Planning a trip to Cleveland
Getting There
By Plane -- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (tel. 216/265-6030; www.clevelandairport.com) is 10 miles south of downtown. Major car-rental companies are housed at a central off-site lot; pick up the free shared shuttle bus, which stops just outside baggage claim. It's an easy 20-minute drive into the city; take I-480 to I-71 north to I-90 into downtown.
If you're not renting, the most convenient way to reach downtown from the airport is via the RTA Red Line. For $1.50 per person, the 20-minute ride will deliver you at Tower City Center, in the heart of downtown. Taxis are available outside baggage claim exit 2; expect the fare to run about $40 (plus tip) to downtown. More than 30 limousine services run between downtown hotels; with Hopkins Airport Limousine Service (tel. 800/543-9912 or 216/267-8282; www.gohopkins.com), the per-person, one-way fare runs about $65.
By Train -- Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL [872-7245]; www.amtrak.com) provides daily service from Chicago (trip time: 7 hr.), New York (12 hr.), and Washington, D.C. (11 hr.), to its downtown station, 200 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, across from the Great Lakes Science Center (tel. 216/696-5115).
By Car -- The principal highway routes into Cleveland are I-77 from the south (Akron), I-80 or I-76 from the east (Youngstown and Pittsburgh, both connecting with I-77 north near Akron), I-90 from the northeast (Buffalo), I-71 from the southwest (Columbus), and I-80/90 from the west (Toledo). Both I-77 and I-90 will take you right into downtown Cleveland.
Visitor Information
Contact Positively Cleveland, the new name for the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, in the historic Higbee Building, 100 Public Square, Ste. 100, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 (tel. 216/875-6600). The staff will answer your questions and can sell you discount tickets to the city's main attractions. You can even get iPod-friendly guides to the city (www.cityprowl.com).
The Cleveland + (Plus) information hot line (tel. 888/323-2787) is helpful, as is the hot line for hotel reservations and information (tel. 800/321-1004). Another useful site, especially for news and the latest sports and entertainment coverage, is the Cleveland Plain Dealer's www.cleveland.com.
Orientation
Cleveland's major attractions are concentrated in two areas. Downtown is where you'll find most hotels, government buildings and corporate headquarters, the major sports arenas, and attractions such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Playhouse Square Center. University Circle is about 4 1/2 miles east via Euclid Avenue; this leafy district is home to Case Western University (hence the name) and most of the city's major cultural institutions. Plans are underway to link the two enclaves via a redeveloped Euclid Avenue Corridor. Public transportation (with new hybrid-electric buses), tree-lined sidewalks, retail developments, and apartments are going up as part of this $325-million urban renewal project, which celebrated the conclusion of the first phase with the completion of the "Health Line" bus route down Euclid Avenue in October 2008.
The Gateway and Warehouse districts are an easy walk from Public Square. You can also walk to North Coast Harbor and down to the east bank of the Flats (as long as you don't mind the steep slope), or take the RTA rail's Waterfront Line. You'll want to drive or take a taxi to the west bank of the Flats. Ohio City has its own RTA stop on the Red Line. (For RTA information, see directly below.)
Getting Around
The Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority (RTA) rail system is not extensive. Visitors usually stick to the main Red Line, which travels between the airport and University Circle, with stops at downtown's Tower City Center and Ohio City, and the Waterfront Line, which connects Tower City with the Flats and North Coast Harbor. In addition, RTA buses cover five downtown loop routes from Public Square. For complete information, call the RTA Answerline at tel. 216/621-9500, or check out its website at www.gcrta.org.
You don't need a car downtown, but it's convenient to have one if you'd like to really explore. The cost of taxis will negate what you save by not renting, and a 20- or 30-minute wait for a summoned cab is common, especially on evenings and weekends. Driving is also easier than using the RTA rail system to travel between downtown and University Circle.
If you still want to use a cab, try Yellow Cab Company of Cleveland (tel. 216/623-1500) or Ace Taxi Service (tel. 216/361-4700). The flag drops at $2.25 for the first 1/6 of a mile, and $2 for each additional mile.
Fast Facts
Emergency and urgent-care services are available at Metro Health Medical Center, 2500 MetroHealth Dr. (tel. 216/778-7700; www.metrohealth.org). The closest 24-hour pharmacy to the downtown area is the Walgreens at 117th Street and Detroit Avenue (tel. 216/227-0819), a few miles south in suburban Lakewood. Sales tax is 7.75% and hotel tax is 15.25%.
