On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Hotels, Restaurants
Neighborhoods: Streeterville, Magnificent Mile, Near North SideVisit http://www.starwoodhot... to enjoy more vacation…
Announced 3 days agoChicago (Red)
Loading...
We stay here 90% of the time while in Chicago.
*It's an excellent location that is a $15 cab ride from just about everything
*Good bar
*Nice food in the bar...chicken pot pie!
*Great beds
*Clean lobby
*Updated look to the rooms
*Solid workout room
*Attentive staff
As long as it's under $300 per night, the Westin is an excellent value. And I got some!
People thought this was:
The best hotel stay I have ever had. A whole lot of bang for very little buck. I mean, it's the price of every other Westin, only this one is right off of Lakeshore - so minutes away from fun in the sun. It's right across the street from the Hancock center. It's on the same street as ALL the amazing shopping any obsessed shopper (like me) would ever want. AMAZING LOCATION! It's right in the middle of everything. I loved it!
When I first walked in - it was like no other Westin. The lobby is long and beautiful. The room was nothing extravagant but still nice. And the beds were perfect. We had a great view of that little courtyard area in front of the Hancock center. I loved that they had a gym - so my gym schedule wasn't interrupted. The staff was very informative of the happenings around town. Especially with the nightlife! I will DEFINATELY stay here again when I come back to the Chi :)
I recently stayed at the Westin Michigan Avenue for a business trip.
As always, tend to be impressed with Starwood hotels. The room was clean, the bed was cozy and the hotel had a good-working Starbucks.
I loved the location of this Westin as it's next to great shopping and Rush Street (loaded with great restaurants & bars). Lastly, the bar at the hotel, The Grill, had a fabulous selection of wine, including a couple favorites - J Vineyards Pinor Nior & Grgich Hills Fume Blanc.
I'll be back!
My stay here this past Sunday and Monday night was o.k. Nothing special, but nothing totally awful either. The room was a decent size, the bed was great, but the toilet ran constantly and the bathroom had very few amenities. Once again, I was cursed with the room by the elevator (I'm 4-4) and while I'm on the subject, I think the elevator had a ghost as it would open & close 2-3 times EVERY ride (regardless of which car I was in) before going up/down.
I'm not sure if I'd stay here again.
Ok, they have the best showers...if not the smallest bathrooms. And really, charging for everything? And ridiculous charges at that! Sure I realize baseball players stay here and they can spend money like water, but damn...I'm not Jay-Z! They also have awesome beds with great comforters, and the place is relatively sharp, clean, and fancy...but i'd never stay here if i had to spend more than $65.
This hotel is a joke! We paid $380 for a tiny, musty smelling broom closet with 1 mini bar of soap to share between the sink and shower and cheesy plastic cups. The location is fabulous but there is no way anyone should stay here. There are much nicer hotels in Chicago!
Excellent hotel because of the prompt service and location! We found deals on Travelzoo and were so happy with the location. Less than a mile away from all of the shopping, restaurants, the beach, and clubs/bars. My only complaint is that the walls were paper thin and we all got pretty loud and some point but no one ever came to complain. I would definitely stay here again!!
Yay! Typical Westin good service is an absolutely perfect location. My only complaints: expensive parking and gym not the best. I'll stay here again if in Chicago.
If you can afford it, have your wedding here.
Plates are very expensive upwards of over $120-160 per plate. The minimums are also quite high. If you can't afford the ballroom, they also have another venue space that can house up to about 120 guests, but it is in their restaurant space on the 2nd(?) floor.
Didn't end up having my wedding here because I didn't want the reception in a dingy looking restaurant. Also no where to have the ceremony except for the ballroom.
If you can afford the $15,000 - $20,000 minimum and want an AWESOME location, this might be a good bet for you.
I'm here right now, and it's totally awful. I kind of can't believe it bills itself as a luxury hotel. It's an outdated holiday inn for $450 a night. Dirty, ugly, tiny, depressing. The only thing "luxurious" about it is that they have bottled water and wine with stupid sayings on it like 'revitalize' and 'renewal' (for $5 for the water and 22 for the tiny wine). There was no room service menu in the room, and when it came it was a photocopied and stapled packet. The bathtub is miniscule and wasn't updated with the rest of the room, so the white porcelain looks ridiculous with the black marble counters. I spent 30 MINUTES trying to call the front desk to ask to be moved, and no one ever answered. Unfortunately there are no rooms available in any nearby hotels (thanks to lollapalooza), or I'd move.
Don't bother- might as well stay at an actual holiday inn.
Solid location. Clean, stale rooms. Not very memorable in either a good or bad way.
