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Swissotel Chicago
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
323 E Wacker Dr(between Columbus Dr & Field Blvd)
Chicago, IL 60601
Neighborhood: The Loop
(312) 565-0565
$119 for Room Night
Packages also available at http://tinyurl.com/SWC...
- Nearest Transit:
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Randolph/wabash (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
103 reviews for Swissotel Chicago
Review Highlights
"Great location and views of the Lake and Navy Pier."
(in 26 reviews)
"The desk staff was very friendly."
(in 5 reviews)
"Service: The front desk was incredibly pleasant and..."
(in 19 reviews)
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103 reviews in English
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Review from Pari P.
My wife and I decided on a staycation where we would travel around the city. Perfect for me since I have been wanting to try several restaurants but haven't had an opportunity to do so. My wife booked two nights at the Swissotel for the location and great accommodations.
Although there was construction, we were able to find a great deal for around $100 a night. For being within a 5 minute walk from the Magnificient Mile, this was an awesome deal. Being close to so many attractions of downtown Chicago, I was expecting to pay at least double the price.
When traveling, I'm particular about the bathroom. The bathrooms at the Swissotel were lined with new tile with a walk in shower and tub. Definitely one of my favorite aspects of the stay. Parking was $52 per every 24 hours and we were able to come and go as we pleased. This was very convenient since we were close to Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue. A king size bed and a free upgrade to lake side view made it perfect.
Thank you, wifey, for finding an awesome deal. You rock.Listed in: River North Side Represent
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Review from Brian B.
Columbus, OH
12/13/2011
I stayed here on my last visit to Chicago and found it to be a great hotel. The room was clean and huge, and the bed was very comfortable. I also had an amazing view overlooking the Navy Pier. During all of my interactions with the staff at the front desk, housekeeping, and one of the restaurants, I found the staff to be polite, helpful, and friendly.
Located close to everything in the Loop. A great place to stay. -
Review from Anthony S.
Indianapolis, IN
11/22/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I stayed here on my last visit to Chicago and had an extremely comfortable stay. When we checked in we opted for upgrading to a King suite with a stunning panoramic view of the lake and downtown that was well worth the upgrade. The bed was comfortable, the room was clean and trendy, they had a tasty Keurig coffee maker, and everything was just an overall a good value for the price we got on Hotwire.
I will say that as being someone from Chicago this wasn't the most convenient location to stay to visit all of your old hangouts. But if you're a tourist interested in downtown, the Mag Mile, and Navy Pier this is a great location for you. It's not very convenient to the "L" but I'd definitely stay here again.
The Swissotel certainly added to the amazing weekend we had in Chicago. -
Review from Kate J.
San Diego, CA
It is hard to find a bad hotel near the magnificent mile, but we certainly found one that was actually affordable! We got our rates through hotwire, and couldnt believe our luck.
The rooms were huge, clean and very well decorated. We had a stunning view over lake michigan, and our friends had a view up N Michigan Ave.
How more prefect than only being a stone's throw away from Chicago's main attractions, shops and restaurants? The EL is also right around the corner, so you have great access to the rest of the city. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Chitown.
Parking is $50 a day and valet is the only option, but I imagine this is the case with most of the hotels in the area. -
Review from Sammy G.
Phoenix, AZ
11/1/2011
Wow, what a great hotel! Plus, I got a great deal on hotels . com which made it even better! Conveniently located in the Loop, my room had amazing views of the Miracle Mile and the lake (whichever one that is, lol). The room was beautiful and spacious, clean clean clean, and very moderne.....the bed extra comfortable, great linens...I really had a hard time leaving it to go out for fun! But go out I did.... I went for just a weekend getaway, mostly to see an exhibit at the Cultural Center, and had a blast by myself for 3 days wandering from museum to gallery to shop to pub to restaurant to museum to park and then again. The hotel is right next to a great walking trail along the river (wabash? i'm not good with these names...)...I went for a great run every morning.
The staff was uber-friendly and professional, I was able to check in early with no extra charge. The concierge hooked me up with directions to everyplace I wanted to go. I really love the elevators...you slide in your room keycard, the door opens ONLY FOR YOU and takes you directly to your own floor...no stopping all the way up or all the way down...that damn elevator is yours for the moment...i LOVE IT!
They even had a happy hour in the lounge during my stay...the sliders were tasty and affordable (for a fancy schmancy place like this).
Another trip to the Windy City and I will DEF be staying at Swissotel!!! -
Review from Meilani M.
Las Vegas, NV
12/27/2011
I absolutely love this hotel! Found it on http://priceline.com. The atmosphere was great. The bed, pillows, comforter were so comfy. The bathroom was huge! I really didn't expect that. I would definitely stay here again!
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Review from Jeff S.
