Organize your stay Chicago
Money Chicago
In Chicago, as in the rest of the USA, the unit of currency is the dollar (US$). Denominations are 1, 2 (very rare), 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 US$. Denominations higher than US$50 are sometimes refused, particularly at metro ticket offices and in cabs, but also in certain stores and restaurants.
Uniformly green and white, American banknotes all look alike and require a minimum of attention. Especially as they are all the same size. Make sure you don't make a mistake when paying, and always check the change you're given. As forcoins, they are 1 cent(penny), 5 cents(nickel), 10 cents(dime), 25 cents(quarter) - used in buses and laundromats - 50 cents(half dollar) and, finally, 1 US$, which are now gold-plated(golden dollar). The 1 and 5 cent coins are all small and copper-colored; all the others are silver-colored.
Exchange rates change daily, so check with your bank before you leave, or visit a specialized website such as www.xe.com. Since the end of 2022, the exchange rate has been around 1 US$ to 1 €.
Budget & Tips Chicago
Hotel costs will be the main expense of the trip, in addition to airfare. Very good hotels can be found for around US$100-130, in any season, if booked in advance. On the Internet, on specialized sites offering unbeatable prices, or on hotel sites themselves, which compete with promotional codes to fight off competition from booking platforms. On the downside, this option doesn't allow you to choose your room, so you run the risk of ending up on lower floors with no view. Room rates in the Great Lakes region can double during popular conventions and events: here too, it's important to get the facts before booking your stay. Chicago remains the city where room rates can triple from one day to the next. It's really important to book in advance, if you don't want any nasty surprises on arrival.
It's easy to find good restaurants where you can eat for less than US$20. On the other hand, public transport is more expensive than in France, except for Detroit: US$2.50 a ticket in Chicago, US$28 for 7 days, US$75 for a month + US$5 for the Ventra card. You won't find any savings in international or simply American brand stores (except in Minnesota, where there is no tax on purchases). If you go shopping, however, electronics, audio and cameras will be a little cheaper. In your excitement, check that the international warranty is working properly. Renting a car, which is necessary to be autonomous around the lakes, is a little expensive, but gasoline is always half the price in France.
Passport and visas Chicago
To enter the USA, you need a biometric passport. France is part of the Visa Waiver Pilot (VWP) program, which allows all French nationals to enter the USA without a visa, for a maximum stay of 90 days. Since January 2009, to benefit from this visa waiver, it is necessary to make an online declaration for tourist stays in the USA. To do this, you need to fill in the ESTA form online (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov) and pay the administrative fee, which has been US$21 since 2022. Be sure to fill out the form at least 72 hours in advance, and only via the above-mentioned site. Many fraudulent sites offer to take care of this administrative procedure for exorbitant fees. To enter the U.S., all you need is a valid biometric machine-readable passport, a non-refundable round-trip ticket and no intention of extending your stay. Finally, a visa is required for stays of over 90 days. There are several types of visa (student, work, etc.), but they are all fairly difficult to obtain.
To find out everything you need to know about the type of visa to apply for and the procedures to follow, visit https://fr.usembassy.gov/fr/visas-fr/. To obtain a visa for the United States, you need to go to the US Embassy in Paris (http://fr.usembassy.gov). If you're not in France, here's a complete list of American consulates and embassies where you can apply for a visa: www.usembassy.gov
Driver's license Chicago
For a stay of less than three months, the French driver's license (one or three parts) of more than one year is valid in all states. You must be at least 21 years old (in some cases 25) to rent a car in the United States. Beware of additional fees in the case of a young driver... As soon as the stay exceeds three months, the French driver's license is no longer sufficient and it becomes mandatory to take the driver's license in the state of residence. The last time I checked, the only state requiring an international license in addition to your national license was Florida. But the laws are different in each state, so we advise you to contact the French consulate of the state you are concerned about.
Health Chicago
There are no health risks involved in traveling to Chicago and the United States and no special vaccinations are required for health reasons. For COVID, see below.
Mandatory vaccination Chicago
The United States, which has been hard hit by the COVID epidemic since its inception, is one of the strictest countries in terms of vaccination and advanced in terms of doses, alongside Chile. With an impact for its visitors: in 2022, it was necessary to have a complete vaccination schedule to enter the United States if you were not a national. Please note, there is no such thing as a free pass. We advise you to check the evolution of this legislation before organizing, or even considering, your trip. The embassy's website mentions this quite clearly, as a preamble to all other formalities (VISA).
https://fr.usembassy.gov/fr/visas-fr/
Security Chicago
The image of Chicago in the 1930s, with federal agents lurking in a dark alleyway, watching gangsters' every move, is long gone. Today, Chicago is a very safe city where anyone can stroll and stroll without feeling any sense of insecurity. As in the case of New York, urban violence has beeń virtually eradicated in Chicago, which has become a more or less tranquil city. On the other hand, segregation is still very much present: there's the rich north and the poor south. Only the south side of the city can present any real danger to those who venture there without due caution. Beyond 22nd Street, south of Chinatown and around the Sox/35th Street metro stop, the neighborhoods are poorer and therefore warmer. In these places, you're likely to be stared at a lot more than elsewhere, which is to be expected, because if you're white, you don't go unnoticed. Sometimes the police, who always travel in cars and in pairs, will stop you on the sidé of the street to ask you if you really know what you're doing.... Maybe they'll offer you a ride back to safer neighborhoods. Don't let them unsettle you if you've chosen to visit these neighborhoods, which are after all the birthplace of the blues and Chicago history. There's nothing to fear. Just avoid large groups or gatherings, and prefer populated places or shopping areas. On the west side of town, near Oak Park, Austin is also best avoided at night. On the subway, as you move away from the center, you may see some suspicious attitudes at first glance. Here again, take a deep breath (while you still can): it's often just a passenger looking for a quiet spot to smoke cannabis - legal since 2020 - on the long journey ahead... You may also be asked for money, but you can refuse politely, and you may even be thanked or apologized for the inconvenience on your way out.
