Chicago is a city in the United States of America, located in the state of Illinois on the coast of Lake Michigan.
The city is located at the crossroads of transport and trade routes between East and West, so it is one of the most important transport hubs of the state. The state of Illinois has a developed road network, for a tourist trip you can rent a car (website for car rental - Bookingautos).
Chicago got its name from the Indian word "shikaakwa", as the Indians called the wild onion that grew on the territory of the current city.
Interesting fact: many people think that the second name the city received due to the peculiarities of weather conditions, but this is not so. Chicago is called the "Windy City" due to fluctuations in city government. This name appeared at the end of the 19th century, but is still used today.
The history of the city originates from the Indian tribes. In 1673, the Mississippi River waterway was opened, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. At the end of the 17th century, clashes often took place between Europeans and Indians who did not want to see strangers on their land.
Chicago was founded in 1833 as a village, and four years later it acquired the status of a city. Since that time, the city has been actively developing to this day.
The area of the city is 607 km2 (the largest city in the Midwest).
Chicago is a metropolitan area with a population of approximately 2,750,000 (the city is the third most populous city in the United States).
Chicago has a humid continental climate. It is characterized by long warm summers with high rainfall, short cold winters.
There are two international airports within a radius of 15-20 km from the city center: "Midway" and "O'Hara".
Official city website for more information - www.chicago.gov
What to see in Chicago?
Chicago is a city of skyscrapers and is considered a relatively young metropolis. Most of the attractions appeared in the XX-XXI century.
Millennium Park.
Millennium- park - a park built at the beginning of the 21st century, located in the center of the city, covers an area of 100,000 m2.
The attraction has several dozen awards.
Fun fact: Millennium Park cost about half a billion dollars to create.
The park is an urban oasis that houses installations, art objects and sculptures. Contemporary art exhibitions often take place here.
Cloud Gate.
Cloud Gate – public sculpture, located in Millennium Park and being its hallmark.
The creator is British-Indian architect Anish Kapoor.
The sculpture is a mercury drop, but most tourists call it a "bean".
Grant Park.
There is a green park on the shore of Lake Michigan, the total area of which is 129 hectares. Festivals are often held on its territory. The park is considered a favorite place for walks by locals and tourists.
Buckingham Fountain.
Buckingham Fountain, located in Grant Park, is one of the largest fountains in the world.
The main pool is 84 meters in diameter.
In 1927, Kate Buckingham donated the Chicago Fountain.
The Museum of Science and Industry appeared in Chicago in the early 20th century, after a trip by businessman J.Rosenwald of the German Museum (Rosenwald decided to make a similar museum in his city).
Today, the museum is a four-story architectural building, the area of which is about 50,000 m2. The museum's own collection includes about 35 thousand exhibits.
Where to go near Chicago?
There are interesting places near Chicago that will take 1-2 days to visit. You can rent a car to get around.
Indianapolis.
3 hours drive from Chicago is Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana. The city is known for its architecture, racing tracks and a large number of attractions that tourists from all over the world come to see.
Various events, festivals, car races often take place in Indianapolis.
The city is located a large number of different museums recommended for visiting.
Madison.
Madison is a small picturesque town located in the state of Wisconsin. The territory of the city is surrounded by four lakes. Madison is great for relaxing family outings. The main attraction of the city is the Capitol, built in 1917.
Food: the best restaurants in Chicago
The peculiarity of Chicago restaurants is that you can try almost any cuisine in the world.
As for the national cuisine, the hallmark of Chicago is deep-dish pizza (Chicago-style pizza), cooked on cornbread.
Hot dogs and steaks are also traditional dishes. Desserts include cheesecake.
Most parking in Chicago is paid, this is due to the dense population of the city and a large number of cars (many tourists rent a car). However, in some residential areas of the city you can park for free (in this case, you need to make sure that there are no signs of paid parking or a terminal).
* Prices are based on orders processed over the previous 2 years.
A percentage showing the monthly occupancy of the fleet of available vehicles. During August, there is a maximum demand for car rental, which entails a decrease in the range of cars available for order. You should take care of booking a car in Chicago in advance, this will allow you to get the preferred option on the most favorable financial terms.
The best time to rent a car in Chicago is November. During this period the cost of renting a car of a compact category starts from €26, which is approximately 32% lower compared to the average price during a year.
In summer, the demand for car rental reaches its peak. The choice of available cars is decreasing. At the same time, the price of the service almost doubles! For example, in July, the average rental price of the popular car model Audi A4 reaches €35 per day.
We offer a wide range of vehicles to suit every budget:
Economy cars - a great solution for everyday trips;
Premium segment - for those who love quality and comfort;
Business class is ideal for people who are used to being first.
Convertibles, SUVs and station wagons, as well as minivans and sedans are in demand among customers. The choice of car depends not only on personal tastes, preferences and its cost. Rental conditions are important, which in some cases should be taken into account in the first place.
We offer reasonable and fully justified rates with no overpayments or hidden fees. The cost is calculated taking into account the class of car and the duration of the rental period. The longer the period, the lower the daily rate. For compact models of the middle segment the daily price starts from €14, the fee for a middle-class car is €29-€56 per day. Business class will cost more - you will have to pay for it from €67 and above. The cost of rent depends on the season. Moreover, during the peak period, the price increases significantly. Especially for convertibles and rare models. For a popular model among our customers BMW 4 Cabrio you will have to pay at least €77 per day.
