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Hotel Cass
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
640 N Wabash Ave(between Ontario St & Erie St)
Chicago, IL 60611
Neighborhood: Near North Side
(312) 787-4030
- Nearest Transit:
-
Grand-Red (Red Line)
Chicago-Red (Red Line)
Merchandise Mart (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
18 reviews for Hotel Cass
18 reviews in English
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Review from Sharee M.
3/10/2010
I just checked out of Hotel Cass (or Holiday Inn Express on Mag Mile) after a 5-day stay.
BEST HOTEL IVE BEEN IN TO DATE!
The pics on the website are what you get....its bit small, but very modern. Space is used effectively and in a single room, I had a nice size bed, desk, flat screen TV, and good size bath. Every was clean and the housekeeping staff was SO nice that I HAD to tip! Free internet (that was a big deal, as I have paid for internet everywhere else) that oyu can access from your room and not just the lobby. Valet parking for those that want it (its $44).Very friendly and helpful doormen.
Breakfast was a STEAL! Not the same everyday, but there was always an fresh egg option, meat, fruit, cereal, juice, milk, coffee, lots of bread options (sweet rolls each day!) and yogurt.
I never heard any other person in the other rooms, which is good for a high rise. The price was great to me, especially considering the price of the others in the area. Get high enough and you will get a good view, if on that side of the building.
I would definately stay here again. I would come again and again, so consider highly if looking to staying in the Mag mile area! -
Review from Anthony R.
Berkeley, CA
11/9/2009
Surprised to see all the hating! Maybe it's because I booked with a ~$70 including tax rate at Hotwire, but I thought this place was great!
As mentioned, it's a Holiday Inn Express now, but they've managed to preserve all -- well, most -- of the boutique hotel charm. Great location right near Mag Mile shopping and other downtown destinations, extremely friendly and helpful staff, and free Wifi.
As mentioned, the rooms are shockingly small -- basically enough space for the bed, desk, and a place for you to throw your suitcase on the floor, but for a weekend traveler seeing Chicago, it's great. They're clean and well-appointed, and I am very willing to sacrifice size for cleanliness and location.
Skip the free breakfast if you're looking for quality eats. The coffee and juices are pretty awful, the eggs are super processed-ick, and the fruits are unripe. Then again, it's FREE so one can only complain so much - have a biscuit and a couple slices of toast to stave off hunger until you can get a real meal.
Not sure if I'd like it had I paid asking price, but at Hotwire rates, it was a total value. -
Review from Gail L.
Naperville, IL
1/21/2010
Let's say that at last Yelp Elite event you went to, you totally puked on the BNSF train. And, being 35 years old, you want to not repeat that experience. Sure, you could attempt to not get so drunk that a bumpy train ride would be a problem, but that's crazy talk.
What can you do instead? Head on over to Hotwire and score a room at the Holiday Inn Express for 53 a night. By the way, its really easy to figure out if you are booking this hotel on Hotwire - its the only 3 star hotel with no pool or spa.
Now, for the hotel itself. The staff is nice and efficient. The rooms are tiny, but heck, you aren't there to hang out in the room. Plus, while small, the room is retro charming. It does have a nice flat screen TV, and the bathroom is perfectly fine.
Would I use this hotel if I was looking for a weekend of lounging and pampering? No. But, if you need a place to stay on a week night because you don't want to be stuck on the 2 hour train back to the burbs? Perfect! -
Review from wayne s.
San Francisco, CA
7/10/2008
Made the mistake of booking this place before I realized it's been remodeled as a Holiday Inn Express. Express? What is that? They want you outta there as soon as possible???
A lot of things just seem 'off' with this place. Even the entrance, seemed like the entry was a back entrance. The staff were okay. The hallways outside the rooms look like bad mid 80's eastern block - ugly.
The only things keeping this from a one star is the complimentary continental b'fast - yummy biscuits and gravy. And the music in the elevator is kinda electronically cool. Should I give it three stars? NO. After trying to get back to O'hare quickly, it took them 15 minutes to locate my bag they were storing for like an hour and a half.
For the $153.00 i forked out a night, I had a much better room at Hotel Burnham for $130.00.
The rooms are tiny, and had to wrestle with the thermostat to change the hot temp. -
Review from Rebecca F.
Providence, RI
1/27/2009
Woo. Maybe because I came in expecting a Holiday Inn I was so impressed, as opposed to the other guests who were expecting higher end Chicago hotels.
Free cookies every afternoon! Cute sitting area with loungey couches, flat screen TVs and coffee. Free computer/internet access with free printing. Awesome continental breakfast. Good location in walking distance of Magnificent mile and Northwestern Hospital.
Even my tiny room had the most cozy bed of the interview trail and a cute little flat screen TV on the wall. Yes everything was miniature, and the soundproofing could have been better, but I didn't really notice. I didn't really like having to use my key everytime I wanted to go in the elevator, but the staff was extremely courteous and helpful my entire stay. -
Review from Traci K.
