I'm planning on going to Chicago first and then heading to South Bend from there. From what I've heard, South Bend is a dump and the hotels are egregiously overpriced on gameday weekends. For those of you who are thinking like I am, I've found a company that provides round trip bus service, hot breakfast, open bar and pre and post game tailgate meals. It's $120.00 for the service and the company is called Bus2notredame.com. It looks like the best option if you're going to be staying in Chicago instead of South Bend.

Some young alums (who will also be traveling through Chicago) have already arranged for roundtrip chartered bus-- without the extras-- for $60 I believe. I may very well use that option for getting to South Bend. The bus will be departing and returning to Hotel W, just off Lakeshore Drive.

Having said that, given the approximately 2.5 hour ride each way, your arrangement sounds pretty good. Keep in mind, the game weekend hotel rates in and around South Bend are so high that you'll be spending at least $100 less each night should you elect to stay in Chicago. Also, as I've mentioned to the 10 or so alums I usually roadtrip with, the ARA will be sponsoring a Friday night "event" at the Public House (very good beer hall and restaurant) in downtown Chicago.

Where does bus2notredame.com depart from?

Here's the link for those interested...

http://bus2notredame.com/blog/2013/10/28/830-vs-rice/

The only downside is that we'd be travelling with a bus stocked full of Irish fans. Also, we don't need the pregame tailgate as most of us will sign up for the ARA-sponsored event for another $40.

I made reservations a long time ago. Flying to Chicago on Friday and driving to SB. I got reservations at a decent hotel about half a mile from the stadium... Price was high but not outrageous. Again, this reservation was made months ago.
We plan to take advantage of as many Rice sponsored events in SB as possible.

Probably going. We'd be getting up real early and driving over to South Bend from St Louis, then spending the evening in Chicago.

If you're coming from Houston or points nearby, here's the way to go:

(06-13-2014 03:47 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  By the way, the Notre Dame charter trip is a very appealing offer. It's a turnkey operation: all you have to do is get yourself to the Rice campus on Friday morning. Then for the next 60 hours, everything is taken care of:

VIP Charter Travel Package Inclusions
Accommodations for two (2) nights at the Hyatt Place
Round-trip transfer from Rice University to Houston Hobby Airport
Round-trip private charter flight from Houston to South Bend
Rice at Notre Dame game ticket
Association of Rice Alumni Tailgate ticket
Breakfast at hotel daily, one (1) group lunch
Welcome reception and dinner
Group dinner at Notre Dame following the football game
Group excursion at Notre Dame
Ground transportation to all events as indicated on itinerary
Commemorative name badge, lanyard and game day souvenir
Anthony Travel on-site assistance
Taxes and gratuities

Now THAT's the way to travel!

Sign up here:
https://www.anthonytravel.com/rice/owls-notredame/

We finally get a game close to home. Only a 2 hour drive for us from East Lansing. We've been to Notre Dame several times over the years. For those who are going for the first time, get there early and take in the whole game day experience. Walk the courtyards where the student and Alumni tailgates are. Watch the band march from the Chapel (Golden Dome). Many more highlights on game day at Notre Dame you don't want to miss. It's quite the experience. People are very friendly too despite being rivals.


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(07-07-2014 05:06 PM)MooneyOwl Wrote:  I'm planning on going to Chicago first and then heading to South Bend from there. From what I've heard, South Bend is a dump and the hotels are egregiously overpriced on gameday weekends.

I take offense at that dump comment on my home town! The hotels are outrageously priced on football weekends, though.

The Studebaker National Museum is a "don't miss" attraction near downtown. Downtown itself has pleasant venues along the East Race (kayaking available) and the South Bend Chocolate Company Café. Think The Chocolate Bar here in Houston. Lunch on The Emporium patio will make you wish for an October cold front in Houston. I think it is still possible to rent canoes at St. Patrick's County Park and float the St. Joseph River down to Leeper Park for the take-out.

Try New Buffalo, Michigan or Michigan City, Indiana for hotels; these Lake Michigan resort areas are an easy hour drive into South Bend.

We'll be there, and you might see us walking along Juniper Road to the stadium.

Going-but driving in from Chicago that morning. Any suggestions on parking?

I'm doing the charter.

(07-07-2014 05:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Some young alums (who will also be traveling through Chicago) have already arranged for roundtrip chartered bus-- without the extras-- for $60 I believe. I may very well use that option for getting to South Bend. The bus will be departing and returning to Hotel W, just off Lakeshore Drive.