Chicago, IL
10/24/2011
The Swissotel was our hotel of choice for our wedding block, and the entire experience exceeded our expectations.
1. The Rooms: Clean, spacious, modern. Every room for our block was very very nice for $200/night in Chicago. We booked a block and our honeymoon suite was SPECTACULAR. We had a full corner sweet with two bathrooms, a living room, and a master bedroom overlooking the Pier. It was amazing. All of our guests indicated that their rooms were 4 star quality as well.
2. Parking: Well done considering the tight space. A bit pricey at $50/day, but hey, it's a city. That's the rate at a joint like this.
3. Service: The front desk was incredibly pleasant and helpful. The sales staff (Kenna in particular) took care of everything for us, and then some. All of our welcome bags were distributed without incident, and the bellhops, valets, and room service were all top notch.
My ONLY gripe (and it's minor) was that they did not have near enough carts for rush check in's/out's. We left on Sunday morning, and it was literally insanity. I requested a bell hop and cart to assist me with the wedding stuff from our room, and they said someone would be there right away. 40 minutes later, I was lugging everything downstairs on my own.
Also, the elevators are an amazing addition, despite what others have said. It's the fools that press the buttons a million times and don't follow the directions that mess the system up. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS, and everything will work fine.
All in all, a great hotel choice for our wedding, and our guests. Thanks for a great weekend. -
Review from Kelly C.
Chicago, IL
10/26/2011
I recently stayed here for a conference that was being held at the hotel. Since, I was at the conference for 90% of the trip, I didnt get to use many of the hotels amenities, but I have to say the beds were to die for. I never wanted to leave my bed in the morning, and each night that was what I looked forward too. I literally felt like I was sleeping on a cloud.
The conference space was new and modern, and all the food was delightful. The staff were very helpful and made sure everything was to our liking every step of the way.
I see a few of the people posting about the elevators. Yes they were different, but all you had to do was press the floor you were trying to go too and look for which elevator it sent you to. Not a problem at all.
Definitely looking forward to staying here in the future -
Review from Sadie T.
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
We stayed this past weekend at the Swissotel. The woman checking us in was pleasant. (The man checking us out needed a lesson in customer service). We did the Shedd Aquarium package ($184 a night, includes access to pool/fitness center, breakfast buffet, and two Shedd VIP tickets).
Lovely rooms, nice TV, nice beds, really nice bathrooms. Only complaint is how few TV channels were available. Awesome view (and we had a regular room, but could see the lake, Navy pier, millennium park, the field museum)
Pool/fitness center: decent, but I think I would have felt ripped off to pay the $15/day entrance fee. Many of the individual TVs on cardio equipment did not work. The pool was shallow (3-4 feet) and too cold. The whirlpool was fine. Locker rooms have saunas.
Breakfast buffet: nice spread of fruits, meats/fish/cheese, cereals, hot items (varies each day, scrambled eggs, quiche, etc). You can order waffles (yummmmm) or french toast (nothing to rave about) in addition to the buffet. I'm not sure it was worth $26/person to pay for on its own, unless you come very hungry, then probably worth it.
Shedd VIP pass: I didn't realize how cool this was until we got there and were able to skip the massive line of people outside the front doors (maybe 200 people?). Also included jelly fish exhibit pass, aquatic show pass, and access to wild reef. Very pleased we got these tickets through the hotel, it is not a scam. -
Review from Stephany M.
San Francisco, CA
9/23/2011
Great Service Great Rooms and Great Location close to downtown yet off the main beat a tad.
Only downside was you had to pay to use the gym, and if you wanted some juice or something if you dont want to walk a few blocks your only resort was room service or the mini bar. -
Review from Kylie B.
Boston, MA
7/20/2011
I attended a conference at the Swissotel in Chicago and stayed overnight on a Monday. The staff was very courteous when checking me in, giving me directions, taking away empty cups and plates, and serving food -- I got to see them in almost every capacity.
My room was clean and nicely decorated in relaxing beige and white tones. I had a glassed shower and a full tub. The beds were nice and comfy and the room had an awesome view of the city despite not paying for an upgraded lake view. There ARE rooms that overlook Navy Pier and the view by the elevators told me that they must be great.
Conference spaces were very nice and everything was broken down and put back up for various conference changes seamlessly. The food was better than I've had at most conferences I've attended.
The folks here were also responsible for the single coolest thing a hotel has ever done for me. They delivered an anonymous birthday cake to my room with plates, napkins, and the works. They noticed when I checked in that it was my birthday and didn't let it go without celebration. The cake was VERY good and large enough for five people to have a nice slice. Too bad I was attending solo! Fresh fruit, chocolate layers, and a light white frosting made it a perfect late-night post-conference treat.
I HAVE to post to thank them for delivering me the only cake I got for my birthday. -
Review from Michelle M.
