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Chicago Travel Tips
 | Chicago has an extremely unpredictable weather, which may change drastically within hours. Pack accordingly and carry apparels for all kins of weather. Also, always check the weather forecast for the day before venturing out of your hotel. |
| In Chicago, snow falls as early as October and lasts till as late as May. Winters are very cold and the temperature may fall below 0 degree Celsius. Avoid the winter months and especially January and February as you might encounter brown snow. |
| Summers are quite humid and thus leads to sweating even if the temperature is not that high. |
| Preferably exchange your foreign currencies from the places listed below:
a)Michigan Randolph Exchange Limited:
59 E. Randolph St.
b)Thomas Cook Retail Foreign:
19 S. LaSalle St.
c)State Ohio Currency Exchange:
10 W. Ohio St.
d)State & Randolph Currency Exchange:
14 E. Randolph St.
e)Chicago & LaSalle 24-Hour Currency:
777 N. LaSalle St.
f)Merchants Currency Exchange:
111 W. Washington St.
g)State Ohio Currency Exchange:
10 W. Ohio St. |
| Chicago plays host to several large conventions. During such events, the hotel rates could escalate considerably. It is advisable to get prior information and plan accordingly. Double check for large conventions (say 40,000 people or more). In such cases, it might get difficult to get a room or tables at restaurants. Always check online before planning your trip and booking your tickets. |
| Chicago has its share of criminal activities and so basic precautions should be followed. While using public transportation beware of pickpockets, take taxis if you feel uncomfortable in a particular neighborhood, do not walk in deserted streets/parks especially at night or travel late in the evening to unknown areas. |
| Several of Chicago's places of interest (specially museums) have "free-days." Prepare your itinerary accordingly to avail admission-fee-exemption. Here is a list of various attractions and their free admission days:
Field Museum- October 8-12
Museum of Science and Industry- September (Mondays), October and November (Mondays and Tuesdays).
Shedd Aquarium- September (Mondays), October and November (Mondays and Tuesdays).
Adler Planetarium- June 17-22 and October 8-12.
Art Institute of Chicago- Thursday evenings 5:30 to 9:00 P.M. and June 3- Labor Day.
Chicago Children's Museum- Thursday 5 to 8 P.M.
Museum of Contemporary Art- Tuesdays
The Notebaert Nature Museum- Thursdays. |
| You can also get yourself a City Pass, that covers six attractive destinations in 9 days. An adult pass costs $49 and a child pass $38.
The places covered are:
Shedd Aquarium (VIP pass to avoid lines at all three parts)
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
The Field Museum (does not include special exhibits)
Museum of Science and Industry (includes Omnimax)
The Hancock Observatory (includes audio tour)
The Art Institute of Chicago (does not include special exhibits). |
| The lakefont and the well-maintained beaches are some of Chicago's best sightseeing. The city also boasts of amazing parks, gardens, boat trips and biking trails for adventurers who might not be interested in historical places. |
| The summer outdoor festivals of Chicago are extremely popular. Promising great entertainment and usually free of cost, these are a must attend. Do check out the on goings while in Chicago. |
| To experience the thriving theater scene of Chicago, book tickets for Thursday through Hot Tix's website, which offers a 50 percent discount on Thursdays. |
| Carry your driving license or passport to prove you are not a Chicago resident and avail North Bridge VIP savings card. This card offers savings on entertainment, dining and shopping at participating outlets. |
| Chicago is known for its unique deep-dish pizzas. For some of the best Chicago-style pizzas, try Lou Malnati's (the Wells St. joint), Gino's East or Pizzaria Uno. It takes approximately 30 minutes to be prepared so arrive and place your orders accordingly. |
| There are very few gas stations on highways heading eastwards (I-90 and I-80). If you are traveling by car ensure you have a full tank before starting the journey. |
| The legal age to drive a car in Chicago is 16 years and 25 years in order to rent one. Also, the legal age to consume alcohol is 21, therefore carry a photo id with age proof. |
| Free trolley rides (signboards mentioning "Free Trolley") are available at popular tourist destinations such as Lincoln Park Zoo, Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue etc. Avail these to save precious dollars. |
| In case of emergency, call 911 |
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