Fast Facts
Business Hours The following are general open hours; specific establishment may vary. Businesses and offices are open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Banks' hours are usually Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; Saturday, 10am to 1pm. Many banks and other outlets offer 24-hour access to ATMs. Shops' operating hours are likely to be daily from 10am to 6pm. Most bars and nightclubs close at 2am.
Electricity The U.S. uses 110 to 120 volts AC (60 cycles), compared to 220 to 240 volts AC (50 cycles) in most of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Emergencies Call tel. 911 for emergencies, fire, ambulance, or police. Emergency and urgent-care services are available at Lutheran Hospital, 1730 W. 25th St. (tel. 216/696-4300; www.lutheranhospital.org). A 24-hour Rite Aid pharmacy (tel. 216/676-5561) is located 8 miles out of the city center at 15149 Snow Rd., in Brookpark.
Internet Access Free Internet access is available at the main branch of the Cleveland Public Library (216/623.2800; www.cpl.org), located at 25 Superior Ave. NE. WiFiCITY, In the Avenue at Tower City Center (www.towercitycenter.com), offers free Wi-Fi. Many hotels offer Wi-Fi to guests for free or at a nominal charge. If you aren't bringing your laptop with you, know that many hotels offer business centers with internet access.
Liquor Laws The legal age to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages in the U.S. is 21; proof of age is required at bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, so bring ID when you go out. Beer, wine, and hard liquor can be purchased at liquor stores. Do not carry open containers of alcohol in your car of any public area that isn't zoned for alcohol consumption. Driving while intoxicated is considered a criminal offense.
Mail At press time, domestic postage rates were 27¢ for a postcard and 42¢ for a letter. For international mail, first-class postcards and letters weighing up to 1 ounce cost 94¢ (72¢ to Canada and Mexico). You can buy stamps and mailing supplies at any post office; to find locations in Cleveland, call 800/275-8777 or go to www.usps.com.
Newspapers & Magazines The main local paper is The Plain Dealer (www.cleveland.com). The town's leading periodical is Cleveland Magazine (www.clevelandmagazine.com).
Pets To bring your pet to Cleveland, you must have a health certificate for your pet supplied by a state-licensed veterinary clinic. Most airlines allow pets on flights, but require pets to be at least eight weeks old. Some Cleveland hotels, such as the Comfort Inn Downtown on Euclid Ave. (tel. 216/861-0001; www.comfortinn.com), are pet-friendly.
Police For emergencies, dial tel. 911. This is a free call. The Cleveland Police Department can be reached at tel. 216/623-5300.
Safety Cleveland does have some rougher neighborhoods, and in many areas, its violent crime rate hovers around twice the national average -- but that doesn't mean you can't visit enjoyably. To preserve your safety, take the usual common-sense precautions: Avoid deserted areas, especially at night, and don't venture into public parks at night unless a concert or another event is attracting crowds. Keep money and valuables out of sight, always lock your hotel door, and don't carry too much cash.
Smoking Smoking is prohibited in public places and places of employment, including restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Exceptions include designated smoking rooms in hotels.
Taxes Sales tax is 8% and hotel tax is 15%. In the U.S., there is no value-added tax (VAT) or other indirect tax at the national level.
To Make International Calls To dial international numbers, dial 011, then the country code, then the phone number. The telephone system in the U.S. is run by private corporations, so rates, especially for long-distance service and operator-assisted calls, can vary widely. Generally, hotel surcharges on long-distance and local calls are remarkably expensive, so you're usually better off using a public pay telephone or a cell phone if you have one with you. Many groceries and convenience stores sell prepaid calling cards; this can be the least expensive way to call overseas.
Time Zone Ohio, like New York, is in the Eastern Time Zone, which puts it 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-5).
Tipping Gratuities are not usually included in rates. Here are guidelines to follow when tipping: In hotels, tip bellhops at least $1 per piece of luggage and the housekeeping staff $1 per person per day (more if you've left a mess). Tip the doorman or concierge if he or she has provided you with a service, such as calling a cab or obtaining hard-to-get tickets. Tip the parking attendant 15% of the parking rate. Cab drivers should get at least 15% of the fare. In restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, tip wait staff 15% to 20% of the check, bartenders 10% to 15%, and checkroom attendants $1 per garment. Skycaps at airports generally get at least $1 per bag, while hairdressers expect 15% to 20%.
Water Cleveland's tap water is considered safe to drink.