Chicago, IL
8/8/2011
I recently stayed at the Swissotel with an awesome groupon deal. I made the reservations and the staff was very friendly and helpful trying to give me the best room possible.
I arrived and the front desk staff was very nice and went over and beyond to meet my needs. The room was amazing. Stayed on the 23rd floor with a great corner room with a view of navy pier and the river. -
Review from Gretchen S.
Tucker, GA
7/7/2011
We enjoyed our stay at the Swissotel and would gladly return if the price was right. Our corner room was very clean and spacious and the bath was full marble and spotless. The service was great- especially the valet team. We never waited long for our car and they were always so pleasant.
The view from the 6th floor was amazing! And being only 6 floors up made the stairs very doable, just in case the elevator nuttiness got too much. Actually I appreciate the intention of efficiency in calling only the floor that you need- no awkward reaching across strangers to press buttons. The system worked perfectly until the post-fireworks crowd converged. Then it was total mayhem, but I enjoyed the fun. I think the Swiss appreciate a good joke! -
Review from John M.
Chicago, IL
7/14/2011
I booked two nights at the Swissotel through http://hotwire.com. I called around 4 days in advance to request a king size bed and to be on the lake side, which I was told offered a great view of Navy Pier and Lake Michigan (It did). I was told that my request were confirmed and in the computer. Upon my arrival at the hotel, I was told that I was booked in a park side room with two double beds. As anyone would be, I was displeased and asked what could be done. I was told that I could upgrade to the lakeside with a king size bed for $35 extra per night. I inquired why my request which I was told was previous filled has not been honored and I was told that all hotwire customers are booked last.
After some negotiating I was able to talk the front desk clerk into $15 dollars per night for the upgrade and in the end still paid less than the standard rate at the Swissotel. I was glad that I did upgrade to the lakeside once I saw the view which was fantastic, especially at night as you are able to see all the lights from Navy Pier.
The room was clean and surprisingly spacious, my only gripe was that the shower was a bit small for my liking but nevertheless an adequate room for a fair price.
I should mention too that I was able to valet my luggage with the Swissotel on Sunday for free which was a nice touch and great help as I would not have been able to haul my luggage up the Willis Tower.
If you are able to get a good rate, this hotel is a good option for budget conscious travelers who are willing to do a bit of negotiation at check-in. -
Review from Grace Y.
Boston, MA
4/17/2011
I would rate Swissotel 3.5 stars, but yelp, until you start catering to my obsessive need to split hairs, my kind soul will round up.
The hotel is very clean, rather modern, and definitely luxurious. I prefer boutique hotels that have a funky, modern decor but I can appreciate the high end expensive types as well. My bed was extremely comfortable. Bathroom had separate bathtub and shower. My view was great, even though I asked for a low room. After reading all these horror stories about the elevators, I wasn't taking any chances and I was ready to use those stairs.
I had NO problems, ever, with waiting for an elevator. Maybe I was lucky, but I left around 9:30am every day and came back around 5:30pm which I assume is somewhat peak hours and I never waited for more than 30 seconds.
I just think it's retarded they charge you $10 for internet - PER DEVICE. I have two laptops, and I didn't know that I couldn't use the internet on both. I wasn't even trying to use both at the same time, I just had personal stuff to do on one and business to do on another. Turns out I would have to pay $20 a day for that. Ridiculous. This is 2011 - we are past the age where we have to pay for internet. When the burrito place in my hometown of Allston MA offers me free internet, Swissotel, you should be offering free internet too.
Also, $15 to use the pool and gym is dumb. Luckily I'm lazy and I don't ever work out, but my coworkers were really wrestling with whether or not they wanted to support what we all felt was a really ridiculous policy. We are guests at your hotel. Even the Motel 7 has a free pool. Come on.
My heat wasn't working properly. I had it turned up to 80 and it was barely 70 degrees in there steady.
Finally, I put a vitamin water in the fridge to keep it cold, and I accidentally bumped it into a breakfast bar, and it ended up on my bill. They hotel took it off, but make sure if you even touch anything in the mini bar and don't actually eat it, you ask the front desk to take the charge off your bill. -
Review from Carol K.
Updated - 4/26/2011
Okay Swissotel. You redeemed yourself on this most recent visit. Because after my last visit, I swore I wouldn't set foot inside your doors again.
But on this visit, everything was as it should be. I got a corner room with windows all around with amazing views of the lake and city. My bathroom was large and all the plumbing worked exactly as it should (no more jiggling handles to get things to function). And the Internet also worked without a problem.
I'm still not crazy about the elevator system. Yes- they worked on this visit but the hotel was not full so the debacle that I ran into the last time could happen again. And how long are you going to tell people about your "new improved" elevator system? I think it's been at least 6 months and you are still calling them new and still apologizing for them. Let me just say- they may be new . . . but improved? I think not.Listed in: Now I lay me down to sleep (in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/3/2011
Oh Swissotel! What have you done to one of my favorite hotels in the city? This should have been a 5… Read more »
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Review from Amy B.