In recent years in Chicago the demand for electric rental cars has been growing steadily. Their popularity is due to the presence of numerous free parking lots and recharging stations. You will be able to rent Mercedes EQC in Chicago by selecting start and end dates of the rental in the search filter.
Documents needed to rent a car
Driving license
Credit card
Voucher
Passport
Attention!
A valid international driver's license is required!
10 Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Car Rental
Download Google maps for offline access
Before the trip, we recommend that you download the necessary maps to the Google Maps application on your smartphone. This will allow you to build travel routes and use offline navigation on the ground. Thus, you can significantly save on Internet roaming charges, as well as on the "Navigator" service. Downloading the map is easy. You should select the required area, set the desired scale and enter "ok maps" in the search field.
Book a car in advance
Chicago is a popular holiday destination and the car rental service is in great demand here. Therefore, it is recommended to book a car in advance. When booking online, you know exactly which car, for what price and under what conditions you will get in Chicago. The main advantage of early booking is the cost savings. The less time left before the start of the rental, the higher the cost of the rental becomes. The optimal period for booking in rental companies is 6 weeks before receiving the car. If you book early, two days before receiving the car, you can cancel the order without any penalties.
Which car to choose for rent
Tourists who expect to drive only around the city and its immediate surroundings prefer to rent compact cars, Toyota Aygo or VW Polo. For trips to the mountains, you need a car with increased power. You should go on such a trip with a full tank, as fuel consumption in the mountains increases one and a half to two times. An all-wheel drive crossover would be the ideal car for this. Renting Audi A4 Estate in Chicago will cost €35 per day.
What you need to pay attention to when receiving a car
Before picking up, you are required to carefully inspect the car and point out to the rental company manager for scratches, damage and defects, such as dirty seat upholstery. You should check the ignition and the fuel level in the tank. You need to know the conditions for returning the car - where exactly, with what amount of fuel to return the car.
The rental agreement must include a telephone number to contact the rental company. It is designed so that customers can get help in emergency situations, such as when a car breaks down or in the event of an accident. A call to the rental company should be done first, even before the arrival of the police.
Insurance advice
When you pick up your rental car, you need to take it seriously. This is especially true if you do not intend to purchase additional insurance. You should carefully inspect the received car and fix all scratches, dents, and other defects in the contract. It is also recommended to take a picture of the existing damage to the car, its number, write down the name of the rental company employee.
What types of insurance are available for car rental?
Third Party Liability (TPL). This is a third party liability protection. If you are the culprit of an accident, the insurance will compensate for the costs of the victims for you.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is to protect your vehicle from any damage. She works with a franchise. This is the amount that you will have to pay in case of damage in any case. The company will cover anything over the limit. The insurance does not cover theft.
Theft Waiver (T.W.). This is car theft protection. Operates with a franchise.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This is medical insurance for the driver and passengers.
Fuel prepayment terms
When renting a car, you should pay attention to the fuel policy of rental companies. Often, when renting, tourists have to pay the cost of a full tank of fuel. This option is suitable for long-term rentals and long trips. But if you're only renting Chicago for a day or two, or if you're only planning short trips, such as to a small island, then you probably won't need a full tank. You can get acquainted with the fuel policy in the "Important information" section of the car you have chosen.
Unlimited mileage
Before renting a car, you should check with the rental company if there is a limit on the daily mileage for a car. Typically, tourists use a rental car to travel not only around the city, but also to travel to neighboring cities and even countries. If such a restriction exists, it is recommended to choose a rental option where there is no limit. In this case, the total cost of mileage will be lower, since you will not have to pay extra for exceeding the mileage. On our site, in the search results, check the filter "Unlimited mileage" to see the offers you need.
Compare conditions of different rental companies
When choosing a rental car in Chicago, you should carefully read all the terms of the rental. This is due to the fact that different companies may differ not only in rental prices, but also in conditions for limiting mileage, the cost of additional services, and the amount of the deposit. To compare rental conditions, it is convenient to use the search and booking system on our website.
Which rental company to choose
When renting a car in Chicago, you should carefully read all the conditions offered by the rental company. Depending on the specific company, they may differ in mileage, insurance coverage, deposit amount, accompanying services and their cost. You should choose proven and reliable companies that offer new cars and stand out due to the well-thought-out organization of work with customers. Additionally, you can study the rating of distributors, which is also available on our website.
If we talk about the best companies in Chicago, then it is worth highlighting sixt with a rating 9.8 and budget, the average rating of which is 9.7 points.
Car pick-up procedure
You should show a voucher and personal documents. A manager draws up a lease agreement. The deposit is blocked on the card.
Before leaving the rental, turn on the ignition, find out the amount of fuel and compare it with what is written in the contract.
Inspect the car carefully. Point out to the manager any paint chips and scuffs. The employee must record the damage. Take a photo yourself: they should show the defect, the number of the car and the employee of the rental company. This will help to avoid problems when returning the car: it will prove that it was not you who torn the upholstery or scratched the fender.
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Car rental reviews: Chicago
Based on 8255 reviews
Rate 4,8/5
Based on 8255 reviews
Tony
4,8
Without a doubt, I will continue to use Bookingautos on a regular basis. Thank you very much for your assistance!
Michael
4,7
Excellent value for money. The pick-up process was a little confusing, but I would use it again!
Luna
4,5
The search was very simple to use, the price was really low, and there were no problems with the rental car company.
Jody
4,9
Everything proceeded as expected. The complete coverage compensation really worked.
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