Advantages & Disadvantages of Traveling to Chicago

You think about traveling to Chicago but want to get additional information about living costs, accommodation costs, entertainment options, safety, public transport and the city of Chicago in general?

Great! This article is exactly for you since I will show you the pros and cons of traveling to Chicago in the following chapters.

Traveling To Chicago – Overview

Advantages of Traveling to Chicago

1. Many great bars and clubs in Chicago
2. You can try many delicious foods from all over the world
3. Chicago is a culturally diverse place
4. You can experience many different lifestyles in Chicago
5. Chicago is a pretty tolerant city
6. Many great sports teams in Chicago
7. More than enough entertainment options in Chicago
8. You can visit many interesting museums in Chicago
9. Chicago has interesting architecture
10. Easy to travel to Chicago thanks to big airports
11. You can enjoy big city life in Chicago
12. Many nature activities to do around Chicago
13. People in Chicago are often pretty helpful
14. You will never run out of ideas regarding what to do in Chicago
15. Many great shopping opportunities in Chicago
16. Some hostels in Chicago are pretty affordable
17. Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the US
18. Decent public transport in Chicago

Many great bars and clubs in Chicago

One benefit of traveling to Chicago is that you will find more than enough great bars and clubs where you can party hard and will also be able to get in touch with many like-minded people so you can have a great time together.

You can try many delicious foods from all over the world

Since Chicago is a melting pot of different nations and cultures, you can also try delicious foods from all over the world and not only can this make your vacation really great but it also gives you some inspiration regarding cooking at home.

Chicago is a culturally diverse place

In general, Chicago is a culturally diverse place where you can meet many people from all over the US and even the world and can have many interesting conversations so you can really learn about life and can get other opinions on things that may bother you right now.

You can experience many different lifestyles in Chicago

Since there are so many different people in the Chicago region, you will also be able to experience many different lifestyles and attitudes towards life and may also be able to adopt some helpful characteristics for your own life.

Chicago is a pretty tolerant city

You should also know that Chicago is a pretty tolerant place and you will be welcome no matter where you come from and don’t have to worry about your background at all and as long as you are friendly and tolerant, you can have a really great time in this region.

Many great sports teams in Chicago

You will also find many great sports teams in Chicago and can watch many games live at the highest level so you can make unforgettable experiences and can also make your friends envy you by posting nice pictures of those events on social media.

More than enough entertainment options in Chicago

Another advantage of traveling to Chicago is that you will also have more than enough entertainment options and you will therefore always have something to do so you will never get bored with your vacation in Chicago.

You can visit many interesting museums in Chicago

If you are interested in art, there are also many interesting museums you can visit in Chicago and can see many famous and outstanding paintings and other pieces of art you will rarely see in other parts of the country.

Chicago has interesting architecture

You should also know that Chicago has many interesting buildings and architectural highlights in general and if you are an architect or work in the construction sector, spending time in Chicago may also be great for you since you may get lots of inspiration for your job.

Easy to travel to Chicago thanks to big airports

Since you will find big airports in the Chicago area, you will also be able to travel from and to Chicago in a pretty efficient manner and you will often not have to deal with annoying layovers.

You can enjoy big city life in Chicago

Chicago is also a place where you can really enjoy big city life. In fact, there are many big skyscrapers and other things you may be used to from other big cities and you can also have action 24/7.

Many nature activities to do around Chicago

Spending your vacation in Chicago can also be great in case you want to have a mix of big city life and nature activities since there is lots of beautiful nature around Chicago and you can therefore make many nice day trips to relax a little bit.

People in Chicago are often pretty helpful

You should also know that many people in Chicago are pretty helpful and outgoing and in case you get lost or need assistance in many other areas, chances are you will find someone who will be willing to help you out.

You will never run out of ideas regarding what to do in Chicago

Since there are so many exciting things to do in Chicago, you will also never get bored in this region and will have more than enough things to do so you can make your vacation as nice and interesting as possible.

Many great shopping opportunities in Chicago

Also in case you love shopping, you will not get disappointed in Chicago since as long as you have enough money, you can spend a fortune in fancy boutiques and can also get many nice souvenirs for your loved ones.