Swissotel is nice, but just didn't quite do it for me.
First, let's talk about the elevator system. You punch your floor into a keypad and it assigns you an elevator from the six cars. You cannot change your destination floor from inside the elevator. This system is supposed to be more energy-efficient, and most of the time I did not mind it. However, when it was crowded, this system became a problem. The system assigned more people to the elevator than could physically fit, so we ended up stopping on many floors whose requester wasn't on the elevator. Meanwhile those people who didn't fit had to wait all over again for a car. The system should cap the number of floors requested per car at the number of people who can safely fit on at one time.
Second, I was here for a conference, and found the conference room layout confusing. It was difficult to get to some of the ballrooms by elevator.
Third, the Internet service sucked. Mine was complimentary because of my conference, but I would have resented paying for such slow, interrupted service. I was never able to connect wirelessly and had to use an Ethernet cord.
The view (of the Navy Pier) was awesome, and the room itself was pretty nice. Everything was clean and comfortable. I would absolutely stay in this hotel again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make it happen. Like Grace, I prefer someplace with a bit more personality (not to mention a normal elevator system!). -
Review from Allen B.
Chicago, IL
3/2/2011
My girlfriend and I spent the night here on my birthday weekend. The room we selected was great, corner spot overlooking the river and Lake Michigan. Bed linens were top notch and comfortable. Though I can't really compare it to any of the truly nice hotels I've stayed at, however, for the price we booked it for - I will not complain at all.
I'm a price hunter and I definitely received more than I killed for. Swissotel, I look forward to hunting you again. -
Review from Julie H.
Springfield, IL
11/25/2010
I'm laughing at all the whining on the reviews of this hotel. Have you people not ever stayed in a highish end hotel? Ya, everything is ala carte. Ya, you have to pay for internet....this isn't the $90 suite for you and the kids with a microwave, breakfast, internet and parking included. Let me let you all in on a little secret....corporations assume that if you can pay $200+ a night for a room you will pony up another $10 for internet. Also, $50 for valet in downtown Chicago is TYPICAL. Ya, it's expensive but if you don't like it then either a) don't bring a car (train is a good alternative) or b) find yourself a self park and go that route. Most people just park their cars and take cabs or walk everywhere anyway so, you really don't need a car in the city.
I personally found the room I had to be very comfortable and pretty spacious. I liked that the shower and the bath were separate. And the shower.....oh my! GREAT shower head, great pressure and lots of hot, hot water! I coulda stayed in that shower for hours! The elevators were busy while I was there but I liked that I push the button for the floor I wanted before getting on and then once on, up it went. As a side note, I was there during a huge conference and never waited more than 5 minutes for an elevator. My view from the third floor was nice. I had a view of Lake Michigan and Navy Pier and in the evening, the ferris wheel (which originally debuted in Chicago) was all lit up. It was a nice view day or nite and as I said before, I was only on the third floor. The view from the 42nd floor was even better!
I would certainly stay at this hotel again. 'Nuf said! -
Review from kevin r.
Lake Zurich, IL
10/3/2011
Very nice hotel, good location, modern, nicely furnished, great views!
Stayed here for one night in a corner room. Widows on all sides, fantastic views. The room was very nicely furnished, very modern and upscale. Go with the corner room if you can, it's definitely worth it! -
Review from erika f.
Washington, DC
8/22/2010
I arrived yesterday.. Told it was valet only and it was $50! Valet told me I could park around the block for $30..done.
I go to check-in and the front desk lady was not friendly at all. She asked if I wanted to upgrade my room so that I didn't end up with a view of crap and stuck on a low level floor in a very tall building. I sadly had to decline paying any more money for a room. Gee.. I guess $240 isn't enough to get a descent room. Crap.
Then I go on to ask about the pool cause in their description it says pool for all guests. Nope. "would u like me to add the pool to your bill?" wait! What? to swim in the pool where I AM Paying to stay-- I have to pay extra money to use it??? WTF? Same goes for the gym. A la carte.
The decor of the hotel was boring but clean. The room was fine. Nothing special. I only slept there. Do yourself a favor and bring your own shampoo and conditioner because theirs is worse than washing hair with bar soap. They had robes which was great.
Also, don't lose your parking ticket if u self park or u will be charged $100.
Just remember, if/when you reserve your hotel stay here, you get A ROOM-the description online says "deluxe" - which is their ho-hum standard. Everything else-gym, pool, parking, view, high floor, Internet and smiles-Will cost extra!!!
I'm sorry but there are a ton of other hotels in Chicago and I will not be staying here again. It's as bad as the airlines charging per bag. -
Review from Dan T.