8/28/2009
Cass Hotel is now Holiday Inn Express and I am not disappointed by this. I got an awesome deal for my one night stay in Chicago on Hotwire and for the location - $75/night can't be beat.
The room is, admittedly, on the smaller side - but this never bothers me. I'm paying to sleep there. I don't need some huge room with a couch and a balcony (though don't get me wrong, these things are nice). The room had a king-sized bed, a wall-mounted flat screen, nightstand and a small desk. There was a built in seating area and it was clean. The bathroom is also small - but has all the things I need. Toilet. Tub. Sink. Awesome.
The location really can't be beat. It's right in the middle of the downtown area and we had a nice time walking to Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the River Walk, part of the Mag Mile and back again. Don't be fooled by the negative reviews, this place is just fine. -
Review from Rex L.
1/25/2010
Great Deal and a Great Location
Just returned from a weekend in Chicago. Scored a $65/night rate. Close to so many things.
Very friendly and helpful doorman. Gave us the weather report each morning. Rooms are small so I booked a Queen instead of a King after reading other reviews, which gave us an extra foot of room.
Free breakfast was an added benefit. We both like the coffee and the biscuits and gravy were better than I thought they would be.
I would definately stay here again. -
Review from Annabel A.
New York, NY
10/20/2009
3.5 stars.
Although Cass Hotel is now Holiday Inn Express, they still haven't changed the signs on their front door or the hotel room guides...can be mildly confusing..
Plus points:
- Location is STELLAR. - 2 blocks from the red line subway station, which takes you to all famous sights, opposite a trader joe's, surrounded by bars and restaurants so you'll never go hungry. Might I add, two blocks from Michigan Ave, where you can shop your heart out.
- Free WiFi
- Free hot Breakfast - although despite the amazing reviews..i found it to be just OK...nothing to rave about.
Downside:
- Small rooms..BUT, if you're here just to see the city and not to honeymoon in your room, it's perfect. Rooms fit a small desk, queen size bed and wall-mounted flat screen TV. They are clean and have attached bathrooms with hot showers.
I prefer the Hampton Inn Magnificent Mile because you can get better value for your money- all the wonderful amenities, a higher quality breakfast and larger rooms for an equivalent or lesser price - but if Hampton Inn is fully booked, i'd go for Cass. -
Review from Molly U.
Austin, TX
3/13/2008
This hotel is now Cass Hotel - Holiday Inn Express. Sounds like it has been newly renovated.
As I drove up the door person and valet came out right away to assist - very friendly. As I walk up to the front desk, the lobby is quite modern in not the plastic IKEA sort of way, but more of a dark wood and crate-and-barrel sort of way.
As I get up into the tiny corner room near the elevator, the room is actually surprisingly roomy enough (as in I thought it would be a closet). The room is clean, has a nice flat panel TV, wi-fi, and the bathroom looks very clean.
Now for the negatives:
The room is COLD. the heater was off so when i came in it said 59. I jacked it up to 72 but still not warm enough (this is my ideal temp). then I brought it up to 75 and that was better. The heater would then turn off and it was COLD. I think throughout the night, the heater came on every 10 min....oh and it was LOUD....
Then the bathroom. It has this fan or duct thing and it sounds like there is a huge constant windstorm in the bathroom. again, LOUD. I tried to close the door to shut the noise out, but ha....it creates some wind tunnel /pressure effect and creates some low pitched windy noise instead. again, LOUD.
As I try to sleep, throughout the night I get awoken by "DING!" - the elevator. Then I get awoken by the LOUD heater turning on....i think at first my heart jumped.
I am not a light sleeper by any means and can pass out on airplanes and I could probably sleep through a fire alarm.
Oh, and did I mention that they didn't reset their clocks for daylight savings, so they woke me up an hour early? So instead of 5:45...which is more of a decent hour, they woke me up at 4:45!
For $143/night and a few blocks from Mag Mile.....oh well, the Valet parking was $42 per 24 hours. But you do get a free breakfast!!!!
Would I stay here again? Probably not..... -
Review from Natalie P.
Waukesha, WI
1/5/2011
Just got back from my 2nd stay at this hotel. I must say, for what we have paid to stay here, this has got to be the best value in this neighborhood. Sure, the rooms are a bit small, but I like the historic details in the building paired with modern deco furnishings, comfortable beds, FREE WIFI, FREE breakfast, and prime location to shopping/ dining/ sightseeing. Add in bonuses from Priority Club Rewards, and why wouldn't you stay here?
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Review from Stephen G.
Austin, TX
8/31/2009
Showed up on Monday for a 3 day stay... they let me check in at 10:30am without problem. Free Wifi. Room was clean. Got some really cheap rate using a Internet website (around $70/night for queen). I'm happy. Great location, Trader Joe's across the street, if you can get a good deal on the rooms here - a bargain trip.
