Orientation
Chicago
The city of Chicago, in northeastern Illinois, stretches for 40km (25mi) along the southern tip of Lake Michigan's shore. Illinois is located in the northern central part of the United States, bordered by Wisconsin and Lake Michigan to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the west, Indiana to the east and Kentucky to the south.
The Loop is the historic centre of the city, drawing its name from the elevated train tracks that circle it. Its buildings constitute a virtual textbook of American architecture. The intersection of Madison and State Streets is the hub of a numbering system that lets you navigate without knowing any street names. From this point, all street numbers are predicated on north, south, east or west, depending on which way they radiate. Many of Chicago's neighbourhoods are named for their location in relation to the Loop (South Loop, Near North, West Side, etc).
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is 27km (17mi) northwest of downtown. Midway Airport is 19km (12mi) southwest of downtown. Amtrak's national headquarters are within Union Station, located southwest of the Loop. The Greyhound station is also southwest of the Loop, not far from Amtrak.
Visas Overview
Canadians need proof of Canadian citizenship or a passport to enter the USA. All other visitors must have a valid passport, which should be valid for at least six months longer than their intended stay in the USA.
Travellers from countries such as Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom can enter the USA for up to 90 days under a visa-waiver program if they have a round-trip ticket that is nonrefundable in the US, and have a passport valid for at least six months past their scheduled departure date. All other travellers will need a visitor's visa. Visas can be obtained at most US consulate offices overseas; however, it is generally easier to obtain a visa from an office in one's home country.
The USA is regularly adjusting entry requirements in an effort to reduce the threat of terrorism. It is imperative that travellers double- and triple-check current regulations before coming to the USA, as changes will occur for several years. A procedure introduced in 2004 requires most visitors travelling on visas to the United States to have two fingerprints scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken by immigration officials upon entry at US air and seaports.
Under new regulations to be phased in toward the end of 2005, travellers from VWP-eligible countries will need to present a biometric passport or US visa to enter the country. You don't need a visa if:
your passport was issued before October 26,
2005, but is 'machine readable';
if it was issued on or after October 26,
2005, and includes a digital photo as well as
being machine readable; or if it was issued
on or after October 26, 2006, and contains
a digital photo and 'biometric data,' such as
digital iris scans and fingerprints. Further details and information on the changes to the visa system can be found at www.travel.state.gov/visa.
Customs Overview
All incoming travellers must fill out customs declarations. Travellers must specifically disclose all agricultural products and all cash and cash equivalents worth 10000 USD or more.
Duty Free
Overseas visitors may bring in up to 100 USD in goods or gifts duty free, together with 100 cigars, 200 cigarettes and a litre of alcoholic beverages. As of this writing, Cuban tobacco products are still prohibited in the USA.
Getting There and Away
Chicago is served by two main airports. O'Hare International (ORD), 27km (17mi) northwest of downtown, is the world's busiest air hub; Midway (MDW), 19km (12mi) southwest of downtown, is much smaller and is primarily served by discount carriers. Sixty-five million passengers a year - one quarter of the United State's population - pass through O'Hare, preserving Chicago's historic role as a US transportation hub.
The El, an elevated train, is the quickest and cheapest mode of transportation between O'Hare and Midway airports and the Loop downtown. Shuttle buses leave at regular intervals from both airports to major downtown hotels and there are lots of taxis waiting to whisk you into the city, though they're expensive. All the major car rental companies have outposts at the airport, as well as branches in the city.
Called 'The Dog' by veteran riders, Greyhound has dozens of buses a day departing in every direction. Conditions are not posh, but neither are the prices. Indian Trails is a regional line operating buses similar to Greyhound's.
Chicago is the hub for Amtrak's national and regional train service, providing it with more services than any other city. Amtrak's three trains from Chicago to the West Coast can be vacation experiences in themselves. Travel to Seattle and Portland passes through the northern Rockies and Montana. Others pass through dramatic canyons in both the Rockies in Colorado and the Sierra Nevada in California. Long-distance trains serve Texas, Washington DC, Boston and New York. Short-distance trains run more than once a day and go to Detroit, St Louis, Milwaukee and Grand Rapids, Michigan. During much of the year it's crucial to have your Amtrak journey reserved well in advance.
If you want to travel by car or motorcycle, highways converge on Chicago from all points of the compass. None are especially scenic or otherwise recommended.
Getting to Chicago and Away by Air
Chicago is serviced by two airports: O'Hare and Midway. O'Hare's four terminals bustle day and night and are serviced by almost every airline known to man.
Airport information and customer service counters
are in Terminals 1, 3 and 5. Each terminal has one taxi stand outside the
baggage claim area. The CTA offers 24-hour train service on the Blue Line to and from the Loop. Unfortunately, the O'Hare station is buried under the world's
largest parking garage and finding it can be akin
to navigating a maze - directional signs are
variously marked as 'CTA', 'Rapid Transit' and
'Trains to City'. For recommendations on which route to take,
ask your hotel when you reserve your room.
