Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Travel Tip
Be sure to keep a copy of all your travel papers separate from your wallet
or purse, and leave a copy with someone at home in case you need it
faxed in an emergency.
Tips
SAFETY
GENERAL SAFETY SUGGES-
TIONS
Although Chicago's tourist
areas are quite safe, you should always
stay alert. Asking hotel front-desk staff
or the local tourist office about the
safety of a particular neighborhood is
a good idea.
Avoid deserted areas, especially at
night, and don't go into public parks
after dark unless there's a concert or
similar occasion that will attract a
crowd.
Avoid carrying valuables with you
on the street, and keep expensive cam-
eras or electronic equipment bagged
up or covered when not in use. If
you're using a map, try to consult it
inconspicuously—or better yet, study
it before you leave your room. Hold
onto your pocketbook, and place your
billfold in an inside pocket. In the-
aters, restaurants, and other public
places, keep your possessions in sight.
Always lock your room door—don't
assume that once you're inside the
hotel you are automatically safe and
no longer need to be aware of your
surroundings. Hotels are open to the
public, and in a large hotel, security
may not be able to screen everyone
who enters. For more about personal
safety in Chicago, see “Safety” under
“Fast Facts: Chicago,” in chapter 5.
DRIVING SAFETY
Driving safety
is important, too; although carjacking
is extremely rare in busy Chicago
neighborhoods, it's not unprece-
dented. Question your rental agency
about personal safety and ask for a
traveler-safety brochure when you
pick up your car. Obtain written
(EuroCard in Europe, Access in Britain,
and Chargex in Canada),
American
Express, Diners Club, Discover
, and
Carte Blanche.
There are, however, a
handful of stores and restaurants that do
not take credit cards, so be sure to ask in
advance. Most businesses display a
sticker near their entrance to let you
know which cards they accept.
Note:
Businesses may require a minimum
purchase, usually around $10, to use a
credit card.
It is strongly recommended that you
bring at least one major credit card. You
must have a credit or charge card to rent
a car. Hotels and airlines usually require
a credit card imprint as a deposit against
expenses, and in an emergency, a credit
card can be priceless.
You'll find
automated teller
machines (ATMs)
on just about every
block—at least in almost every town—
across the country. Some ATMs will
allow you to draw U.S. currency
against your bank and credit cards.
Check with your bank before leaving
home, and remember that you will
need your personal identification num-
ber (PIN) to do so. Most accept Visa,
MasterCard, and American Express, as
well as ATM cards from other U.S.
banks. Expect to be charged up to $3
per transaction, however, if you're not
using your own bank's ATM.
ATM cards with major credit card
backing, known as “debit cards,” are
now a commonly acceptable form of
payment in most stores and restaurants.
Debit cards draw money directly from
your checking account. Some stores
enable you to receive cash back on your
debit card purchases as well.