8/30/2010 1 photo
$150/night on Priceline would have been fantastic for rooms that typically run for $200+, but it's because of your ridiculously incompetent new elevators that I have rated you so poorly.
I put up with the 15+ minute elevator waits because the views from my room were breath-taking, and your location is just steps away from the Millenium Park and downtown Chicago.
I overlooked the fact that my elevator would regularly stop on at least 5 empty floors, with no one to pick up at any stop, all the way to the ground floor because the plush beds and pillows really make you feel pampered and absolutely melt the stress of the day away.
However, after 4 days of this nonsense, I had enough. Not even the free printing in your strategically hidden business "office" could help curry my favour, especially when one actually fears being stranded on the 43rd floor because you have been waiting THAT long for an elevator. Plus, it doesn't help that you charge $10/day for internet and $15/day to use the fitness center. Really?
Ultimately, I should have considered myself adequately warned when I found a small note on the desk that praised the "hotel modernization" that would "improve overall elevator efficiency by 25%", but in the same breath recommend that "you allow additional time to reach your destination". Seriously? We allow for additional time to accommodate rush hour traffic or construction, but for your elevators? That's just ridiculous.
But perhaps I pushed away any hint of caution because I was just distracted by the fact that I managed to save a bunch of money on a really fantastic room. It's just too bad that it was such a complete pain to get to and from this room during my entire stay. -
Review from Carolynne M.
Chicago, IL
6/6/2010
We stayed here during the weekend of our wedding. I had originally wanted to stay at a different hotel, but they were being difficult so I went the Priceline route and ended up here. And this is supposed to be a 4 star hotel? Really.
The only two things I can say that I really, really was impressed by was the view outside our room and the valet guys. The valet guys were so helpful and amazing, they actually REPACKED our Jeep when we were checking out. This thing was crammed full of wedding crap and I was expecting to have 2 suitcases and a tote bag on my lap, but they made it all fit! I couldnt believe it. They were awesome.
The cons -
We were given a handicapped room. Which was super irritating, since I had called and told them we were staying for our wedding, and we end up with this bathroom that is loaded with a hundred handlebars and seats cluttering the shower. Of course by the time we could have had a minute of time to request another it was like, oh forget it - we really didnt want to have to pack up and move at that point.
This place nickel and dimes you TO DEATH. You have to pay extra to use the fitness room? Are they serious? Yes and it is an additional $15 - A DAY. ugh. Also internet is extra, and they tried to charge us for it when we were checking out, the only problem was we didn't bring a computer so we couldn't have used it even if we wanted to.
Parking is ridiculous and they conveniently have the sign posting the rates sort of hidden - but overnight parking is $50. Whether you are a guest or not. Could I get a discount for staying in your hotel? Gee, thanks, I guess not.
Basically, with the amount of hotel choices in the area I would stay at any of them before coming back here. It was kind of a let down all around. And no, the awesome view couldn't make up for it. -
Review from Char Y.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2011
we came for a bachlorette party, and we rented the penthouse. It was surprisingly old fashioned. The decor seemed old (from the 90's), even thought it was very spacious with lots of rooms.
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Review from Andy M.
6/9/2010
The Swiss is a beautiful hotel in a beautiful location, but they nickel and dime you for everything in sight. Valet service for hotel guests is $50.00 a day and they charge $15.00 a day to use the fitness center. If you include tips for the valet, your room price nearly doubles if you want to use all of the amenities.
For some odd reason they stuck us in a handicapped room, but other than that, the staff was wonderful. The Valet guys were helpful and the front desk staff was accommodating.
If was going to recommend a hotel to people coming to town, the Swiss would be at the bottom of my list. It's a nice place to stay, but I can't justify sending people to a hotel that milks you for every penny they can. It' s just not worth it. -
Review from Sonny W.
Fremont, CA
Updated - 2/3/2011
Swissotel continues to be a *yawn* As previous posters state, punching in your floor is ridiculous. On the other hand, technology wise it could be helpful in routing ppl to different elevators (but if idiots like to cram into one elevator and leave the others free for me, why change)?
In any case, I want to take a nice hot soak and--guess what--they are having water problems...
SOOOOO disappointed. Hopefully I don't get bug bitten this time (checked under the sheets). Sadly, due to my company's deal, I think I have to stay here again next year *sigh*...but so far they are batting 1 star....
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Oh boy, it must be my luck...or rather this hotel is just run down.
I had to swap room FOUR TIMES. And that's for a Thurs nite-Sunday morning stay. My first room had no hot water so I had to switch rooms. They gave me the key to the 2nd room, which happened to be occupied. Luckily the occupants had their security latch on, so there wasn't any embarrassing moment. My third room was fine for 2 nights but then today (just now) I had to move because of water
leakage (above my room and below my room).
