Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fee). When you get away from down-
town and the more affluent neighbor-
hoods, however, smaller restaurants
and shops may be reluctant to accept
traveler's checks.
You can get traveler's checks at
almost any bank.
American Express
offers denominations of $20, $50,
$100, $500, and (for cardholders
only) $1,000. You'll pay a service
charge ranging from 1% to 4%. You
can also get American Express trav-
eler's checks over the phone by calling
&
800/221-7282;
Amex gold and
platinum cardholders who use this
number are exempt from the 1% fee.
Visa
offers traveler's checks at
Citibank locations nationwide, as well
as at several other banks. The service
charge ranges between 1.5% and 2%;
checks come in denominations of
$20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000.
Call
&
800/732-1322
for informa-
tion. AAA members can obtain Visa
checks without a fee at most AAA
offices or by calling
&
866/339-3378.
MasterCard
checks. Call
&
800/223-9920
for a
location near you.
If you choose to carry traveler's
checks, be sure to keep a record of
their serial numbers separate from
your checks in the event that they are
stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster
if you know the numbers.
CREDIT CARDS
Credit cards are a safe way to carry
money: They also provide a conven-
ient record of all your expenses, and
they generally offer relatively good
exchange rates. You can also withdraw
cash advances from your credit cards
at banks or ATMs, provided you know
your PIN. If you've forgotten yours, or
didn't even know you had one, call the
number on the back of your credit
card and ask the bank to send it to
you. It usually takes 5 to 7 business
days, though some banks will provide
the number over the phone if you tell
them your mother's maiden name or
some other personal information.
also offers traveler's
3 When to Go
THE CLIMATE
When I tell people from more temper-
ate climates that I live in Chicago,
without fail they ask me how I handle
the winters. In reality, the winters here
are no worse than other northern
cities, but it still isn't exactly prime
tourist season. The ideal time to visit
is summer or fall. Summer offers a
nonstop selection of special events and
outdoor activities, but you'll also be
dealing with the biggest crowds and
periods of hot, muggy weather.
Autumn days are generally sunny, and
the crowds at major tourist attractions
grow thinner—you don't have to
worry about snow until late Novem-
ber at the earliest. Spring here is
extremely unpredictable, with dra-
matic fluctuations of cold and warm
weather, and usually lots of rain. If
your top priority is indoor cultural
sights, winter's not such a bad time to
visit: no lines at museums, the cheap-
est rates at hotels, and the pride that
comes in slogging through the slush
with the natives (after all, we don't
hibernate at the first sign of snow).
Chicagoans like to joke that if you
don't like the weather, just wait an
hour—it will change (in spring and
autumn, I've been known to use my
car's heat in the morning and the air-
conditioning in the afternoon). The
key is to be prepared for a wide range of
weather with clothing that can take you
from a sunny morning to a chilly, driz-
zly evening. As close to your departure
as possible, check the local weather
forecast at the websites of the
Chicago
Tribune
newspaper (www.chicago
tribune.com) or The Weather Channel
(www.weather.com).
