International Travel Information

We hope your stay in Lake County, Illinois is a successful and pleasant one. To help you get familiar with the city and the U.S. in general, here are some quick facts and handy resources.

• Time zone: Lake County, Illinois is on Central Standard Time. That's 6 hours behind GMT; 1 hour behind New York City (East Coast); and 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles (West Coast).
• Tipping: Taxicab drivers, bartenders and waiters generally receive a 15% gratuity for standard service, though it is appropriate to leave a 20% gratuity to restaurant waitstaff for exceptional service, particularly in fine dining establishments. Hotel doormen and valet park attendants should be tipped about $2, and bellhops should be given $2 per bag. Chambermaids usually are given $2 per day, which can be left on the pillow.
• Legal car rental age: 25
• Legal driving age: 16
• Legal drinking and gambling age: 21 (photo ID or passport required)

U.S. CUSTOMS

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency charged with the management, control, and protection of U.S. borders at and between the official ports of entry. The CBP sets restrictions on commercial and personal items that can be brought into the United States.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides travelers with all they need to know before boarding a plane to or within the U.S.

International travelers who wish to exchange foreign currency can do so at these locations, among others:

O'Hare International Airport
Foreign currency exchange outlets are located in the lower levels of Terminal 3 and the International Terminal (Terminal 5).

Midway International Airport
Several Bureaux de Change outlets are situated in various locations.

Use your bank card, cash card or automated teller card (ATM) to withdraw US dollars from machines throughout America. (You may be charged a fee of US $1.50-$2.50 for each transaction, but your bank will automatically give you the most current exchange rate).

Use your credit card to pay for rooms, meals and other purchases. (Your credit card company will automatically give you the most current exchange rate.)

Credit Cards: The most commonly accepted credit cards in the American Midwest are MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express.

Weather
For today's weather conditions in Lake County, Illinois, click to visit the Weather Channel.

Traveling from Germany? Read all about Lake County here. An unforgettable adventure in Lake County is waiting for you:

Traveling from China? View this video to see your potential experience in Lake County:

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