BOY, talk about an awful hotel (or my just awful luck???? Maybe it's karma since I wrote a bad review last year, and continue to write one...but it's the TRUTH).
Oh, also last year may not have been bed bugs. I have checked the room and it looks bug free but I STILL get these itchy patches on my leg. Perhaps it is something in the sheets...or the air/HVAC....
in any case, despite the decent staff, it is a ONE at best (0 for hotel, 1 for the still nice service--since it's not their fault....)
All I can say is ...THANK GOODNESS MY COMPANY WON"T HOLD THE CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO NEXT YEAR, or AT LEAST AT THIS HOTEL!!!!!!!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2010
I just had a conference there.
They have bed bugs--I have all these bug bites and it itches like… Read more »
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Review from Elissa S.
6/2/2010 2 photos
Upgrade to a lake view room, preferably one in the corner. It's an extra $25, but hopefully you got your room via Priceline or HotWire, and you're not paying full price anyway. It's totally worth it. The bathroom is huge and has a separate shower and bathtub.
I read in the reviews that Swissotel has bed bugs. I am really creeped out about that, especially coming from New York, where they are unfortunately common. After a thorough check of the mattress, pillows, and sheets, everything checked out fine. Our room was immaculate.
The beds at Swissotel were one of the most comfortable hotel beds I've slept in.
In the lobby, they have ice water available that has melon in it.
Overall, Swissotel Chicago has earned a place in my preferred hotels list. -
Review from Jessica K.
Roseville, CA
7/7/2010
Once upon a time during my senior prom, a group of friends and I found ourselves at the Swissotel because our limo driver got lost on his way to Rainforest Cafe. Now that I'm older and wiser, I couldn't believe we were that far from our mark but that's beside the point. 10 years later and I found myself feeling a little homesick and yearning to come home for 4th of July and sadly, the Taste of Chicago. (No heckling please.)
Considering what a busy weekend it was for the city, I got a great room with a great view of Navy Pier and my old neighborhood of Streeterville. The bathrooms are more spacious than the boutique hotels in the Gold Coast neighborhood and yes, the bath and shower are separated with great water pressure. I brought a lot of my own shampoo and conditioner to spare but it was nice to see they supply bottles that were almost 2 oz. so girls like me with very long hair wouldn't have to worry about running out of soap.
The bed was clean, free of interesting little stains on the sheets and without any traces of bed bugs. I did also appreciate how there was a body pillow in addition to the normal head pillow and throughout my stay, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest I got. I never tossed and turned, played with the thermostat or bought Febreze to cover up any undecipherable odors. I even loved walking around the hotel room because it had a decorative raised carpet I could feel tickle my toes as I walked around the room.
The staff was also helpful and friendly at check-in and also each time I walked out to the streets. I've never been offered so many cabs before in my life, except in front of clubs. I appreciate the streamline feel of the hotel and the facelift it looks like it received. The hotel lobby has a small bar that is elegant and low key that doesn't take away from the entrance to the Palm restaurant across the way. Those hotel patrons surprised by the humidity of Chicago in July certainly did like to partake in the melon/pineapple water in the lobby while waiting for the valet also. Valet parking was $55/day with the exception of hybrid drivers who got a 50% discount.
The only downside to the hotel was not the hotel itself but the people who didn't know how to work the elevators. During several points of the mid afternoon, the elevators were clogged with people who jumped into an elevator car not designated for their floor and ended slowing down the process for a lot of other patient people. If you're there at the hotel at odd hours, it's probably the hotel for you. -
Review from Cindy C.
8/24/2010 5 Check-ins Here
Clean, urban, conveniently located.
I was here for a work conference. It's the hotel where the conference is held, so, that makes booking/staying here an obvious choice.
Transformers was being filmed when we were there, and they gave me a high floor with a nice view, so both, total wins.
I would probably stay here again, although there are so many fun boutique hotels in Chicago to try out too in the same price range...
Oh, figure out your elevators so it's not so darn slow (I think I waited like 10 minutes for one one day). -
Review from Carol J.
Chicago, IL
12/10/2008
Its awesome having friends in the travel industry. Friends that invite you for slumber parties at beautiful hotels in your own city. Lucky, lucky me. I have had the pleasure of staying at the Swiss on several occasions and have always had an enjoyable experience.
The rooms are standard, however those on the south side of the oddly angled building offer spectacular views of Millennium Park, Grant Park and the lakefront harbors. Beds are super comfy and service is polished and professional.
I find the design of the hotel a very contemporary Euro and the amenities are top notch. Concierge is incredibly knowledgeable and gracious. The Palm Restaurant is one of the city's better steakhouses and the staff there is also top notch.
Room service is spot on and relatively quick and the housekeeping standards were above and beyond. I enjoy my little in town jaunts. The location is the best of both worlds, close to the theatre district and the loop and at the foot of the Mag Mile. -
Review from Mel U.
