Chicago
Well, to be honest, just the airport.

The staff there were the rudest, surliest bunch I've ever met. Every one of them - and we spent a good while there, on way to and from San Francisco, and had plenty of paying and non-paying interactions - made me feel like delivering a punch on the nose and shouting 'What's your problem? Piles? Like me to kick them back up your arse for you?'

Are Chicago people generally like that, I wonder? The San Francisco airport staff were like the nicer nuns from The Sound Of Music by comparison.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Wed 4 Nov 2009, 12:08, 8 replies)

Chicago
is a great place, south side apart.

But the airport's a shithole. Much like every US airport I've been in, as it happens.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 4 Nov 2009, 13:43, closed)

I had a great time in Chicago
but you're right the aiport is somewhat busy and stressed. One of the busiest in the world I think. 'O'Hare International Airport is the second busiest airport in the world' according to wikipedia...

Not so the city itself where even the hobos hassle tourists with dignity and mutual respect:

Hobo: 'Hey folks, how are you? Would you like to donate to the Jack Daniels Foundation?'
Us: 'Fine thanks, but not on this occasion.'
Hobo: 'Have a nice day then...'

It's different from a lot of american cities in that there is a large proportion of residential buildings right in the city centre, so no urban ghost town at night. Don't let the airport put you off.....
( TheFinch is getting to grips with the complex plane on, Wed 4 Nov 2009, 13:44, closed)

Yes!
Blimey, yes. Chicago O'hare is the worst airport with the surliest, least helpful staff I've ever met, and I've landed in Glasgow.
(davywavy, Wed 4 Nov 2009, 14:01, closed)

Chicago
O'Hare airport? bloody horrible. They only tell you that it's completely no-smoking after the 20-minute trek from the entrance to the terminal building. Security were ok with me, but then again I was wearing a 'London Calling' T-shirt and the bloke on the security desk was a Clash fan, so result.

Chicago - The Loop area is absolutely fab, as are the people. Met just two arseholes in the week I was there, and they were both from out of town. Even the crack whores were polite and friendly (no, not in that way)
(redexile, Wed 4 Nov 2009, 14:56, closed)

Ha!
Think Chicago is bad? Try New York. Try finishing a sentence without being interrupted. (Hint: this is not possible)
(TheWonderfulWombat It came to me in a dream., Wed 4 Nov 2009, 18:50, closed)

I
had the opposite there. Friendly staff, one in fact was toooo friendly; in her lunch break she wanted to give me the tour and show me where "my best friends wedding" was filmed etc...

The people in Chicago were also friendly - apart from it seemed, not one of them knew how to buy a pack of cigarettes (unless they use that as a way of striking up a convo with a complete stanger).
(dchurch bah, Wed 4 Nov 2009, 20:34, closed)

Chicago is a great city
O'Hare is a whole different story.

O'Hare terminal five is abysmal - no facilities, surly staff, generally atrocious.

A few years ago, when European flights used to depart from T3, it wasn't as bad.

T5 doesn't even have a bar beyond check-in, for gods sake.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Wed 4 Nov 2009, 20:51, closed)

I got an unholy amount of grief there
they wanted an address for where I would be staying in the US, so I wrote "O'Hare Airport". They then questioned me for an hour and a half so I almost missed my connection to San Francisco.

Having said that, LAX is no picnic either.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Thu 5 Nov 2009, 8:56, closed)