Having said that, given the approximately 2.5 hour ride each way, your arrangement sounds pretty good. Keep in mind, the game weekend hotel rates in and around South Bend are so high that you'll be spending at least $100 less each night should you elect to stay in Chicago. Also, as I've mentioned to the 10 or so alums I usually roadtrip with, the ARA will be sponsoring a Friday night "event" at the Public House (very good beer hall and restaurant) in downtown Chicago.

Where does bus2notredame.com depart from?

I'm interested in the bus charter from the W hotel. Is there still room? Is there a contact person? Thanks

(07-08-2014 11:10 PM)OwlAg Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 05:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Some young alums (who will also be traveling through Chicago) have already arranged for roundtrip chartered bus-- without the extras-- for $60 I believe. I may very well use that option for getting to South Bend. The bus will be departing and returning to Hotel W, just off Lakeshore Drive.

Having said that, given the approximately 2.5 hour ride each way, your arrangement sounds pretty good. Keep in mind, the game weekend hotel rates in and around South Bend are so high that you'll be spending at least $100 less each night should you elect to stay in Chicago. Also, as I've mentioned to the 10 or so alums I usually roadtrip with, the ARA will be sponsoring a Friday night "event" at the Public House (very good beer hall and restaurant) in downtown Chicago.

Where does bus2notredame.com depart from?

I'm interested in the bus charter from the W hotel. Is there still room? Is there a contact person? Thanks

I'll keep you informed. I've been given two different contact numbers (and names) from the head of Chicago's Young Alumni Association, but have yet to get a response from either. I'm hoping they're just on vacation.

(07-08-2014 07:41 AM)texowl2 Wrote:  Going-but driving in from Chicago that morning. Any suggestions on parking?

At games last year we parked in the White North parking area. They run shuttles from there to the stadium, but we walked it easily. Seemed like plenty of parking, but we got there a couple of hours early to go to our daughter's dorm and do other events. It will be hard to find anything south of Douglas Road at any time on game weekends.

http://ndsp.nd.edu/assets/109235/rev2_20...ll_map.pdf

(07-09-2014 08:10 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-08-2014 11:10 PM)OwlAg Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 05:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Some young alums (who will also be traveling through Chicago) have already arranged for roundtrip chartered bus-- without the extras-- for $60 I believe. I may very well use that option for getting to South Bend. The bus will be departing and returning to Hotel W, just off Lakeshore Drive.

Having said that, given the approximately 2.5 hour ride each way, your arrangement sounds pretty good. Keep in mind, the game weekend hotel rates in and around South Bend are so high that you'll be spending at least $100 less each night should you elect to stay in Chicago. Also, as I've mentioned to the 10 or so alums I usually roadtrip with, the ARA will be sponsoring a Friday night "event" at the Public House (very good beer hall and restaurant) in downtown Chicago.

Where does bus2notredame.com depart from?

I'm interested in the bus charter from the W hotel. Is there still room? Is there a contact person? Thanks

I'll keep you informed. I've been given two different contact numbers (and names) from the head of Chicago's Young Alumni Association, but have yet to get a response from either. I'm hoping they're just on vacation.

Finally got a response on my follow-up inquiry this morning...

Quote:Walt,

I don't know what happened regarding the miscommunication. I check this email account daily and haven't seen anything from you. Maybe it went to my Junk folder. Anyway, there is plenty of room on the charter bus. It is a 56 passenger bus and we currently have between 30 and 35 confirmed. Just let me know how many are in your party. The $60 round trip fee was a soft estimate, and depending on the number of passengers, may fluctuate $10 one way or the other. The bus will be picking us up in Chicago at 9a, at either the Hyatt Regency on Wacker or the W over by the pier. It will drive us to SB, park during the game, and pick us up following the game. We will head back to Chicago thereafter. Please reply to bwallace@toeppichlaw.com with any further questions or concerns.

Brandon Wallace

I'm pretty sure I'm going to use this option as I live downtown Chicago, and most in my South Bend attending party are either using the Rice charter package from Houston or flying directly into the South Bend area, and not coming to Chicago until Sunday after the game.

I called the guy at Bus2notredame and he said that the bus leaves from P.J. Clarke's Restaurant at 1204 North State Street at 8:30am and that breakfast starts at 7:30. He said that the location is in the Rush Street area if anyone knows what that means.

(07-09-2014 01:21 PM)MooneyOwl Wrote:  I called the guy at Bus2notredame and he said that the bus leaves from P.J. Clarke's Restaurant at 1204 North State Street at 8:30am and that breakfast starts at 7:30. He said that the location is in the Rush Street area if anyone knows what that means.