Detroit is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, but the trend has been reversed in recent years, and people feel much safer here than before. However, gun crime (welcome to the USA!) and arson are still with us, albeit on the decline. So it's important to adopt a cautious attitude during your stay, without becoming paranoid. After dark in some areas, it's strongly recommended that you avoid all journeys in your own vehicle, never walk, and take a cab if you need to get somewhere. On the other hand, some areas are safer than others, such as downtown, Midtown and Corktown. But it's better to be more careful than less. So don't take any unnecessary risks. The look of the perfect tourist can also attract covetousness, so avoid showing off your camera or smartphone for too long. But we repeat: don't worry too much.
Time difference Chicago
The time difference with France is 7 hours. When it's 5pm in Paris, it's 10am in Chicago. This is true in both winter and summer, since the time changes to daylight saving time take place on roughly the same dates in France and the U.S. (give or take a week or two).
In terms of latitude, Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee are on the same level as Barcelona and Rome, giving ephemeris times that are fairly similar to those in Europe.
Spoken languages Chicago
The number of languages spoken is most impressive in Chicago and Saint Paul - Minneapolis. Chicago's eighty neighborhoods bring exotic sounds to public transport, attraction visits and all popular gatherings.
Learning the language: there are many different ways to learn some of the basics of the language, and self-study is available in a variety of formats: CDs, video cassettes, workbooks or even directly on the Internet.
Communication Chicago
In Chicago, as in Detroit, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, wifi is available in many restaurants and cafés. Libraries are always an excellent solution for those seeking access to a computer and the Internet. The city of Chicago has its own free network, called ChicagoWIFI, accessible in certain parks and public spaces. However, in small towns on the Great Lakes and in the countryside, things get a little more complicated. There's no phone coverage everywhere, but even then, don't hesitate to push open the door of a café or restaurant and ask if you can connect to the wifi network. On the telephony side, in 2022 we noted compatibility problems for some Android phones on the brand-new 5G network. Buying American SIM cards - apart from their exorbitant price - may be a bad idea if the duration of your stay is not very long. Simply being on the US network will allow you to receive weather alerts - which are not uncommon! There is a risk of tornadoes forming around the lake, due to its specific climate. The authorities therefore issue warnings to residents, whose cell phones will suddenly ring off the hook, sometimes simply to prepare for any eventuality. In which case, a time is given and it's advisable to take shelter. Basements, especially laundries, do the trick in such cases, with one eye on the TV, while the establishment's staff replenish you with bottled water.
Electricity and measurements Chicago
The United States operates at 110 volts and a frequency of 60 Hz. Outlets have two flat plugs and light bulb sockets have screws (no bayonets). Whether you bring or buy electrical equipment locally, don't forget to bring adapters(converters), available at Best Buy and Walgreens. If you buy appliances locally, be sure to buy the adapter before you return (in Europe, you can also find universal adapters for 35 euros). But be careful! American standards are totally different from French standards, so make sure you only buy compatible equipment. The United States also refuses to use the metric system, which does not make our lives any easier. Distances are measured in inches , feet, yards and miles. Weights are measured in ounces, pounds and tons. Liquid measurements are even more complex and confusing: imperial (English) and American measurements are in pints and gallons, but are different (1 imperial pint = 1.25 american pint). Don't be afraid of the price of gas, because the 5 US$ shown at the pump are for one gallon. This is not 5US$ per liter, and fortunately!
The other complexity is to apprehend the intensity of heat or cold waves when the weather maps are presented to us in degrees Fahrenheit. Here is a chart with key temperatures: 0°C=32°F, 10°C=50°F, 20°C=68°F, 30°C=86°F, 40°C=104°F. 0°F corresponds to a temperature of about -18 degrees Celsius. As for knowing at what temperature to preheat the oven, also in Fahrenheit, it will be another headache, so let's make it simple: refer directly to the packaging!
Be careful with the dates of your stay and its preparation, and this is for your wallet! The United States is the only country in the world where you will indicate the date in the format MM-DD-YYYY(month, day and year). If you were born at the end of the month, no mistake is possible; if not, you should think twice before entering 08-01, for example, as you would do in France, even though you were born on January 8. In the US, with this spelling, you would write August 1st. Be careful also, besides the information of your date of birth in an online form, to the date on which you book your flight, or any event...
Luggage Chicago
Wherever you are in the Great Lakes, even in midsummeŕ if you're staying on the shores, it can get a little chilly in the evening as the sun sets over the plains (or over the lake if you're in Michigan). Pack a small sweater and, above all, a lightweight K-way-type windbreaker, the aim being to counter the wind that brings the temperature down. In summeŕ, pack shorts and clothes as if you were going to Brittany. However, there's a lot of humidity that can be unexpected, and you soon get very hot even without the mercury reading over 30°C. Winter is the time to be the most far-sighted; in temperatures as low as -15°C, it's best to have very warm clothes on hand, preferably several layers that you can add or remove, as well as gloves, hats and scarves. Don't forget lip balm and moisturizing creams for faces with sensitive skin. In all seasons, sun cream, sun hat and sunglasses. Good walking shoes are recommended if you plan to walk in town or in the countryside. Mosquitoes are particularly fierce in the inland lakes region of Minnesota and Michigan, so take along an effective mosquito repellent. If you forget, don't panic, there are some very good ones for sale in the region.