11/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
I loved this hotel for its location, view and that we found it for very, very cheap on Priceline. While we didn't spend a lot of time here (we were in town for Whiskey Fest and a lot of sight-seeing/eating), it was comfortable, clean and bright -- all things I respond to positively. The amenities were all extra, so I just got in my "workout" by walking around the city (shopping for shoes, natch).
That said, the hotel staff was just downright nasty (is this a "Swiss" thing?). Also, horrible connection times attempting to get in touch with front desk, room service and the like. Let me tell you something about room service... JUST DON'T. Unless you enjoy paying for mediocre food at a 200% markup. Yech. And don't even get me started on the elevators...
Note: the "view" did cost us an extra $25 a night, which I felt was worth it, given that we had a corner room, which was much larger than standard, quiet and contained full two walls of windows into the city (and a too-close office building with creepy voyeurs, I presume). -
Review from Ryan F.
1/14/2010
Travelocity ran special for Swissotel and for a four star hotel, I thought the price was worth the minimal upgrade charge.
The pros: The room was awesome. We had a clear view of Navy Pier and the river. On NYE it was spectacular to watch the 8 o'clock fireworks before heading out.. Bedding, decor, TV, and bathroom were all very nice. Also liked the coffee/tea machine.
The Cons:
1. Service - When we arrived out of the blistering cold, we just wanted to get to our room. With only one attendant at the front desk and a line four people deep, this took entirely too long.
When booking through Travelocity, you are not guaranteed a king size bed. So as soon as I made the reservation, I called the Swissotel and tried to secure a king size room. The first person I spoke with assured me that I did have a king size room. What do you think happened when we showed up? Yep, no king size, yet we could upgrade to a king size room (with view) for an extra $25 a night. This is bullshit.
Every time we called the front desk, it took 30 seconds to as much as 5 minutes to get someone to pick up. Sometimes multiple calls needed to be placed. I've never experienced this at any hotel. Get someone to pick up. Often times when I went downstairs to the desk nobody was even there.
2. Location - While it is in the area of the Magnificent mile, the walk from Michigan and Wacker to the hotel is an extra 5 minutes. Also the walk to the train station that will get you to most places is 15 minutes. There are so many more hotels closer to attractions and public transit. If you wanted to go down and grab a bite to eat from a local restaurant you were out of luck because the only restaurants on the few isolated blocks around the Swissotel were hotel restaurants.
When it came time to checkout I requested (after multiple calls to the front desk to get someone) late checkout. I was granted a 1PM checkout. When I called at 1PM the next day, the front desk said they had no record of this and acted like they were doing me a big favor to extend it.
3. Complimentary water - In the lobby at all times, there were two pretty dispensers of water containing freshly sliced fruit. It was so tempting to grab some every time we were coming in or leaving, but after the first two nasty tries, I gave up. The water tasted like it was pulled strait from the river outside. Also, with the cold walk, would it be too much to ask for some complimentary hot chocolate/tea/coffee? Seems like that's what a hotel with a 4-star reputation would do.
4. Internet - There is no complimentary wireless in the room. While I think it should be mandatory, I understand. What's outrageous is that they charge to use internet in their business center. I didn're realize any hotels still did this, especially a 4-star.
4 stars for the room and view, but 1 star for the service and business center. 2 stars total. -
Review from Al C.
10/26/2010
We stayed at the Swissotel for three nights and had a lot of fun in Chicago. The hotel was clean, had a great location, a nice view, and was decently priced. The staff was super friendly and very helpful to us out-of-towners. But it could have been better still.
Cons: parking fee per night was a bit steep.
Big Con: their television entertainment system was broken and kept cutting out on our paid content. They took the movie charge off the bill, and advised us that they just upgraded their system and was having some problems.
We'd love to come back and stay here again, but hope that they work out that in room entertainment system issue. -
Review from Kelly S.
Chicago, IL
5/6/2009
Not my favorite hotel in Chicago.
The lobby is rather stale and unappealing. I don't really even know how to explain the decor other than it is totally lacking decor. It almost has the feel of a doctor's office waiting room.
The rooms are furnished in very muted tones with semi-modern furniture. The bathroom was large and had both a walk in glass shower and a big jet tub. Lovely river and skyline views. You can see Navy Pier and the lake from the east facing rooms.
Two things I noted on the customer service:
(-) We were trying to get online to find out if the Sox game had been delayed or cancelled due to the rain. My dad also needed to check his email for work. We were unable to connect to the hotel's wifi and called the front desk. The guest services agent said that a tech would be right up. We waited in the room for over 45 minutes... no tech.
(+) Due to said rain, my dad needed an umbrella to walk to the EL. The concierge had one available and graciously let him use it for the evening.