Some hostels in Chicago are pretty affordable

While there are many noble hotels in Chicago, you will still find some affordable hostels and if you don’t have high expectations, you may be able to stay in Chicago at a reasonable price.

Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the US

You should also keep in mind that Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the US and if you come from the US, visiting Chicago is almost a must and you may regret not doing so later in life.

Decent public transport in Chicago

You should also know that you will be able to get around by public transport in Chicago in an efficient manner and you may therefore not need a car which can be great for our environment and also for your finances.

Now that you know the upsides to traveling to Chicago, we also have to talk about the drawbacks of spending your vacation in Chicago so you can better decide whether Chicago should be your next travel destination or if you rather want to spend your vacation in a different region instead.

Disadvantages of Traveling to Chicago

1. Chicago is not located at the coast
2. Strong winters are annoying for many tourists in Chicago
3. Chicago is a pretty crowded city
4. Air quality in Chicago is often pretty poor
5. High crime rates in Chicago
6. You will see many unpleasant things in Chicago
7. Social problems are about to get worse
8. Living costs in Chicago are rather high
9. You may have to spend lots of money on accommodation
10. You may not meet as many international tourists as in other popular cities
11. You may get lost in Chicago
12. Many dodgy neighborhoods in Chicago

Chicago is not located at the coast

One problem with spending your vacation in Chicago is that the city is not located at the coast and while people moving to Long Beach or other coastal areas are often able to go surfing on a regular basis, tourists in Chicago just don’t have this luxury.

Strong winters are annoying for many tourists in Chicago

You should also know that winters in Chicago are pretty cold and if you can’t stand cold weather at all, you should either travel to Chicago during summer or rather travel to Los Angeles or other sunnier and warmer places.

Chicago is a pretty crowded city

You should also not forget that Chicago is a pretty crowded city and you will therefore not have much public space for yourself and you may also have a hard time getting around by car since you may lose lots of time in traffic jams.

Air quality in Chicago is often pretty poor

As in many other big cities, air quality in Chicago is also rather poor and if you are really sensitive to air pollution or suffer from allergic reactions, chances are you will not have a really great time in this city.

High crime rates in Chicago

You should also know that crime rates in Chicago are pretty high and if you are a careful person, you may just not feel safe in this region and may not be able to enjoy your vacation in Chicago to its fullest since you may always worry about getting involved in serious incidents.

You will see many unpleasant things in Chicago

You should also be aware of the fact that you will also see many homeless people and may also make unpleasant experiences in this city and you may therefore feel guilty and may not be able to really enjoy your vacation.

Social problems are about to get worse

While social problems are already pretty severe, they may still get worse since the gap between the poor and the rich is about to widen due to increasing rents and property prices and social tensions may get worse which you may greatly feel as a tourist.

Living costs in Chicago are rather high

You should also know that living costs in Chicago are pretty high and if you want to go for a drink or do many other nice things, you should have enough money in the bank so you will not run out of financial funds and are also able to afford some luxury.

You may have to spend lots of money on accommodation

Apart from a few affordable housing options, many hotels in Chicago are still pretty expensive and you may therefore have to spend lots of money on accommodation which you may miss when it comes to doing other nice things.

You may not meet as many international tourists as in other popular cities

While Chicago is pretty popular all over the US, it is still not the most popular travel destination for international tourists and you may therefore have a hard time getting in touch with people from rather exotic countries compared to more popular regions on a global scale.

You may get lost in Chicago

Since Chicago is a pretty big city, you may also just get lost sooner or later and if you are not careful, it may take you a pretty long time to get back on track and you may also not feel welcome in certain parts of the city.

Many dodgy neighborhoods in Chicago

You should also not forget that Chicago is not the safest place and there are many dodgy neighborhoods you may want to avoid at all costs so you can reduce your risk of getting involved in unpleasant incidents.

Top 10 Traveling To Chicago Pros & Cons – Summary List

Should You Spend Your Vacation in Chicago?

While traveling to Chicago can be great since you can enjoy big city life, many great shopping opportunities, interesting nightlife and decent public transport, you should also know that Chicago is not the safest city and since it is not located at the coast, you may just not be able to spend many nice hours at the beach.

If you even consider moving to Chicago not only for vacation but permanently, you should also have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of living in Chicago.

Sources

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/chicagocityillinois

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Chicago

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.