Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What Things Cost in Chicago
US$
UK£
Cab from O'Hare Airport to downtown hotel
30.00
16.80
Cab from Midway Airport to downtown hotel
24.00
13.45
Shuttle from O'Hare to downtown hotel
19.00
10.65
Shuttle from Midway to downtown hotel
14.00
7.85
Subway or bus ride
1.75
1.00
Transfer (good for two additional rides)
0.25
.15
Ticket to John Hancock Center
9.50 adults,
5.30 adults,
Observatory
6.00 kids
3.35 kids
Ticket to Sears Tower Skydeck
9.95 adults,
5.55 adults,
6.95 kids
3.90 kids
Hot dog at Gold Coast Dogs
2.00
1.10
Movie ticket
8.75 adults,
4.90 adults,
5.50 kids
3.10 kids
20-ounce soft drink at drug or
1.29
.73
convenience store
16-ounce apple juice
1.39
.78
Weekday
Chicago Tribune
50¢
.28
Weekday
Chicago Sun-Times
35¢
.20
Package of Pampers at drug store
12.99
7.25
1-quart can prepared Similac formula
4.99
2.80
3 When to Go
When should you go to Chicago?
That depends on what kind of
weather you like. Chicago has it all—
heat and humidity, subzero temps,
and wind, wind, wind. The city has a
reputation for being really cold in the
winter. In reality, it's about as cold as
any other northern city. Maybe it's
that wind that makes the cold seem
more bitter. Still, most visitors prefer
planning trips to Chicago in late
spring through early fall. If you can't
make it during prime time, err on the
side of arriving later in fall rather than
early in spring. Spring in Chicago can
be notoriously late and fickle, but fall
offers beautiful days that can extend to
Thanksgiving.
Don't be afraid to try the off season:
Museums are wide open, shops have
sales (especially in Jan), and the streets
aren't clogged with pedestrians.
Chicago is definitely a four-season
destination; its inhabitants are hardy
enough to be out and about even in
the depths of winter. As an added
incentive to “off-season” travelers,
hotel rates are rock bottom during the
winter.
One thing is certain: Whenever you
decide to go, you should be prepared
for changeable weather. Chicagoans
like to joke that if you don't like the
weather here, just wait an hour. One
beautiful summer afternoon, I left my
apartment in jeans and a t-shirt, only
to have to buy a sweatshirt downtown
when the wind shifted and the tem-
perature plummeted 15 degrees in 15
minutes. So even in July, make sure
