Hello I'm new here and I need some advice. Im planning a trip to Chicago on April 2022. I have booked my hotel which will be in the downtown area of the city. I'm excited but I'm very nervous because I've never been to a big city like Chicago. I grew up in a small town and went to college in a small town then moved to a small city with a population of about 200,000 for work which is where I've been living since 2016. This was within the same state which is in the U.S midwest. I booked this trip because I want to get out of my comfort zone. (I've never been outside my state) and I was inspired from watching YouTube videos on this.
Im looking for advice on how to navigate a big city like Chicago. I plan to see some of the attractions and use the public transportation system there. So people from Chicago what advice would you give a small town person visiting your city.
First time in a big city (Chicago)
Welcome to the forum.
Below is a link that directs you to information on Chicago that is from this TP forum:
https://www.travellerspoint.com/guide/Chicago/
Also check TripAdvisor forums for Chicago too.
Good luck.
You don't need to be nervous Chicago is a good place also you have a wonderful experience explore many new things.
Ok this is what I want to know.
1. What safety precautions should I take in Chicago. It's a big city, I'm from a small town and never been to a city of this magnitude. With safety this is what I mean
A. What should I do if someone begs me for money
B. What if someone tries to harass me on the street or Chicago have that issue
C. What kinds of scams do I need to be aware of.
These are issues I've read about that happen in big cities and it's something that concerns me.
Until someone who lives in Chicago or visited recently, you can do a search. I used DuckDuckGo, but other search engines will work too.
[u]I used "Is Chicago Safe for travel in 2022?" Also, "Is Chicago safe for foreign tourists to visit in 2022?"[/u]
As far as scams go, I would assume if something sounds too good to be true- usually it isn't!!
I have been through the airport a few times with no problems. And when I was in my teens I did visit the city. But probably before you were born.
Good luck.
I live in a UK village. I (solo middle-aged female) have visited many European cities and many in the US too, including NYC, LA, SF, Boston, Washington DC and Chicago (about 8 years ago). I stayed in a hotel inside 'the Loop', a couple of blocks from Millennium Park, and used my feet & public transport to get around.
Off the top of my head:
> What should I do if someone begs me for money
That happens in large cities everywhere, not just in the US, and how you respond is entirely up to you. You can give some money (keep lots of dollar notes handy if that's what you want to do), say 'Sorry, I haven't got any spare cash', say 'Sorry I haven't got any spare cash but I'll buy you a sandwich/coffee/pizza/whatever' or just ignore the request and keep walking. I do all of those things: it depends on the location, the person asking and my own situation at the time. The only time I'd advise you to absolutely give some money is if you felt threatened and/or were in a dubious location e.g. an completely empty pedestrian subway, an empty street after dark and suchlike. Otherwise it's always a decision for your own conscience.
>What if someone tries to harass me on the street or Chicago have that issue
You are very, very unlikely to be 'harassed' on the street in Chicago or any US/European city. Sometimes touts for e.g. tour tickets can be a nuisance. Practice saying 'No, thank you' firmly but politely: keep saying it and keep walking. Never allow yourself to be drawn into conversation with people hanging around on the street or trying to sell you something/take you somewhere etc.
>What safety precautions should I take in Chicago.
Use common sense and keep to well-lit, busy streets after dark. Keep most cash, cards & valuables in the hotel safe and only take with you what you'll need. When you're out and about, keep most of your cash & all of your cards safely inside/underneath your clothing (e.g. inside pocket with zip, under-clothing pouch, make your own pocket and sew it into the inside of your jeans). If you carry a bag, make sure the strap is across your body. Don't flash wads of cash and be sensible about where and how you use your phone. Stay alert when your using your phone in public and be very aware of who is nearby when you use an ATM. If you don't feel comfortable in a place or on a specific street, change direction and go somewhere else. Trust your instincts.
>What kinds of scams do I need to be aware of.
As above: if it sounds to good to be true, it will be. Don't accept invitations from strangers to e.g. clubs or bars. Don't accept drinks from strangers (especially important if you're female). Don't leave your phone on a cafe/bar/restaurant table or hang your bag from the back of the chair, especially if you're sitting outside, Check your bar/restaurant/diner etc bills carefully. If you think a bill is wrong, decide whether you're comfortable enough to complain or if it feels safer to just accept the financial hit and leave (I've done both). Never get so drunk that you can't look after yourself properly. Remember that 90+% of other people are perfectly ok but there is no way of knowing simply from appearances which one is a pickpocket or a petty thief.
