Airport
O'Hare International Airport
IATA Code: ORDLocation: Chicago O'Hare is located 17 miles (30km) northwest of Chicago.
Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from March to November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 773 686 2200 or 773 686 3700.
Transfer between terminals: A free automated rail system connects all terminals.
Transfer to the city: Blue Line trains run every few minutes between the airport and downtown Chicago; the journey takes around 40 minutes and the fare is $1.50. For safety reasons travellers are advised against using the Blue Line at night. Taxi ranks are situated outside the arrivals hall in each of the airport terminals; the fare is around $40 for the 30-45-minute journey from the airport to downtown Chicago. There are two airport express services, Continental and Omega (phone: 773-734- 6688) which have coaches leaving from all the terminals every 10 minutes to central Chicago; the Omega Airport Shuttle also links O'Hare to Midway Airport.
Taxis: There are plenty of metered taxis outside Chicago O'Hare International Airport and a taxi to the centre of Chicago takes approximately 30-45 minutes and costs about $40. But be prepared to pay twice as much during rush hour.
Car rental: The major car hire companies represented at the airport include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz and National. Some companies are located off-site.
Facilities: Facilities at the airport include restaurants, bars, shops, duty free, bureaux de change, a bank and ATMs. The Hilton Athletic Club provides a health club, sauna, steam room and massage. Laptop Lane, in Terminal 1, offers fax, Internet and photocopying services. The nearby Hilton hotel provides more extensive services. There is a medical centre, AED units (defibrillators), baby-change facilities, a play area and a 24-hour interfaith chapel. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should inform their airline in advance.
Parking: Parking at Chicago O'Hare is divided into the main lots, international lots, economy lots, and valet lots, with an additional free Cell Phone Lot for pick-ups and drop-offs. Fees range from $2 per hour at the main lots, or $6 for two hours at the international lot, to $9 per day in the economy lots. Valet parking is also available.
Departure tax:
Website: www.ohare.com
Chicago Midway International Airport
IATA Code: MDWLocation: 10 miles from Chicago between interstates I-90 and I-55
Time:
Contacts: Tel: +1 (773) 838-0600. Email: aviation@flychicago.com
Transfer to the city: Passengers transfering to Chicago can rent a car, or hire a limo or taxi. The Chicago Transit Authority's Orange Line runs from the airport to downtown Chicago, and Continental Airport Express has door-to-door service on shuttles leaving every 15 minutes.
Taxis: There are taxis available from the airport to downtown Chicago or any other destination.
Car rental: There are several car rental agencies based at Chicago Midway.
Facilities: The airport offers restaurants, cafes, gift shops, a business centre, ATMs and a chapel. Wireless internet costs $6.95 for a 24-hour period.
Parking: There is a six-level parking garage attached to the airport by a covered walkway, offering short-term rates ranging from $4 for the first hour to $10 for four hours, and long-term parking charges $10 for up to eight hours and a daily rate of $29. There are complimentary shuttle buses to the terminals running every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day.
Departure tax:
Website: flychicago.com
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Chicago
Chicago is the major metropolis of America's heartland, with three million people hustling and bustling in the city of skyscrapers that appears to rise straight out of the waters of Lake Michigan, in northern Illinois. Once a gangster's hang-out synonymous with infamous names such as Al Capone and Bonnie and Clyde, the 'windy city' today has a squeaky-clean reputation as an international business and commercial capital boasting an eclectic mix of architecture, world-class theatre, art exhibitions, fantastic music and super-enthusiastic sportsmanship.
Chicago emerged as a rough and tough survivor after being destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871, and a huge influx of immigrants from all over the world in the early 20th century brought with them a determined spirit infusing the city with ethnic diversity and the unmistakable sound of Chicago-style blues music. Chicagoans have built a city that is to be reckoned with, boasting soaring skyscrapers like the Sears Tower (one of the tallest in the world); thriving ethnic neighbourhoods; a lakefront business district, the re-energised downtown; unbeatable shopping along the famed Michigan Avenue; and top-class sports teams.
One thing that does not attract visitors to Chicago is the weather, which, because of its geographical location is breezy at best, and freezing and gale-ridden at worst. It is possible to ignore the weather though, especially in summer, when getting caught up in the myriad of things to do, see and experience in this Midwestern metropolis - there are 30 excellent museums alone.