Airport Express (tel: 312 454 7800; 800 654 7871; www.airportexpress.com)
runs the shuttle services between the
airport and hotels in the Loop and Near
North. If you're heading directly to the Midway airport, you can take the Omega Shuttle.
Midway is mostly known as a home to cut-rate
carriers such as Southwest and ATA.
A recent renovation has turned its formerly dowdy appearance into a modern, attractive airport with
three concourses. You enter and exit through
the magnificent New Terminal, home to almost
all of the airport's services and amenities.
Airport Information/Customer Service (tel: 773
838 0600), airport police, ATMs and Travellers
Aid are all located here.
Follow the signs to ground transportations
to catch a taxi. You can take the CTA Orange Line from
Midway to the Loop. The same shuttle-van operators that service
O'Hare also work out of Midway. If you're renting a car at the airport, take S
Cicero Ave north to I-55N. You can tune in to
the airport radio station - 800 AM - for traffic
and airport parking updates.
Getting to Chicago and Away by Bus
Along with local buses run by the CTA, Greyhound sends dozens of buses in every
direction every day. Trips are slower than
they would be by car, with the bus making
many small town stops along the way. The station's ticketing
windows are open 24 hours. The Clinton El
stop on the Blue Line is the nearest stop to the office.
Getting to Chicago and Away by Train
Chicago's Union Station (210
S Canal St between Adams St and Jackson
Blvd) is the hub for Amtrak (tel: 800 872 7245;
www.amtrak.com), with more connections
than any other city. Trains leave regularly for
Midwestern cities like Milwaukee (2hrs) and Indianapolis (5hrs), as well
as long-haul destinations like Boston (23hrs). Amtrak is usually faster than Greyhound, and
much more comfortable.
Getting Around
Chicago is thoroughly served by public transport networks of buses and trains, and this option is encouraged due to traffic chaos and confusing and difficult parking. If you do choose private wheels, there are the usual taxis or rental cars (and motorbikes) on offer.
Getting Around Chicago by Bicycle
Bikes are for the intrepid, but there's plenty of hire places around. Bikes are allowed on all CTA trains, except during high-use commuter hours (Mon-Fri 07:00-09:00 and 16:00-18:00.
Getting Around Chicago by Motorcycle
If you want to feel the Windy City's wind on your face then there's a place or two in Berwyn that will set you up with a motorcycle.
Getting Around Chicago by Car
Driving in Chicago is a challenge. The pace is
speedy and reckless, and Chicago drivers have
little patience for slow-driving tourists.
During rush hour, roads become a crawling mess. The city's excellent public transport system means there is little reason to have a car, unless you're heading out of town.
Should the need arise, both airports have a plethora
of car rental options, supplementing the
in-town branches. Most agencies offer unlimited mileage on their cars; if they don't, ask about it - the per mile costs can quickly add up.
Parking in Chicago can be excruciating. Meter spots and on-street
parking are plentiful in outlying areas, but scarce in the inner city. Be aware of parking regulations dictated by painted curbs. Some common curb colors and their
meanings include: Red (no parking or stopping);
Yellow (loading zone 07:00-18:00); Green (10-minute parking 09:00-18:00);
White (picking up or dropping off passengers);
Blue (disabled parking only; identification required). Parking in a garage can be expensive, but will save you time and traffic tickets. Try
the downtown garages off Michigan Ave at
Washington St and at Van Buren St.
Getting Around Chicago by Bus
The Chicago Transit Authority (tel: 312 836 7000;
www.transitchicago.com) consists of the El (an elevated train system)
and buses. Pace buses handle outlying suburbs.
For help on routes, call the number listed
above, or visit the CTA's helpful trip planning
website (http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com). The plastic tickets have a magnetized
strip that allows you to add as much fare
as you'd like. Fares are deducted
automatically when you enter the El or board the bus.
You can buy them at the O'Hare and Midway airport El stops, in local retail
outlets and tourist attractions, or online via the CTA website and there are useful free system maps at all
CTA stations. The El is an efficient, air-conditioned way to get around the city. Only the Blue Line from O'Hare
to the Loop and the Red Line from Howard to
95/Dan Ryan runs trains 24 hours. Local CTA buses go almost everywhere, but
they do so on erratic schedules. The bus
stops are clearly marked, with signs showing
which buses stop there but little else. Buses
make frequent stops and don't go very fast.
Getting Around Chicago by Taxi
Taxis are relatively easy to find in the city's north - elsewhere you'll need to call a cab or face what may be a long wait. All
major companies accept credit cards. To report a taxi problem, call the taxi complaint
hotline (tel: 312 744 9400).
Getting Around Chicago by Train
A web of commuter trains running under the
Metra (tel: 312 836 7000; www.metrarail.com)
banner serves 245 stations in Chicago's surrounding suburbs. Some of the Metra lines run frequent schedules seven days a week; others
operate only during weekday rush hours.
Buy tickets from
agents and machines at major stations. At
small stations where nobody is on duty, you
can buy the ticket without penalty from the
conductor on the train, but there may be a small surcharge.
