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J1 Chicago

  • 03-01-2013 2:51am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,303 ✭✭✭


    Anyone going to Chicago on a J1 this summer?

    or anyone been before? Looking for any information really! Best places to live/find work/things to do etc..

    90% sure we're set on Chicago, just slightly anxious that we're going in a small group (3/4 lads).. Ideally I'd like to get accommodation close to other J1er's so we don't miss out on any of the craic!! :D


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    Hey i think me and a couple of my friends are goin too in the same boat tho only have 3/4 lads. I've herd that up around Wrigleyville is the spot to live? Would be handy to try share accommodation to get it cheaper if you were interested??


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 16,663 CMod ✭✭✭✭faceman


    Around Wrigleyfield and neighbouring areas is where many students live as the university's are there. North Clark Street is a bit of a Temple Bar for nightlife especially when a game is on!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    There is a group of us heading to Chicago in may for the summer? 4 girls and 2 lads...you's no were you's are going to stay yet?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    Have nothing sorted yet but i think we will look somewhere around Wrigleyville. Have you anything sorted?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    Nah nothing sorted yet we are think the same area our selfs..when you heading over? We're yas from??


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    Were booking it today think round the 28th of may..all of us from wexford wbu??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    Yeah we booking next week..all from Donegal so far might be 1r 2 coming from tipp...was chatting to a lad there that was over last summer and reckons live in north side wrigglyville be perfect..headin over round 22nd r something..you's booming with usit?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    We trying to figure out is usit or sayit better ? Any ideas


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    barrett4 wrote: »
    We trying to figure out is usit or sayit better ? Any ideas


    I don't think there is much difference really I know usit are the most recognised but all in around the same price really.. We booked with go4less no real reason just picked one and went for it! Only thing I'd say about go4less is you need to have 220 paid by feb!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    So did you get booked up? Did u pick your own flights? Yah wouldn't mind me asking how much it going to cost yah?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    We only booked it last night, you had to pay 39 deposit and then you have to have 220 paid by the 4th of feb and send them a copy of your passport and some other form about where you're in college and ****. once they get all the forms then you can pick your flights and that. That was with go4less not sure how the others do it. and ya you pick your own flights, they let ya pick the same ones as your friends. who you thinking of booking it with?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    We are thinking of going with usit? A lot people just saying go with them so needa meet the gang to work it all out..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    Thats the easy part ha trying to find accommodation will be harder i think! i think all of them offer the same stuff really so you will be safe enough whoever you go with.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    Yeah ano..I have been chatting to loads of people that were in Chicago and I have been told wrigglyville some1 told me she was there last year 24 of them in a 2 bedroom apartment ha..360 was al she payed for summer ..and she told me a hostel to stay in when we go over for 1st week until we find something


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 731 ✭✭✭seriousfizz


    Myself and hopefully 3 or 4 others are going to Chicago. Will be three of us at the very least. From Dublin, going with go4less. Up to date on the application so far, will have to book flight details soon though. Pretty stressful stuff trying to organise everything, especially with exams this month (doesn't help that we're in our last year of our degree, either :P)

    Getting more and more excited, and scared, as the days go by! Cannot wait :D

    Anybody heard of people staying in places other than Wriglyville before?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    Yeah there is about 5r 6 of us going from Donegal? So you hear good reviews with go for less ??? You's boys or girls? Yeah stressful surly trying to pick who to go with and.well every1 I was chatting to said north side anyway in r around wrigglyville..all j1s go there..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    barrett4 wrote: »
    Yeah ano..I have been chatting to loads of people that were in Chicago and I have been told wrigglyville some1 told me she was there last year 24 of them in a 2 bedroom apartment ha..360 was al she payed for summer ..and she told me a hostel to stay in when we go over for 1st week until we find something


    Haha say that was some tidy spot by the end of the summer.. You would save some money tho doin it like that! Ohh ya? Whats that called?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9 PhilConnolly3


    Hows it going..! Two of us booking it on thursday with Usit, going to Chicago aswel. USIT have a deal now if anyone hasnt booked it €99. Anybody looking to share Accomadation or has any info on jobs or anything, Two lads aged 22 heading over! Cheers


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    il get the name of that hostel for yah and get back to yah :) yeah id say was a nice clean aparment...yeah tink we gonna go with usit...i emailed loads of places about jobs and they said try irish bars as soon as we land out and only go in by urself cause they might only want 1 person and wont hire the other person so will say no to both.and navy pier is ment to be a good spot ..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    Cheers :) yeah i herd the same just as long as you get over early things shouldnt be too bad! What date you thinking of headin over?

