International Travel 

We hope your stay in Chicago is a successful and pleasant one. To help you get familiar with the city and the U.S. in general, here are some quick facts and handy resources.

• Time zone: Chicago is on Central Standard Time. That's 6 hours behind GMT; 1 hour behind New York City (East Coast); and 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles (West Coast).
• Legal car rental age: 25
• Legal drinking and gambling age: 21 (photo ID or passport required) Legal driving age: 16
• Tipping: Taxicab drivers, tip bartenders and waiters get about 15%. Hotel doormen and valet parkers should be tipped about $2, and bellhops should be given $2 per bag. Chambermaids usually are given $1 per day, which can be left on the pillow.

	U.S. Customs / Visas / Travel Requirements Information Get all the information you need for passports, visas, international travel requirements, prohibited items, and more. Read more.
	Foreign Consulates Download a PDF of foreign consulates from around the world and their contact information in Chicago. Download here.
	Apparel / Clothing Size Conversions View a list of common size conversions for men's and women's clothing and shoes. Remember sizes can be incosistent, so be sure try everything on before you buy it. Read more.
	Foreign Currency Exchanges Review a list of currency exchanges throughout Chicago. Read more.
	Getting To and Around Chicago Get all the information you need for getting to and around Chicago, including average flight times from many major international cities. Read more.
	Translators / Interpreters Make your Chicago experience smoother and more memorable, and hire a translator or interpreter. Read more.