That's in the Gold Coast neighborhood, just off Michigan Avenue (aka The Miracle Mile"), and in the center of downtown Chicago.

(07-09-2014 10:28 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-09-2014 08:10 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-08-2014 11:10 PM)OwlAg Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 05:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Some young alums (who will also be traveling through Chicago) have already arranged for roundtrip chartered bus-- without the extras-- for $60 I believe. I may very well use that option for getting to South Bend. The bus will be departing and returning to Hotel W, just off Lakeshore Drive.

Having said that, given the approximately 2.5 hour ride each way, your arrangement sounds pretty good. Keep in mind, the game weekend hotel rates in and around South Bend are so high that you'll be spending at least $100 less each night should you elect to stay in Chicago. Also, as I've mentioned to the 10 or so alums I usually roadtrip with, the ARA will be sponsoring a Friday night "event" at the Public House (very good beer hall and restaurant) in downtown Chicago.

Where does bus2notredame.com depart from?

I'm interested in the bus charter from the W hotel. Is there still room? Is there a contact person? Thanks

I'll keep you informed. I've been given two different contact numbers (and names) from the head of Chicago's Young Alumni Association, but have yet to get a response from either. I'm hoping they're just on vacation.

Finally got a response on my follow-up inquiry this morning...

Quote:Walt,

I don't know what happened regarding the miscommunication. I check this email account daily and haven't seen anything from you. Maybe it went to my Junk folder. Anyway, there is plenty of room on the charter bus. It is a 56 passenger bus and we currently have between 30 and 35 confirmed. Just let me know how many are in your party. The $60 round trip fee was a soft estimate, and depending on the number of passengers, may fluctuate $10 one way or the other. The bus will be picking us up in Chicago at 9a, at either the Hyatt Regency on Wacker or the W over by the pier. It will drive us to SB, park during the game, and pick us up following the game. We will head back to Chicago thereafter. Please reply to bwallace@toeppichlaw.com with any further questions or concerns.

Brandon Wallace

I'm pretty sure I'm going to use this option as I live downtown Chicago, and most in my South Bend attending party are either using the Rice charter package from Houston or flying directly into the South Bend area, and not coming to Chicago until Sunday after the game.

Thanks. If they have room I plan to join them.

(07-09-2014 07:26 PM)OwlAg Wrote:  

(07-09-2014 10:28 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-09-2014 08:10 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-08-2014 11:10 PM)OwlAg Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 05:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Some young alums (who will also be traveling through Chicago) have already arranged for roundtrip chartered bus-- without the extras-- for $60 I believe. I may very well use that option for getting to South Bend. The bus will be departing and returning to Hotel W, just off Lakeshore Drive.

Having said that, given the approximately 2.5 hour ride each way, your arrangement sounds pretty good. Keep in mind, the game weekend hotel rates in and around South Bend are so high that you'll be spending at least $100 less each night should you elect to stay in Chicago. Also, as I've mentioned to the 10 or so alums I usually roadtrip with, the ARA will be sponsoring a Friday night "event" at the Public House (very good beer hall and restaurant) in downtown Chicago.

Where does bus2notredame.com depart from?

I'm interested in the bus charter from the W hotel. Is there still room? Is there a contact person? Thanks

I'll keep you informed. I've been given two different contact numbers (and names) from the head of Chicago's Young Alumni Association, but have yet to get a response from either. I'm hoping they're just on vacation.

Finally got a response on my follow-up inquiry this morning...

Quote:Walt,

I don't know what happened regarding the miscommunication. I check this email account daily and haven't seen anything from you. Maybe it went to my Junk folder. Anyway, there is plenty of room on the charter bus. It is a 56 passenger bus and we currently have between 30 and 35 confirmed. Just let me know how many are in your party. The $60 round trip fee was a soft estimate, and depending on the number of passengers, may fluctuate $10 one way or the other. The bus will be picking us up in Chicago at 9a, at either the Hyatt Regency on Wacker or the W over by the pier. It will drive us to SB, park during the game, and pick us up following the game. We will head back to Chicago thereafter. Please reply to bwallace@toeppichlaw.com with any further questions or concerns.

Brandon Wallace

I'm pretty sure I'm going to use this option as I live downtown Chicago, and most in my South Bend attending party are either using the Rice charter package from Houston or flying directly into the South Bend area, and not coming to Chicago until Sunday after the game.

Thanks. If they have room I plan to join them.

They definitely have room, but Brandon told me he wants to lock up the previous two groups who originally ordered the bus (totally around 35 people) before formally opening it up to others. I'll post an update when he gets back to me, which he expects by early next week.