Negotiating the Maze of Hop on Hop Off Tours in Chicago

Plan Ahead - Book Ahead is the Key to Success on These Tours

Chicago has three main hop on hop off tour companies. While there are more than three such tours, most are run by three operating companies. Competition is intense and causes frequent changes in pricing, routes and destinations.

All the hop on hop off tour operations have the same basic product they offer to Chicago visitors. Frankly, all the tours can be hard to understand in order to take full advantage of the transportation assistance and flexibility the tour offers. Planning is a key element to success. This is not exactly a "leave it up to the tour guide" type tour.

Each tour has a list of so called starting points. Additionally each provides a list of attractions or destinations their route covers. What is actually not at all clear is whether or not it is possible to hop off or get back on at any time other than designated stops or "starting" points. In Mei we tried two of the three tour operations over a four day period and found the "way it works" different every day, even within the same company. We also were left waiting twice in a two day period at one of the designated pick up points.

For our money the best hop-on hop off bus is the facility that comes included in the Go Chicago visitors package. If you have the two day or more Go -Chicago package you have an automatic use of the Grey Line hop on hop off vehicles at basically any time you find them, and any where on their route. As long as the bus is stopped you can approach the vehicle, wave your pass and get on. As such there is not specific extra charge for the hop on - hop off facility so you should check which of the single day, or multi day packages is best for you.

The other two main hop on hop off tours have very little difference between them other than the main City Hop on Hop off tour has twice as many starting points as the Hop on Hop off trolley or double decker bus system. The so called destinations on the main tour are more than double the trolley system but that may be due to the fact that the trolley system destinations or the type that take longer to visit; such as the Field Museum. This can be an entire day all by itself.