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Review from Rachel M.
San Francisco, CA
9/28/2005 1 photo
"Downtown Chicago without the Downtown Price" is their tag line - which means it's basic no-frills hotel right in the downtown core. Nothing spectacular, but sometimes that's all one needs - a bed, a shower and a toilet of one's one, ya know?
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Review from Aggie A.
Hercules, CA
4/16/2010
One unpleasant surprise after another! Will stay elsewhere when I'm in Chicago.
Stayed here because it was 5 blocks rather than the 10 blocks the company-preferred hotel was.
Pro:
Friendly but harried (because understaffed) staff
Proximity to Northwestern University Hospital and upscale shops
Affordable eateries within a few blocks--Trader Joe and Starbucks across the street
Cons:
Small room--very reminiscent of a well-maintained dorm room (bed filled up the entire room)
Crappy shampoo, no hairdryer
Bad computer access: had a lot of problems connecting to work through my wireless; remote printing instruction is fine for uploading file--retrieving and printing it is something else (I ended up mailing it to myself at the public terminal and printing it there)
In summary, if you're here for pleasure, it's reasonable. If you're here for business, stay somewhere else where the computer and internet support is better.
In retrospect, I should have stayed at the company recommended hotel--I paid the same price for worse service just to be 5 blocks closer to the conference. -
Review from Tim M.
Saint Paul, MN
9/3/2008
We stayed here for a week this past April. I'm rounding up to 4 stars, but I can't quite give it 4 stars, and 3 stars aren't enough, so...3.75 stars.
Pros:
1. The location. It is a very short distance to Michigan Avenue and convenient to a lot of the major bus lines. Safe neighborhood, as far as we could tell. There's a Trader Joe's across the street if you've got a snack craving.
2. The staff. Very friendly and attentive.
3. The decor. They're going for a boutique hotel experience without the image that a "Holiday Inn Express" name may evoke. The lobby and first floor are very cool, the rooms hipster-chic, and for once there is good music piped into the elevator. (No Muzak.)
The cons:
1. As other reviewers have pointed out: room sizes. Our room on the 8th floor, with a king-size bed, was a bit on the small side, but we counted our lucky stars when we discovered just how small other rooms were. The word "cozy" comes to mind here. If you're looking for a luxurious, roomy hotel experience, you ain't gonna get it here. Then again, if you're vacationing in Chicago, you're not going to be in your room all that much anyway.
2. There are only two elevators, and they are small and s-l-o-w. You may find yourself often using the stairs to go to the first floor, but think of the exercise you'll undoubtedly need after all that Chicago-style pizza. -
Review from Albert E.
5/7/2008
I am in the middle of my business trip in Chicago, IL and the Cass Hotel (aka Holiday Inn Express) has been remodeled and is trying to "Keep Up With The Jones". Upon arriving at the hotel, it has the convenience of being in a very safe part of downtown and the bellman and front desk was very accomodating. After check-in and after opening the door to my room, I laughed at how small my room was. If I had a chance to leave.....I would, but other hotels in the proximity to my clients were all "No Vacancy". I guess I could of asked for a bigger room, but like I said....the hotel was fully booked and I will live with this room. I will update my review with a picture when I return home. The size of my room was laughable.....am I in Japan where space is precious? Whatever.....I will not return to this hotel on my next trip to Chicago......neither should you for the price.....you should get a larger sized room.
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Review from Stephenye A.
Albuquerque, NM
7/19/2010
Hotel Cass...now a Holiday Inn Express...was awesome! There was a guy named Fran at the front desk who helped us get from the airport to the hotel quickly and easily and then gave a great recommendation for lunch. The room is modern and clean. The room was very, very small, but we weren't spending much time there, so it was fine for us. It was big enough for the two of us to get into our suitcases, hang out and watch TV and the bathroom was fine. Free breakfast is always good. We booked a few weeks in advance on http://hotels.com and got an amazing rate of $80/night. Perfect location...lots to do and see. Walking distance from the Lake! I would stay here again in a second!
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Review from Sam K.
Elk Grove, CA
7/14/2008
I have to say the location was a major plus. Yeah, I could've paid way more for a larger hotel room, but I was there to visit and check out Chicago... not sleep in my room all day long. The beds were comfortable, and the complimentary breakfast was good. If we needed an extra set of towels, the hotel was very accomodating. Plus the hotel service was very friendly.
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Review from Steven F.
Kendall, TX
11/27/2009
I'm a fan of Holiday Inn's in general and used some points to stay here for three nights while visiting my daughter. Great location with the usual free breakfast and free internet. Location is close to magnificent mile shopping and lot's of great restaurants and attractions close by. The rooms are small but very comfortable and cozy. Almost eclectic. Would be great for one or two but wouldn't recommend if you have kiddo's with you. If you are just looking for a place to sleep without all the high priced glitz this should be considered.
