manager came in with his English Bulldog, Thor, and I was happy to play with the funny looking and lovable pooch for a while.

The Write Inn is easily accessible to O'Hare Airport, and Village Cab can pick you up or drop you off at the hotel. The El station is a short walk away and can get you to Chicago in a half hour. Prices range from $75 for a single room to $160 per night and up for a suite. I highly recommend it for one on a budget and for one like me who likes peace and quiet.

This elegant hotel sits at 211 N. Oak Park Avenue and was chosen to be my base for my five-night stay. It was originally opened in 1926 as the Oak Park Manor and is listed today as designated historic landmark. Much of the public areas of the hotel have recently been restored with marble floors and mosaics, plus a new elevator has been installed alongside the original.

I stayed in room 410 which was spacious, comfortable, clean, and well decorated and afforded a great view through the trees across Oak Park Avenue. The room had a double bedroom, a kitchen area complete with microwave, sink, and fridge plus a sizeable sitting area complete with table, chairs, sofa, and a large TV set. The room had its own climate control enabling me to set the temperature just as I wanted it.

The front desk was always manned and I found the staff efficient and friendly. The owner’s bulldog, Thor, if I recall correctly, was often on hand to provide entertainment whilst waiting in the lobby which was also comfortably furnished with easy chairs and a coffee table.

The hotel had its own restaurant and bar, Hemmingways ( yes – with two "m’s") where I dined on one occasion. The waiting staff again were friendly and quick and my tasty breakfast of tea and ham omelet cost me only a few dollars. Hemmingway’s offers a full lunch and dinner menu and has live jazz music at least once a week. I did avail myself of a couple of beers from the bar and these were chilled, very quaffable and not expensive.

The hotel is well located for many of Oak Park’s main sights with the Hemingway museum and birth house just a few minutes walk away. Scoville Park is almost next-door and it is a short walk south along Oak Park Avenue to some great restaurants, coffee shops and diners, plus the stunning Unity Temple on Lake Street, close to the El station.

The rooms are cleaned on a daily basis and the hotel offers a concierge service. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available. Also available are Internet hook ups, security boxes, a fax and copy service and a laundry service on site. The front exterior is elegant with a green awning covering the entrance which sits between the two wings of the four-storey building. There is a set down/pick up area to the front with roadside parking right outside.

As mentioned previously, the hotel had mixed reviews but I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here and would heartily recommend it for the visitor who wants to be within 20 minutes of downtown Chicago.