Family of 5 - CTA Pass or Taxi???

We are a family of five (kids are 8,15 %26amp; 17) that will be in Chicago for 3 days. We don%26#39;t plan on doing much outside of the downtown area (staying at Springhill Suites) so would it make more sense to buy a 3-day CTA pass for each of us or just use taxis when needed? What would the average cab fare be for a 1-2 mile ride for the five of us vs. bus or train fare?

Thanks for you help!

Family of 5 - CTA Pass or Taxi???

Get yourselves CTA passes. If you use a bus or train more than twice per day, you%26#39;re ahead of the game. Unless you get a minivan taxi, I don%26#39;t think you can fit five in a sedan. Cab fare is $2.25 when you get in + $1 for the second passenger and $.50 for each additional passenger. It%26#39;s about $.20 for each block.

Family of 5 - CTA Pass or Taxi???

Keep in mind that if you are going to the usual tourist spots, you can generally walk to almost all the main spots as your children aren%26#39;t real young. And also, to jump on a bus or el is the same price whether you are going one block or 10 miles. It%26#39;s the way it is. So, if you are going 6 blocks, that is about $2 a person for the public transit. I personally would walk but if a walk can%26#39;t happen, I would take a door to door taxi. The 8 year old can be compressed or sit on a lap.

I am in on the taxi thing too, if you have a few people and you only do it once or twice a day. I think it is often cheaper or the same price as the L unless you are going all the way across the city. It is also a lot faster, and generally less gross.

The taxi driver may ask that four of you sit in the back seat. Depending on your size, this may be doable but it isn%26#39;t comfortable. I don%26#39;t think you need to act as though you are all joined at the hip. Certainly the older teens can do things on his or her own that the youngest one can%26#39;t, such as walk back to the hotel from the museum campus. You may want to plan out your days and get CTA passes only if it seems appropriate.

Thanks for all of your advice! It appears that it will come out pretty much the same either way we go. But...I still have a few more questions. Is it always pretty easy to catch a cab in the downtown area? How ';rough'; of a ride is it on the El? I%26#39;ve recently had major back surgery and still have to be a little cautious.

Thanks!

The El may not be a good choice after back surgery. The seats are hard, and it stops and starts with a jerk (not a lot of bumps, though.) Since you are arriving from Indiana and staying near north, though, you probably would be using buses or cabs much more than the El train. Only buses or cabs go to the museum campus and Navy Pier, for example.

';Is it always pretty easy to catch a cab in the downtown area?';

Yes. You won%26#39;t have any problems catching a cab downtown.

My family of 5 is going to Chicago in April for a week. We just figured that we couldn%26#39;t all get in one taxi and we don%26#39;t want to split up.

I have been looking at the 7 day pass and also just buying a transit card and loading $$ on it. We will mostly be going to museums and other major tourist spots.

I read that children ages 8-11 get a reduced fare. And, that you can use 1 transit card for up to 7 people. When you swipe the card how does it know if you are eligible for a reduced fare? Or, do I buy a separate card for my 11 year old?

';I read that children ages 8-11 get a reduced fare. And, that you can use 1 transit card for up to 7 people. When you swipe the card how does it know if you are eligible for a reduced fare? Or, do I buy a separate card for my 11 year old?';

Your 11-year-old will have a separate card. I am not sure where you would buy it, though. It might be available from the regular transit card machines. I searched around online trying to figure it out, but information is lacking. I would call CTA at 1-888-968-7282 to find out for sure.

How can 4 people sit in the back of a cab? Wouldn%26#39;t there only be 3 seat belts? I can%26#39;t imagine anyone riding in a cab without a seat belt.