The Various Ways of Navigating Chicago

Learning about the various methods of travelling in Chicago will greatly help you traverse the Windy City, especially if you're there without a vehicle of your own. This short list ought to help you out.Cabs and LimousinesThese are your most convenient methods of travelling in Chicago, especially since the city has some of the lowest taxi fares in the whole of the United States. The major cab companies operating in Chicago include Flash Cab, Checker Cab, Yellow Cab and American-United Taxi. There are also quite a few limousine companies that offer higher-quality rides and are driven by more accommodating chauffeurs. These are preferred if you prefer to get around in comfort and at your own pace without being pressured by the usual single-mindedness of cab drivers. Do remember, however, that cabs and limousines will have to deal with traffic, which is why it will be well worth your time to check traffic reports if you can. Public TrainsThe Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Metra are the two major operators of train lines in the main city area. These trains are one of the most efficient means of travelling in Chicago since they run on a very tight schedule and drop you off at strategic locations all over the city. It is highly recommended that you bring cash in order to pay for tickets or passes, and you need to check the schedules to either catch up to rush hour rides or determine at what time non-rush hour trains arrive. Try riding these trains at least once in your stay. You really can’t say you’ve been travelling in Chicago if you haven’t ridden its impressive train lines!BusesThe CTA operates buses every four blocks and they arrive pretty frequently at each bus stop. Look for these white-and-blue signs that will tell you the route and type of bus that you will encounter. Signs with an owl on them – black logos of the flying bird – will tell you that you can expect buses here 24 hours a day. You can even download the CTA Bus Tracker app on your tablet or smartphone, which will use GPS coordinates to tell you where the buses are on a specific route. You need to present a CTA pass or pay exactly $2.25, as you will forfeit all change if you do not have the exact amount. Water TaxisIf you find yourself near the edges of town, you may want to consider hiring a water taxi instead of your usual cab. Chicago Water Taxi and Shoreline Sightseeing are the two major operators of water taxis in the area, with the latter costing a bit more per head but with options for sightseeing (and it has access to many more destinations as well). You may even find these water taxis more attractive way of getting around when traffic is especially brutal in town.

Looking for a hotel for when travelling in Chicago? Roberta Stuart is the Travel Manager for Worldhotels, a company offering the best rooms in a selection of unique four and five star hotels around the world.

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