Cheap Chicago Weekend Getaways

As a travel editor, I have a flexible schedule, but my husband, Juan, isn't so lucky. We always plan vacations in advance. Here's what my planning saved us for Chicago:

-- Hotel: I quickly learned that even booking early at a downtown Chicago hotel would blow our budget. So I looked to the suburbs, where an affordable chain hotel, the Renaissance Chicago North Shore, put us a 45-minute train ride from the city.

-- Transportation: I was nervous about cab fares. Checking maps first, I picked places we could hit by foot -- or by bike! I even saved $5 reserving our wheels online.

Pictured: I chose the cheapest bike -- the retro Beach Cruiser -- for our ride.