2010
Travelling to Chicago?
Here goes my story as first time traveler to US. My wife, father, sisters came to drop me at the airport as it used to be a practice/tradition (at least for me) that family and loved ones come for a send off. My flight was scheduled at 3 am on a Sunday morning. After entering the airport we could see there was some renovation happening at the Chennai airport. So all the family members were forced to send me off at the entrance of the airport. I am remembering an issue that happened when I went to London couple of years back. I was on a business visa to London. I was about to get the boarding pass. An airline authority asked for my identity proof of my company. My bad, I have not taken my identity or my business card. Fortunately I had my family waiting for me till I clear security checks. My father drove back home and got me the identity card of my company.
I point I was trying to make here is that remember to take your business cards / identity cards (I would prefer Identity cards) especially when you are on a business trip. So coming back to my trip to Chicago, I was expecting someone to check my identity card / business card / invite letter. No one did check the same. So after all the checks I was waiting for my turn to get into the gate where my flight is docked. My Flight was Gulf Air and I started my journey to the first stop to Bahrain.
Bahrain airport was good. But was not that busy at the point of time I went. I had to wait for couple of hours for the next flight. One good thing is that one of my colleague was moving to some place at US at the same time. So I had my breakfast at Bahrain and then continued my journey from Bahrain to London. Then in London I completed all formalities of baggage and security check and headed to collect my boarding pass. After couple of questions I got a new boarding pass for getting into American Airlines. And another level of security check before I head to the aircraft, I finally boarded the flight.
Finally after a long journey I reached Chicago O Hare Airport around 7:00 PM. Fortunately, the weather was good at the time I landed. After finishing all the security and visa checks I was allowed to step out of the airport. Moving all my luggages I was looking for a taxi. I wanted to go to Extended Stay America hotel located at Buffalo Grove. I got a taxi @ 9:32 PM and hopped into it. Being the first time I was not aware of any systems around. I had to pay a higher price for it. I paid $63 to reach Buffalo Grove. Later I understood that there are taxi services which takes to the place for half the price. Based on the recommendation from Extended Stay America hotel, I got used to hire American Call Taxi.
I reached the hotel and payed my initial payment for the stay and additional $5 for one time internet setup. Here are the checklist of items you would require if you travel to a place like Chicago.
- Jerkin
- Thermal wear if you are here in Winter (Lucky me, I did not carry one and the weather is pleasant)
- International power adapter if you are from other countries.
- Sweater
The Extended Stay America was Cheap for stay. However, I had potential problem of travelling to work. There are no public transport available especially when you are having work outside Chicago downtown. The place I had to work does not have a public transport and I had to rely heavily on taxi. Taxi charges heavily and it sucks all your money. So always try to stay at a place very closer to your work place. So as I had to travel by taxi, I wanted to move closer to work location. I got another place which is within 3 miles from my work place.
It was Mariott’s Residence Inn at Deerfield, IL. The rooms are clean, tidy and comfortable. The hotel provides a complimentary breakfast, shuttle service, internet service and gym facilities. So while you travel to Chicago be warned that you will need to stay closer to your work place or choose a hotel which offers free shuttle service for commuting otherwise it would be a hard time and a pain.
So now I am in Deerfield, IL and hope this help at least to an extent.