I wasn't sure what to expect when I booked myself for a place uptown but from the moment I walked into Matt and Randy's lovely home I knew I had made the right choice. I was going to be in Chicago for more than 24 hours and thought it would be interesting to check out one of its most talked about neighbourhoods outside the more popular and central "Loop" area. Andersonville has everything you need: it's vibrant, with a lot of great eating places to choose from, several shops and its own vibe, different from downtown Chicago. It's easy to get to from O'Hare and only a 30m metro journey from around the corner. It takes little more than 5 minutes to walk to the metro stop (Red line) and this will take you downtown quickly (it runs late and it looks and feels safe – and the metro is a very cheap option). The weather was not warm enough to cycle comfortably but I am sure I would have tried to cycle alongside the Lake had it the weather been a little bit warmer.
As to the house itself, it's clean, beautifully decorated and spacious, yet still very warm and cosy. The evening I arrived Matt had friends visiting and they kindly invited me to join them for a drink. One drink led to another and we ended up going out for dinner at an Asian restaurant in a nearby Chinatown (a smaller version of downtown's Chinatown, but no lesser for that). Matt's friends were friendly, fun and interesting and the evening helped me relax and feel welcome and safe. The room I stayed in felt like a luxury hotel minus the expensive price. For cat lovers, the house comes with two adorable cats.
I met Randy towards the end of my stay and he was as friendly and interesting to talk to as Matt. In all: a beautiful house, a nice area, two great hosts and a super comfortable bedroom for less than the price of an average hotel room downtown – a no brainer! I strongly recommend Matt and Randy's and now I know where to stay next time I am in the area.