Things to Remember When Christmas Shopping in Chicago – My Best Tips to Travel and Shop Safely
by jazminmarie United States, Illinois, Chicago
The holiday season is upon us and all of the festive pop-ups seem to be popular. Everyone is trying to enjoy their wintertime in Chicago before some serious snow comes in and some things are still a little bit crowded right now. With crowds and city living, comes a different set of issues so I thought it would be helpful to share some reminders to tourists who plan on holiday shopping in Chicago, Illinois. Here are a few things to remember when safely Christmas shopping this year in Chicago:
Although the post may be specific to the city of Chicago, the problems that I cover can happen in any major city during a busy holiday weekend. Don’t let any of these reminders deter you from shopping! Use this knowledge to travel more safely, especially if you plan on traveling with large amounts of goods.
4 Tips When Christmas Shopping in Chicago
Don’t be underdressed for outside activities.
Chicago is cold in the winter time and you might have to sacrifice being cute for being warm. Making sure that you are wearing multiple layers, packing gloves, and possibly purchasing hand warmers will allow you to make the most of those outside festivities.
Pay attention to your surroundings and your items.
What are the best reminders that I can give you is to pay attention to your surroundings. There’s something that happens to us when we have items in our hands, that can affect our quality of situational awareness. Constantly reminding yourself to take a quick look around will allow you to have a better handle on yourself and all of your items as you’re rushing through crowds. I shared a post about safe ways to carry your money here.
Avoid standing in tight crowds.
It’s impossible to avoid crowds during the holiday season, but one thing you can do is avoid any spaces that require you to physically be touching other people. It’s harder to sense when someone is in your pockets when you are too busy navigating a crowd that is putting pressure on you from all directions; avoiding the situation will allow you to avoid being pick pocketed. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, I have some fun activities for introverts who are visiting Chicago.
Don’t leave all your items in your car.
Don’t leave any items in your car overnight, especially not your complete shopping haul. As a local in Chicago, I wouldn’t even leave a gym bag in my car let alone anything of value. There are too many people that trust the security of their car, but don’t realize how quickly a smash-and-grab can happen. Car thefts are a realistic possibility in Chicago and even those quiet and secluded blocks can allow a great space for someone to make an opportunity.
Did you complete all your Christmas shopping by now?
Although I complete the majority of my Christmas shopping online, there’s something about walking around and being able to admire all of the lights and decorations that really gets me in the holiday spirit. I’ve written a few posts about the best gifts for women travelers, as well as the best gifts for people who work remotely so we should check that out if you are still looking for gift inspiration. Use these tips to buy yourself (and your loved ones) some awesome gifts this year as well as to travel and chat more safely.
