Botcon 2015 - Official Site Updates With Airport-To-Venue Transit Info

The Botcon website has finally been updated with information about how attendees flying in for the show can reach the venue in the distant suburb of St Charles from the city of Chicago itself. We've tried to break down the information a little to be clearer so those visiting the city or using its public transportation for the first time better understand what's being asked of them. Keep reading!

Chicago's two major airports are O'Hare and Midway, and directions have been posted for both, but they follow the same basic plan: Take one of Chicago's L-trains from your arrival airport to a specific stop in the city, then disembark and walk the rest of the way to the Ogilvie Transportation Center, where you'll board a commuter train to Geneva, Illinois, a trip lasting a little over an hour. Only at that point, when you're around a mile from St Charles will you be in range to be picked up by the hotel shuttle service. The total travel time from the airports to the hotel have been estimated at close to two hours.

Botcon's information page also notes that the fares for both legs of the trip will total about $10. They also warn that you should not arrive after 10pm, as the shuttle is "based on availability". A further notes submits the possibility of the shuttle otherwise not being available, in which case your only other option is a taxi ride at normal rates.

Personally, I would recommend that you consider skipping the walk between the L-train (the Orange or Blue Line) and the Ogilvie Transportation Center and instead try to get a taxi. It will result in some added cost, but would generally be a better option for people arriving with luggage and being expected to skillfully navigate around the city for perhaps the first time ever.

The page also notes that more shuttle options are "coming soon", but with less than three weeks before the start of the show, my advice is to begin planning as if this is the only option that will be available to you, and making sure that if worse come to worse, a few cab rides in each direction are in your travel budget. If you opt to follow Fun Pub's directions as written, you may also want to try to consult with people who are personally familiar with the areas in question to get a better understanding of what you may be walking in to. Travel safe, everyone.