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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.

 

US Customs / Passport Information

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

Foreign Consulates

Download a PDF of foreign consulates from around the world and their contact information in Chicago. Download here.

US Apparel Conversion Charts

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.

Chicago Currency Exchanges

Foreign Currency Exchanges

Review a list of currency exchanges throughout Chicago. Read more.

Flight Times to Chicago

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

Translators / Interpreters

Make your Chicago experience smoother and more memorable, and hire a translator or interpreter. Read more.

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