Chicago is a city with highly enjoyable festivals, Chicago beaches, affordable hotels and wonderful places to dine. Tourism in Chicago is possibly one of the best revenue generating elements in the US economy, owing to a large number of passengers flying in and out of Chicago, and enjoying all that it has to offer. Summers are usually the peak time, and you will find the city's parks and certain neighborhoods most crowded between May and September.

Flight tickets are the costliest during summer as festivals like Lollapalooza and Blues concerts draw a large number of people from North American cities. A considerable population from Europe and South America is also common in these festivals. In order to enjoy this season in Chicago, you will need to ensure an early booking before April. If you fail to do so, you may not be able to avail a free seat in domestic flights, let alone getting cheap tickets.

Also, contact your hotel reservation system to check if they have packages to bail you out. Hotels like Fairmont at downtown and Comfort Suites near the O'Hare Airport have been known to provide guests with air and accommodation packages. It is often found that an entire trip comes within 300 dollars including accommodation for 3 days.

Outdoor festivals are rare, and Chicago's winters can be a good time to find cheap air tickets. However, be aware of the Christmas week. Spring will probably be a great time to cheap air tickets in 2011, and recreational parks can be your itinerary's focus.