Swisshotel would not be my first recommendation for lodging in Chicago. It's OK, but it just doesn't have that 'wow' factor.Listed in: Staycation Hotels
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Review from Eileen C.
Hacienda Heights, CA
5/13/2009
I bought a pack of Marlboros in the gift shop for $10 a pack. TEN DOLLARS! And people say LA is expensive!
I scored a room rate of $70 a night on Priceline, which is practically free! This hotel is an UBER VALUE: the room is comparable to a nicer Las Vegas hotel standard: down pillows, crisp white sheets, bathroom fitted with granite countertops. The river view is pretty amazing, even from the 19th floor.
It's not the best location, but it's good enough. I definitely would not mind staying here again. -
Review from Jeff G.
Minneapolis, MN
1/25/2009
One of the best views of any downtown Chicago hotel. Nice bathrooms with great showers. A very elegant hotel overall.
But its too far down Wacker from the rest of downtown - especially walking at night. The front desk is always busy, and you have to pay extra to use the health club. Also, the down-feather bedding is too hot and bulky - even with the heat turned off in winter.
(Its like sleeping in a giant Swiss diaper... how elegant!) -
Review from Anne H.
Manhattan, NY
11/30/2009 1 photo
Wow!!! We got lucky. We were able to book this hotel through Priceline for $100. Our view is phenomenal!
We are staying in a spacious room with a king size bed, corner room, and there are 4 wide windows, plus a window in our bathroom. Needless to say, we are not disappointed, and will probably book another night here.
The views are amazing. Also the architecture is pretty sweet. First of all, there are 2 phones, one where the mini-desk-office is located, and the other in the bathroom (handy, just in case you need to order toilet paper).
I just watched Dr. Oz's show on travel, and he exposed germs on remote control and phone. If you are OCD, rest-assured, this room and contents are arranged to minimize disorder. Really like they have a Panasonic iron, which was so easy to iron shirts with.
Also, the hair conditioner wasn't cheap. They include Q-tips and a higher quality lotion not typically found at most hotels. Lotion came in handy when staying in Chicago during winter season.
Tip: if you order a "coffee" at the lobby, it's really an Americano (espresso + water), but they charge you for coffee rates. It was good, even though it said Starbucks. It's fresh brewed, but I think it caters to European tastes in coffee.
Also, if you see Andrew at the bar, ask him for some cool travel tips, mostly music and literary related (jazz bars and Hemingway's home).
Awesome views of the river and lakes, and even cool architecture of the wave-y building. I will post photo of it here. -
Review from Sav B.
New York, NY
6/8/2006
well... of course my agency paid for the suite here. Nice views of the Sears Tower and Lake Michigan from 35th floor of the Swissotel can only compare to our very own Mandarin Oriental. Owned by the Swiss Tourism Group, it's a very comfortable existence for a good nights sleep but if you wanna eat, try somewhere else. Not only they'll stuff you with a gigantic plate of mashed potatoes, at the end they'll slap you with a massive bill, which your boss may decide not to pick up.
Overall, I loved my stay at Swissotel - the only place I ever stayed in the great Midwest! -
Review from Dane K.
6/20/2007
I booked this hotel on Hotwire for $65, which is an absolute steal given its location. (it was slightly off season, but still a great deal).
The desk staff was very friendly. We asked and got a 2PM late check-out (I had read a lot of people saying they denied them an early/late check in). She did say that their occupancy rate when we were there was 40%, which could explain why they weren't reluctant.
The ammenities on Hotwire at the time were listed as Tennis nearby, Spa, Pool, Restaraunt, etc.. There is no actual Spa, its just a service they make an appointment with and they come to the hotel--the services are overpriced.
The upstairs workout room looked nice, and the pool looked OK, though there was a maintenance guy reapplying some tiles to the wall while we contemplated swimming.
The room itself was MUCH nicer than I thought it looked in the pictures. The furniture wasn't dingy, like others complained. And the bathroom was nice, with a seperate shower and decent sized tub (not jacuzzi, but a little larger than normal).
Room service was efficient, average priced, and decent food. In room mini-bar was average priced as well.
Valet parking is expensive but no more than any other downtown Chicago hotels.
Bed and linens were very comfortable, as comfortable as any so called "heavenly bed" ... We stayed in and ordered room service for breakfast and lunch, we didn't want to leave the next day.
I'd go back. -
Review from Kim M.
6/9/2009
This is one of my favorite hotels. The best part about it is the view. If you can afford it, get a corner room. It is not a standard room shape, and overlooks Navy Pier and the lake.
Check in and Check out are almost always painless and easy. The beds are very comfy. The rooms very clean. The staff is friendly.
My only negative would be the food there. It's overpriced, and not that great. And the bathrooms weren't that spacious either, but I think they have been redone recently.Listed in: Hotel-Palooza
