Page 180 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Chicago

178  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Communications and Media for your phone. Be aware that
international roaming charges
Chicago’s communication systems are, for the most part, can be quite steep; you can
efficient and reasonably priced. The regular letter service run avoid this by purchasing a
by the US postal system is reliable, and express services are local SIM card. T-Mobile offers
offered by post offices and independent courier companies. prepaid SIM cards and has
store locations throughout the
Computer access is available for free or for a nominal fee at city. Another option is the H2O
libraries, hotels, and Internet cafés. The wide use of cell prepaid SIM card, available at
phones has virtually made pay phones obsolete; mobile Best Buy electronic stores.
phone stores are present across the city. Chicagoans are Packages can run from $10 to
served by two major newspapers, and several smaller, $100 or more, depending on
individual plans and the types
independent papers.
of services needed. Before you
can use a temporary SIM card,
you will have to make sure
International and Local over mobile roaming your phone is unlocked. Some
Telephone Calls charges and are available in carriers allow you to unlock
Chicago phone numbers have denominations from $5 to your phone electronic-ally;
eleven digits, beginning with $100. Some cards can be with others, the procedure
a number one, and including reloaded; check the stipulations may be mechanical. Call your
the mandatory three-digit for each individual card. Cards servicer to find out more
prefix, or area code. Some can be used with cell phones, information. Some travelers
emergency and public-service land lines or the increasingly opt to rent a temporary cell
numbers, however have only rare public pay phone. To use phone for use while traveling.
three digits (911, 311, 411). them, dial the phone number Two reputable Internet-based
Chicago and its environs associated with the card, enter companies offering phone
use six prefixes: 312 (Down- the pin number, and listen for rentals are Phone Rental USA
town), 773 (surrounding the dial tone. and Cellhire.
downtown), 847 and 224
(north and northwestern
suburbs), 708 (near western Internet Access
and south ern suburbs) and If you are traveling with a
630 (far western suburbs). laptop, or a smartphone,
Long distance calls within the most Chicago hotels charge
US require dialing 1, the prefix a nominal fee for Wi-Fi service
or area code, and the number. in your hotel room. Many
For calls outside of the US, dial T-Mobile pre-paid SIM card hotels will also have a small
011, the country code, and then business center with computer
the number. For directory Cell Phones access, printing, and copying
assistance in the US, call 411. There are four main GSM services. The Harold
Within the US, all numbers frequencies in use around Washington Library has a
with an 800, 866, 877, or 888 the world, so if you want to large bank of computers
prefix are toll-free. Pre-paid guarantee that your phone with Internet access available
international calling cards, will work make sure you have a for free on a first-come,
which can be purchased at quad-band phone. Notify your first-served basis. Computer
many pharmacies and phone service provider that stations with Internet service
convenience stores, often you will be traveling as they are also available for use at
offer considerable savings may have to enable roaming
Useful Dialing Codes
• International direct-dial call: • Directory assistance for toll-
dial 011, followed by country free numbers: dial
code (UK: 44; Australia: 61; 1-800-555-1212.
New Zealand: 64; Ireland: • Directory assistance for
353), then the city or area outside local area: dial
code, then the local 1-AREACODE-555-1212.
telephone number. • Local operator assistance: dial 0.
• An 800, 866, 877, or 888 • General directory inquiries:
prefix indicates that the call dial 411. There may be a
is toll-free. Dial 1 before charge.
the prefix. • Emergencies: dial 911.
Wi-Fi access can easily be found in cafés
around the city

178-179_EW_Chicago.indd 178 13/07/16 3:00 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm