Helpful info

From road rules to tipping guidelines, get the inside scoop on all things practical before you travel.

Accessibility

Here are a few of the many resources that make Chicago so accessible:
Accessibility equipment

• Scootaround Wheelchair and Scooter Rentals
• Special Needs Chicago

Attractions and events

• Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium
• City of Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
• Easy Access Chicago

Interpreters

• Deaf Communication by Innovation
• Chicago Hearing Society

Transportation services

• Accessibility Guide – Chicago O’Hare International Airport
• Accessibility Guide – Chicago Midway International Airport
• Accessibility Guide – Union Station
• CTA Accessible Services
• Open Taxis
• Regional Transportation Authority – Accessibility
• SCR Medical Transportation
• Special Needs Chicago

Vacation planning

• Accessible Journeys

Age regulations

• Legal car rental age: 21, with surcharges for those under 25
• Legal driving age: 16
• Legal drinking and gambling age: 21
• Legal age to purchase cigarettes and tobacco: 21
• A valid photo ID is required.

Alcohol

• The legal drinking age is 21.
• A valid photo ID is required.
• Open containers cannot be taken outside drinking-establishment premises.
• It is customary to tip bartenders; generally, $1 per drink ordered.
• Consuming alcohol while traveling in a vehicle is illegal for both drivers and passengers. It is also illegal to transport alcohol with a broken seal.

Electricity

The U.S. uses 120 volt, 60 hertz. Tip: buy a Type-B adapter plug NEMA 5-15 to ensure your electrical items work while you’re visiting.

Emergency services

Phone calls

Check with your local service provider for an international plan before you visit.

• Telephone area codes: 312 and 773
• Directory assistance: 411

Postal services

Find your closest post office here. Or call 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777).

Self-service kiosks at most post offices can dispense both domestic and international stamps. Main downtown branch: Loop Post Office, 211 S. Clark St.

Prescription drugs

• Carry a copy of your prescription for all prescriptions you will be taking while in the U.S.
• Some drugs that are common or legal in other countries may require a prescription or may be illegal in the U.S.
• You are required to report all imported medications to U.S. Customs.
• Carry all prescription medications in their original and intended containers.

Road rules

• Always drive on the right-hand side of the road.
• Speeds are measured in miles-per-hour; speed limits are clearly displayed on road signs.
• Age 16 is the legal driving age. Car rental companies often require renters to be 21, with surcharges for those under 25.
• You must have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance. International drivers must have a photo ID and their native driver’s license.
• It is illegal to talk or text on a mobile phone while driving (fines range from $50-$200).
• Consuming alcohol while traveling in a vehicle is illegal for both drivers and passengers. It is also illegal to transport alcohol with a broken seal.

Check out the full list of Illinois Rules of the Road.

Sales tax

• A 10.25% sales tax is applied in the city of Chicago.
• Hotel Accommodations Tax is currently 17.4%.

Smoking

Smoking as well as “vaping” or the use of e-cigarettes, vape pens, and e-hookahs is prohibited in enclosed public places, and within 15 feet of the entrance of these establishments.

Time zones

Chicago is on Central Standard Time (CST). That’s 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), 1 hour behind New York City (EST), 1 hour ahead of Mountain Time (MST), and 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles (PST).

Tipping

• Taxi drivers, bartenders, and waiters generally receive a 20% gratuity on the pre-tax amount of your bill for standard service, though it is appropriate to leave a 25%-plus gratuity for exceptional service.
• Hotel doormen and valet parking attendants are tipped approximately $2.
• Bellhops are tipped $2 per bag.
• Hotel chambermaids are usually tipped $2 per day.