Use common sense, trust your instincts, take responsibility for your own safety and you'll be fine. :-)
[ Edit: Edited on 8 Mar 2022, 18:45 GMT by leics2 ]
Quoting leics2
I live in a UK village. I (solo middle-aged female) have visited many European cities and many in the US too, including NYC, LA, SF, Boston, Washington DC and Chicago about 8 years ago. I stayed in a hotel inside 'the Loop' (a couple of blocks from Millennium Park) and used my feet & public transport to get around.
Off the top of my head:
> What should I do if someone begs me for money
That happens in large cities everywhere, not just in the US, and how you respond is entirely up to you. You can give some money (keep lots of dollar notes handy if that's what you want to do), say 'Sorry, I haven't got any spare cash', say 'Sorry I haven't got any spare cash but I'll buy you a sandwich/coffee/pizza/whatever' or just ignore the request and keep walking. I do all of those things: it depends on the location, the person asking and my own situation at the time. The only time I'd advise you to absolutely give some money is if you felt threatened and/or were in a dubious location e.g. an comppletely empty pedestrian subway, an empty street after dark and suchlike. Otherwise it's always a decision for your own conscience.
>What if someone tries to harass me on the street or Chicago have that issue
You are very, very unlikely to be 'harassed' on the street in Chicago or any US/European city.. Sometimes touts for e.g. tour tickets can be a nuisance. Practice saying 'No, thank you' firmly but politely: keep saying it and keep walking. Never allow yourself to be drawn into conversation with people hanging around on the street or trying to sell you something/take you somewhere etc.
Use common sense and keep to well-lit, busy streets after dark. Keep most cash, cards & valuables in the hotel safe and only take with you what you'll need. When you're out and about, keep most of your cash & all of your cards safely underneath your clothing (e.g. inside pocket with zip, under-clothing pouch, make your own pocket and sew it into the inside of your jeans). If you carry a bag, make sure the strap is across your body. Don't flash wads of cash and be sensible about where and how you use your phone. Stay alert when your using your phone in public and be very aware of who is nearby when youo use an ATM. If you don't feel comfortable in a place or on a specific street, change direction and go somewhere else. Trust your instincts.
>What kinds of scams do I need to be aware of.
As above: if it sounds to good to be true, it will be. Don't accept invitations from strangers to e.g. clubs or bars. Don't accept drinks from strangers (especially important if you're female). Check your bar/restaurant/diner etc bills carefully. If you think it's wrong, decide whether you're comfortable enough to complain or if it feels safer to just accept the financial hit and leave (I've done both). Never get so drunk that you can't look after yourself properly.
Use common sense, trust your instincts, take responsibility for your own safety and you'll be fine. :-)
Thank you so much. This was very helpful and exactly what I was looking for. I feel so much more at ease now.
You're welcome.
I've visited 35+ countries since my late 40s, almost always travelling alone. The first time in Europe (Rome) was scary until I got there and realised it wasn't scary at all. Same for the US: my first visit (NYC) was even scarier (European countries don't have gun issues) but it was fine.
I've often been shocked and/or saddened by what I've seen in US cities and am always more careful when exploring than in European cities. But I've always followed my own advice above and trusted my instincts. Whenever I've felt 'iffy' or overtly unsafe (and I have done in US cities occasionally) I've removed myself from the situation or location as quickly as possible. And, so far, I've had no hassles, no unpleasant situations, not been ripped-off and have had nothing stolen. :-)
[ Edit: Edited on 8 Mar 2022, 18:46 GMT by leics2 ]
I do not give money to strangers begging for money, since i contribute money monthly to my local homeless shelter. Also many of the people are scammers like the woman who comes up to you in the supermarket parking lot and begs for money for diapers for her baby(sometimes formula) but when you offer to buy some and bring it to her, she curses at you. Others will only spend the money on crack or meth or a bottle of cheap wine like Nighttrain or Thunderbird.
Agree with buy your own drinks and if you are female, never leave your drink unattended even to go to the restroom.