Getting to Chicago and to the Conference Hotel

Welcome to Chicago, one of the liveliest cities in the United States and the world's convention capital. Thanks to its central location, easy access by air and by land, an abundance of events and attractions, world-class shopping and dining and great hospitality, Chicago is the premiere choice for meetings as well as tourism. Over 30 million domestic and foreign travelers visit the city every year, almost half of them to attend a meeting.

We hope you will find the following information helpful in planning your trip to Chicago and to the conference hotel. Further information on places to see and things to do once in Chicago may be found in the Chicago Do & See section of this website.

All amounts are shown in U.S. dollars. To convert any amount to another currency, use the XE.com Personal Currency Assistant.

Most of our guests will likely be arriving by air, landing at either O'Hare International Airport or Midway Airport, which together handle more flights per day than any other U.S. city.

O’Hare International Airport (800.832.6352), located 20 miles northwest of Chicago’s downtown area, is considered the world's busiest, serving about 180,000 passengers and 2,500 flights a day. O'Hare is host to most major airlines and features direct service to more than 60 international destinations. Hourly nonstop service is available from/to New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, and Minneapolis (with flight times up to about 2 hours), as well as Los Angeles (4 hours).

A number of transportation means connect O'Hare International Airport with downtown Chicago: local mass transit lines, regional trains and buses, downtown and suburban shuttles and interstate highways. Ground transportation can be accessed at each terminal's main entrance. Travelers are advised to allow plenty of time to get to, from, as well as around, O'Hare International Airport.

Continental Airport Express (800.654.7871) offers daily shuttle service between O'Hare and downtown Chicago from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Departures are about every 5 to 10 minutes. The one-way fare to the city is $20 (less $2 with this coupon). Discounts available for two or more passengers. Information counters and pickup locations are in the baggage claims areas of Terminals 1, 2, and 3, and outside U.S. Customs in Terminal 5. Lift-equipped vehicles are available on advance request for passengers with disabilities.

Taxi service is available from the lower level curbfront of all terminals. Taxi fare from O'Hare International Airport to the conference hotel is about $35.

Car rental agencies are located on the lower level near the baggage claim areas of Terminals 1, 2, and 3. From Terminal 5, car rental agencies can be reached by courtesy telephones located on the lower level. Advance car rental reservations are recommended.

Midway Airport (773.838.0600), one of the fastest growing airports in the U.S., is located southwest of downtown Chicago. It is served by these airlines.

Downtown Chicago can be reached from Midway Airport by the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Orange Line in just 20-30 minutes, as well as by regional buses, downtown and suburban shuttles, and interstate highways. Most ground transportation access areas are located at the main entrance area of the terminal.

Continental Airport Express (800.654.7871) offers daily shuttle service between Midway and downtown Chicago from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Departures are about every 15 minutes. The one-way fare to the city is $15 (less $2 with this coupon). Discounts available for two or more passengers. An information counter is located opposite of the Southwest Airlines ticket counter. The pickup location is in front of the main terminal building. Lift-equipped vehicles are available on advance request for passengers with disabilities.

Taxi service is available from door M5. Taxi fare from Midway Airport to the conference hotel is about $20.

Car rental agencies are located inside the terminal building. Rental car pick-up and drop-off points are located on Level 2 of the Midway Airport Parking Garage. Advance car rental reservations are recommended.

The following should be some of the easiest ways to get to the conference hotel by car:

From the southeast, take I-90 (the Chicago Skyway) which joins I-94 to form the Dan Ryan Expressway. From I-90/94, take the Ohio Street exit. Drive 11 blocks to Fairbanks Court and look for Holiday Inn City Centre on your left.

From the southwest, take Highway 55 (the Adlai E. Stevenson Expressway) and exit to I-90/94 (the Dan Ryan Expressway) Northbound. From I-90/94, take the Ohio Street exit. Drive 11 blocks to Fairbanks Court and look for Holiday Inn City Centre on your left.

From the north or south, you can also take Highway 41 which follows the lake shore and runs right through the city where it is known as Lake Shore Drive. Take the Grand/Illinois Avenue exit, drive four stoplights to Fairbanks Court and look for Holiday Inn City Centre on your right.

Chicago can also be easily reached by bus or train. First of all, Chicago is a major destination for both Amtrak and Greyhound. The commuter train service, Metra, and Pace bus system connect downtown Chicago with its suburbs.

Conference guests are hereby advised that the conference fees do not include provisions for the insurance of participants against personal injuries, sickness, theft or property damage. This also applies to any event held in conjunction with the official conference program. Participants and accompanying persons are advised to arrange for insurance they consider necessary. Neither, the AME 2002 Planning Committee, sponsors, or agents assume any responsibility for loss, injury or damage to persons or belongings, whatever their cause may be.

Our international guests are reminded to arrange for appropriate health and accident insurance before leaving for the United States. Arrangements for out-of-country insurance can usually be made through travel and insurance agents.

Generally, foreign citizens who wish to enter the United States for temporary stay, must first obtain a visitor (nonimmigrant) visa, either B-1 (visiting for business) or B-2 (visiting for pleasure or medical treatment). Persons planning to travel to the U.S. for a different purpose (students, temporary workers, crewmen, journalists, etc.), must apply for a different visa in the appropriate category. U.S. consular officers can provide additional information. Please contact the U.S. Embassy or other diplomatic mission closest to your place of residence for details.

Applicants for visitor visas must show that they qualify under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants for visitor visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that: (1) The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business, pleasure, or medical treatment; (2) They plan to remain for a specific, limited period; and (3) They have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will insure their return abroad at the end of the visit.

According to the U.S. State Department, "temporary special processing requirements have been imposed on non-immigrant visa applicants" in response to last year's terrorist attacks. Whereas "these requirements may lead to a delay of several weeks in visa issuance," it is advisable that an application for a U.S. visitor visa be made well in advance of intended travel.

For details on entry requirements and procedures, visit the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Department of State Visa Services websites.

Short-term visitors from qualified countries may be eligible to visit the U.S. without a visa. Please visit the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Visa Waiver Program website for an up-to-date list of designated countries and further details.

Canadian citizens as well as landed immigrants in Canada who are (a) British subjects, (B) citizens of a Commonwealth country or (c) citizens of Ireland do not need to obtain a visa to enter the United States as visitors. For such individuals, a passport is not required to enter the U.S. (except after a visit outside the Western Hemisphere). All travelers should be prepared to present documentary evidence of identity, citizenship, and (if applicable) resident status in Canada. Please visit the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa website for details.

For information on customs regulations and procedures that apply to travelers entering the U.S., please visit the U.S. Customs Traveler Information website.

Although mostly a sunny city, Chicago can also be very windy, and the temperatures can be rather low in autumn. A cross-country skiing season starts as early as November here. Typical daily highs are 48°F (9°C), while temperatures drop to about 32°F (0°C) at night. Make sure to bring warm clothes and shoes, especially if you plan to spend more time near the lake. A waterproof jacket or an umbrella can come in handy, too.

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