    PhilConnolly all the info we have is on this thread ha..jobs seem to be easier to find around navy pier or in the irish bars. When ya headin over?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    I tink roughly round the 22nd ..would be handier for us al to meet and share be way cheaper:P the getaway hostel..it's apparently were u meet every1


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    barrett4 wrote: »
    I tink roughly round the 22nd ..would be handier for us al to meet and share be way cheaper:P the getaway hostel..it's apparently were u meet every1


    Ya wel prob be over around the same time.. Ya for sure wouldn't have to be worrien about paying loads in rent ha! How much of you are headin over? Cheers for that :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9 PhilConnolly3


    brendunn92 wrote: »

    PhilConnolly all the info we have is on this thread ha..jobs seem to be easier to find around navy pier or in the irish bars. When ya headin over?

    Cheers, eh booked it today flying into Chicago on the 28th of May.. found a few sites myself if yas havent seen these ones yet,

    www.choosechicago.com for ideas of what to see/do here.

    Chicago Reader has good apartment listings, but the market here is expensive. You should look at a sublet around DePaul, Loyola or Northwestern Universities; Craigslist has a lot of scammers.

    Indeed.com has a lot of jobs << Got that from someone living in Chicago.

    Yous all looking around lakeview wrigleyville to stay ??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    Okay thanks for the Info..how much is it costing you ?? Yeah around wrigglyville somewhere:p try get a gang in a house save the cost


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 731 ✭✭✭seriousfizz


    barrett4 wrote: »
    Yeah there is about 5r 6 of us going from Donegal? So you hear good reviews with go for less ??? You's boys or girls? Yeah stressful surly trying to pick who to go with and.well every1 I was chatting to said north side anyway in r around wrigglyville..all j1s go there..

    Two lads, one girl. Possibly another girl or two, but ya know what it's like trying to get people on track! We went with go4less because USIT were quite unhelpful over the phone, go4less were that bit friendlier about the whole thing.

    Still have to book our flights. Don't think we'll be getting into Chicago until 1st or 2nd of June, not exactly sure when our exams will finish, don't want to screw up there, y'know?

    Hopefully when it gets closer to the time some of us can organise house sharing through this thread; a load of stuff to be done before then, though! Early days :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,303 ✭✭✭blue-army


    btw lads, found a facebook group for anyone heading to Chicago. Handy out! ;)

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/118332658328900/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9 PhilConnolly3


    barrett4 wrote: »
    Okay thanks for the Info..how much is it costing you ?? Yeah around wrigglyville somewhere:p try get a gang in a house save the cost

    €1,131.90 Flying with BA Dublin to London- London to Chicago on the 28th of May.. Then home from New York - London then London to Dublin on the 4th September.. ? How much it cost you ?

    Yeh there is two of us going so we will be looking to share accommodation..havent really looked yet!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    Is the Flight Engine available for anyone on Go4less yet?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    No i think you need to have all them forms and stuff sent up to them before you can look at flights!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 107 ✭✭phunks


    SantryRed wrote: »
    Is the Flight Engine available for anyone on Go4less yet?

    Came on here to ask the same thing. I've been up to date with all the forms and payments and its still not available to me either. It says its not available to any goforless students yet though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30 jonaldinho


    5 lads all from Cork heading over on the 2nd of June. Cant wait now. All booked up, now just to hopefully pass the exams. Facebook group mentioned will be very handy. Not sure where to start looking for accommodation or jobs yet to be honest but buzzing for June to come. Will be 21 2 days after arriving so i suppose a session will have to be had then too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    We should all definitely meet up for a session when we get over there! Has everyone else booked there flights yet, how much are they costing ya if you dont mind me asking?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    Go4less flights up now.

    Think I'm going to fly to Chicago, then fly home out of New York. Means we can travel for a bit and see New York before coming home.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 731 ✭✭✭seriousfizz


    For anyone who has booked flights - how does group booking work? Do you simply all individually book the same flight? Go4less are a bit of a nightmare with flights - telling you there's a deadline and not updating your account to access flights, and then not responding to emails. Trying not to tear my hair out D:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30 jonaldinho


    All we did was that we said the names etc and they tried as best as possible to put us on the same flights or very similar flights date wise etc.

