Kayak said Monday that it has added a tool to help customers determine the best times to travel and complete bookings.
08.08.2023 - 13:09 / lonelyplanet.com
Famous for its blustery winters, steamy summers and skyscraping skyline, Chicago sees the full range of seasons. But thanks to a calendar packed with festivals and events, a rich foodie scene and a full hand of world-class museums to duck into when the days get cold, there's always something happening in the Windy City no matter what month you visit.
With hot, humid days but plenty of lakeshore to catch the breeze, Chicago shines in the summertime, and spring and fall have their own charm, but in winter, lower tourist numbers and plenty of snow bring the holiday magic.
If you're looking for a city break with phenomenal art and architecture, truly globe-trotting cuisine and exuberant festivals, Chicago has plenty to lure travelers at any time of year. Here's our guide to the top times to visit the Windy City.
Although Chicago's winter temperatures hover around the freezing point, the bitter lake wind can knock several dozen degrees off the highs due to the wind chill effect. But while below-zero temperatures scare many tourists away, bargains abound, particularly for accommodation. Travelers will have their pick of the deals on accommodation throughout the icy winter months, and tables at top restaurants are easier to find.
In late November and December, the holiday season brings festive light shows, holiday markets and outdoor ice-skating rinks, and the frosty lakeshore adds some extra Chicago magic. Michigan Avenue bustles with holiday shoppers and downtown shines with a million twinkling lights. Winter is the perfect time to warm up with some Chicago deep-dish pizza and form your own opinion on the city's feud with the New York-style pizza pie.
January is Chicago's coldest month, with temperatures hovering around 22ºF, and an icy wind blowing along the wind tunnels created by downtown's skyscrapers. This is also the city's snowiest month, with approximately 10 inches falling in an average year. Plan to stay inside as much as possible and enjoy all there is to eat and drink here. Museums are less crowded, too, making the winter season the best time to explore the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the world's oldest, largest and most-visited art museums.
The city is still deep in the throes of winter in February, but there are plenty of events to keep you busy, such as the Chinese New Year Parade, Cupid's Undie Run, and Chicago Theatre Week . Head up to the observation deck atop the former John Hancock Center for epic views over the frozen lake.
By March, many Chicago residents are wondering if the sun will ever shine again. Windy City-zens count the days during the grayest and windiest month when temperatures linger around 37ºF. However, some fun events take the edge off the cold, including the city's
Kayak said Monday that it has added a tool to help customers determine the best times to travel and complete bookings.
The terrain in Pakistan ranges from sea level deserts to the second highest point on earth at the summit of 8611m (28,251ft) K2, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the country sees a huge range of climatic conditions. The best time to visit will depend largely on whether you are drawn by the dramatic mountain scenery of the far north or by the mosques, bazaars and archaeological sites of the lowlands to the south.
Business-class airfare is widely upheld as the most luxurious way to travel.
The United States is vast and varied, spanning roughly 3000 miles from east to west and 1650 miles from north to south – and that’s not including Alaska and Hawaii.
Auckland is a city with many faces. Known locally by its Māori name, Tāmaki Makaurau, the city has a cosmopolitan heart with some of the best dining, drinking, and shopping in the country. Yet, urban sprawl quickly gives way to landscapes of New Zealand’s signature beauty here; to the west, the forested hills of the Waitākere Ranges border black sand beaches pummeled by surf. To the east of the city is the island-studded Waitematā Harbor.
This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Justin Miller, a Tokyo-based DJ and English teacher. He shares what he's learned about Tokyo after living in Japan for 15 years. It's been edited for length and clarity.
OAG, which dubs itself an “air travel intelligence company,” has released its top-10 rankings of the most and least punctual airlines in 2016. The group analyzed 54 million flight records using full-year data from 2016 to compile the list, and for the purposes of the study defined “on-time” as “a flight that arrives or departs within 14 minutes and 59 seconds (under 15 minutes) of its scheduled arrival/departure time.”
With Delta and United’s transition to spend-based loyalty programs last year, and American’s upcoming later this year, there’s no longer room for debate as to the industry standard. Travelers should now expect to be rewarded according to their spend, not according to the number of miles they fly.
Just when you thought the Boston vs. New York City rivalry couldn’t get any more heated, TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) released a controversial study stating that Regina Pizzeria, located in Boston’s Little Italy neighborhood, is the best pizza restaurant in the U.S.
Survivor meets The Truman Show. As a pretty clever marketing ploy, the Helsinki Airport invited Chinese actor and TV personality, Ryan Zhu, to live in the city’s airport for 30 days.
Want to visit the United States’ hottest destinations this summer, but don’t want to pay crazily inflated prices? TripAdvisor (our parent company) just released its 2018 Summer Vacation Value Report which gives you the low-down on the best places to visit and the least expensive week to go. Surprisingly, Memorial Day week (May 28) was the cheapest time to go for more than half of the destinations, so if you want to save time and vacation days, you’re in luck.
They say misery loves company, right? There will be plenty of company, at least, on the nation’s highways (and airways) this week, as an estimated 55 million travelers embark on Thanksgiving travel.