encounter any problems. However, it is always best to take common-sense precautions and be aware of your surroundings. If you don’t feel safe, you probably aren’t. Public transportation is generally safe during the day, but after dark, you may feel more comfortable taking a taxi to your destination. The best source of information is often your hotel concierge. Don’t hesitate to ask if your destination or day’s itinerary will take you into unsavory neighborhoods. Parks and the paths along the lakefront are populated during the day but are often fairly deserted at night.
CVS Pharmacy has many branches with 24-hour opening
Chicago Fire Department on early-morning firefighting duty
P R A C T I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N 1 7 9
downtown and North Side visitors. It also provides a
Physician Referral Service. TheBernard A. Mitchell Hospital, at the University of Chicago, serves the city’s South Side.
Private hospitals are listed in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory. Or, your hotel may be able to arrange for a doctor or dentist to visit you in your room.
For dental emergencies, call theChicago Dental Society, which provides referrals 24 hours a day, every day.
LOST PROPERTY
The chance of recovering stolen property is poor. Nevertheless, you should report all lost or stolen items to the police. Keep a copy of the police report if you plan to make an insurance claim.
The Chicago Police Department has a location at O’Hare Airport; call if you have misplaced something at
the airport other than at a restaurant or on a plane.
Most credit card companies have toll-free numbers to call to report a loss, as do Thomas Cook and American Express
(see p181) if you lose or have
your traveler’s checks stolen. If you lose your passport, contact your embassy or consulate immediately.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance coverage of a minimum of $1 million is strongly recommended, mainly because of the high cost of medical care in the US. Among the most important features the policy should cover are accidental death, dismemberment, emergency medical and dental care, trip cancellation, and lost or stolen baggage coverage. Your travel agent or insurance company should be able to recommend a suitable policy, but it is worth shop- ping around for the best deal.
Sign outside a Chicago medical center Fire boat Emergency ambulance Police car
DIRECTORY
CRISIS INFORMATION All Emergencies Tel 911 for police, fire, andmedical services.
City HelpLine
Tel 311 for nonemergency police
situations and City services.
Illinois Poison Center Tel (800) 222-1222. Emergency Rooms Bernard A. Mitchell Hospital, 901 E 58th St. Map 7 B4. Tel (773) 702-6250. Lincoln Park Hospital, 550 Webster Ave. Tel (773) 883-3816. Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 251 E Erie St. Map 2 D4. Tel 926-5188. Medical Referrals Chicago Dental Society Referrals Tel (312) 836-7300. Physician Referral Service at Northwestern Memorial Hospital Tel 926-8400; (877) 926-4664. 24-Hour Pharmacies CVS Pharmacy Tel (800) 746-7287. Walgreen’s Drugstore Tel (800) 925-4733. LOST PROPERTY Midway Airport Police Tel (773) 838-3003. O’Hare Airport Police Tel (773) 686-2385. Public Transit Chicago Transit Authority Tel (888) 968-7282. www.transitchicago.com Metra at Union Station Tel 322-4269. Metra (general information) Tel 322-6777. www.metrarail.com Lost or Stolen Credit Cards American Express Tel (800) 528-4800. MasterCard Tel (800) 307-7309. VISA Tel (800) 847-2911.
BANKING
Banks are generally open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm; 9am to early or mid-afternoon on Saturday.
Many banks charge fees to use a teller for routine matters such as withdrawing money. Always ask if any fees apply before making a transaction with a bank teller.
The major consumer banks
in Chicago includeChase,
Bank America, andHarris
Bank. Credit unions will
usually serve only their members.
AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES
There is no need to carry large amounts of cash in Chicago. Hundreds of automated teller machines (ATMs) can be found through- out the city. They are almost always in bank lobbies or on an outside wall near the bank’s entrance, as well as in many convenience and grocery stores. Some bars and fast-food outlets also have ATMs on their premises.
US currency, usually in $20 bills, can be electronically withdrawn from your bank or credit-card account through an ATM. Ask your bank at home which American ATM network your card can access in Chicago, and what transaction fees will apply.
CirrusandPlusare common networks in Chicago. You can also do transactions with some credit cards at ATMs.
Always be aware of your surroundings and take care at ATMs by using them in secure conditions, daylight hours, or when there are plenty of people nearby in order to deter robbers.
CREDIT CARDS
Credit cards allow you to carry minimal cash and may offer merchandise guarantees or other benefits. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, and VISA are widely accepted.
Most hotels ask for a credit-card number to guarantee a reservation, taking an imprint of the card when you check in. Car rental agencies insist on a credit- card guarantee even if you are paying for the rental in cash (see p191).
Credit cards are very helpful in emergencies, should you have to fly home on short notice or need medical treatment during your stay. Many hospitals will accept a major credit card as a method of payment.
EXCHANGING MONEY
Exchange rates are printed in the daily newspapers and posted in banks where exchange services are offered, usually at the main branches of large banks. Some banks have designated tellers for foreign exchange.
Foreign exchange brokers in Chicago are few. Among the solidly
established is Travelex.
World’s Money Exchangealso deals in foreign currency. Two exchanges are located
at O’Hare Airport, in terminals 3 and 5 (open daily); there are no currency exchanges at Midway Airport. Keep in mind, however, that an ATM may provide a better exchange rate and charge a lower transaction fee than a bank or exchange bureau. Chicago has hundreds of state-regulated “currency exchanges.” Most do not exchange foreign currency but instead cash checks, sell money orders, and offer notary services.
CASHING TRAVELER’S CHECKS
Traveler’s checks issued byAmerican Express and Travelexin US dollars are widely accepted without a fee by most shops, hotels, and restaurants, if accom- panied by a recognized form of photographic identification, such as a passport, driver’s license, or international student card (see p177).
US-dollar traveler’s checks can be cashed at most banks. Checks in foreign currency can be cashed at a bank branch offering foreign- currency exchange, usually the banks’ main locations.
American Express and Travelex will cash their own checks at no fee.