    Anyone else heading over into GAA? Me and a few of the lads were saying it would be good craic to play with a team over if it suits.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    jonaldinho wrote: »
    All we did was that we said the names etc and they tried as best as possible to put us on the same flights or very similar flights date wise etc.

    Anyone else heading over into GAA? Me and a few of the lads were saying it would be good craic to play with a team over if it suits.

    I play football but would be willing to give GAA a go over there to keep fit.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 731 ✭✭✭seriousfizz


    Booked flights yesterday, and the four of us got an email today at noon saying we've to pay the full balance by tomorrow noon. Apparently this clause was in the terms of the flights we booked, but it did not appear for any of us when we read through the t&c. Which now are unavailable, of course.

    Go4less expecting us to pay almost 700 euro, within 24 hours notice. No bother lads, we're only students after all.

    Disaster.

    I sincerely hope things are going better for the rest of yis!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 brendunn92


    What?? how can they do that?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 994 ✭✭✭conor05


    I'm going over to play hurling for the summer. The team and job is located down south though but I visited friends in Loyola which is north last year anf it's amazing. If anyone interested in getting an apartment in Loyola let me know. The amazing beach there is unreal and only a few stops on the redline to partying spots in wrigleyville! I'm flying out on May 24th. Keep in touch


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    We are booking ours tomoro night:P any of yas get any further with yours??? What price it costing yas?? I wouldn't mind going over to play footy myself be good Craic hi


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭SantryRed


    Is there a GAA club over there near Wrigleyville?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 barrett4


    SantryRed wrote: »
    Is there a GAA club over there near Wrigleyville?
    **** couldn't tell yah:L might not have time to party if we play footy ha


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 994 ✭✭✭conor05


    It is mostly hurling played in Chicago. 4 big senior hurling clubs, Limerick club close towrigleyvilleand. the other 3 are down south. I think there is some junior football clubs tho, not sure where!!'

    Very hard to play gaa in 35degrees trust me!!'


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30 jonaldinho


    a few questions on the embassy interview - as regards the ds-160 form - when filling it out online do i have to upload a photo and then also bring one with me as it says on all the guides or do i just bring photos? Anyone been to the embassy yet? Whats the interview like if so?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 Sashman


    Anyone know where Wolfe tones gaa are in Chicago?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 315 ✭✭travelledpengy


    Sashman wrote: »
    Anyone know where Wolfe tones gaa are in Chicago?
    All the GAA games are played out of Gaelic Park, which is a 40 minute drive south from downtown. The GAA teams train in various parks during the weeks (there are a lot of free sporting facilities in the city like pitches etc).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 toliveistodie


    Hey guys, myself and 2 friends (all lads) are heading over on a J1 to Chicago as well. Twould be great if all of us kept in contact when over there, we might be able to help each other out on the accommodation front. Or else just meet up for a few pints! Anyone know what hostels they intend to stay at initially?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,303 ✭✭✭blue-army


    Hey guys, myself and 2 friends (all lads) are heading over on a J1 to Chicago as well. Twould be great if all of us kept in contact when over there, we might be able to help each other out on the accommodation front. Or else just meet up for a few pints! Anyone know what hostels they intend to stay at initially?

    hey man, you should join this group on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/118332658328900/

    we're heading out on the 26th of May and staying in the Gateway Hostel for a few days until we sort accomodation. (Doubt we'll sort anything before getting out there)
    The place has great reviews anyway, and will be full of J1'ers.
    http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g35805-d265222-Reviews-Chicago_Getaway_Hostel-Chicago_Illinois.html


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 toliveistodie


    The facebook link won't work, it says content not found?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 926 ✭✭✭neil.p.b


    SantryRed wrote: »
    Is there a GAA club over there near Wrigleyville?

    Two big clubs are Padraig Pearces and McBrides. Bout half an hour from wrigley. Pearces made it to North American Championship final last year.

    Chicago is great, you'll all have a great time.


    Huge J1 place these days and DePaul (one of the big colleges) don't supply to must students from last year so has flooded the market a bit so apartments can be tricky to find. But the best places to stay are anywhere on the red line between fullerton and sheridan. For cheaper accomodation and easier to find head up to rogers park (still on red line), bit further away from anything but still a nice area.

    If anyone has any other questions feel free to post up i'll do my best to answer them.


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