This place is rude and has the most horrible service I have ever seen. At several hundred dollars a night, I shouldn't be accosted by their impressively trained 'security' staff. This very unpleasant fat woman that was working there yelled at me and followed me around for a good 20 minutes. Even though I was all 'you know, i'm like paying to stay here and just trying to get to my room" she was all "oh what room are you staying in what room are you in who you be who you be blah blah blah" It wasn't even late, it was like 9:00. Management is not helpful and unresponsive. This place SUCKS. Stay at the Drake....
P.S. The bar is fantastic... everyone's nice in there!
People thought this was:
Probably the best hotel stay so far. I'm generally unimpressed with the price to service ratio at these fancy-ish hotels, but I think this is my new favorite.
Location: AWESOME. Right across the street from the Hancock Observatory and the Water Tower Place. There's no lack of food in the area, from cheap (mostly in the mall), to the more expensive, to the moderate (cheesecake factory). There's "The Grill" downstairs but it's pretty expensive. I took a cab to all the major landmarks for around 10-$15 (cabs seem to be rather expensive in this city, the places weren't very far away).
Rooms: My room was great, I couldn't hear any neighbors and the bed was super comfortable.
Room Service: Food was awesome, and I was surprised that when I got hot chocolate with my breakfast that it wasn't a couple packets and some hot water. It was served in a caraffe that stayed hot all morning. They also have EVERY necessity that you may have forgotten that you can have delivered to your room.
Price: My room was discounted at $195 for an event, definitely worth it if you ask me.
I was very pleased with my stay. The hotel was on a scent theme of "White Tea" so the corridors and everything smelled marvelous, and all of the in-room soaps and shampoos smelled like White Tea also (my favorite scent, btw).
If I had to complain about anything it would be that during the day, the paid wifi internet is VERY slow, but I was able to hook into the wall for no extra charge so no big deal.
I always like the customer service here plus the atmosphere and the girls are so hot and hip
Note: This is more a review for the hosting an event aspect of this hotel, not the staying here on vacation aspect.
When I got engaged, I traversed the whole city in search of a reception venue that screamed "Chicago." Originally, I was determined to have a non-traditional venue, but I begrudgingly checked out some downtown hotels-- and was really surprised at how much I liked the Westin. The ballroom looked out onto Michigan Ave, everything was inclusive of sales tax/service charge so the prices you saw were what you were charged (the 30% was not tacked on afterward like comparable downtown hotels), the decor was clean & contemporary without being too trendy, and best of all, it was nice but without the snootiness. (Seriously, I cannot stand pretentiousness!)
The biggest gamble was the food as you sign the contract before the tasting, but it all turned out splendidly in the end. The food was awesome at the tasting and I was just praying it would be the same at the event-- and it was. People are still raving to us & our families about how great it all was, especially the steak. I can attest to its quality myself, as you bet your ass I made sure that I would be eating the meal I was paying for. :-)
And while I didn't stay in a typical room, I did get a kickass suite to get ready in, and I took advantage of getting it at the discounted room block rate for the night before as well. Check-in wasn't until 3, but the room was ready for me at noon. It had an awesome view looking out onto Michigan Ave & the bed was plush & comfy-- super important for a stressed out insomniac bride-to-be!
This is not your cheapest option for a Chicago wedding, but it truly is a good value for a downtown hotel right on Michigan Avenue, and less expensive than the nearby comparable hotels.
P.S. If you do host an event here, and have the money upfront & can make the payments in full, get a Starwood Amex credit card. You'll thank me later. :-)
The main reason to stay here is the location. It's right on Michigan Avenue, next to Hancock and Water Tower. Ultimate location to start any Chicago adventure. The hotel is newly remodeled, quite nicely I must add as I remember the old version (Hellloooo, pastels!) Hotel lobby is uber modern and clean, but unfortunately the meeting rooms don't necessarily match that feel. Rooms have also been updated, and I'm sure there is a premium for a lake or Michigan Avenue view. Probably not for the wall view I got! Beds super cushy comfy with tons of pillows, key.
Reception was more than cool with my request to extend checkout until 2:00 p.m. and no housekeeping knocking on my door (a pet peeve). Went to a large event here and the catering and event department did a great job. As far as I could tell, quite smooth considering they were serving 75 sloshed Irish firefighters and their rambunctious dates.
If you are visiting Chicago and planning to do some damage on the credit card, this is the place to stay. Located at the northern end of Magnificent Mile, this is a great place to start off your day of shopping (I even went back to drop off purchases because I only got about a block away). Plus any touristy location you'll want to visit is within walking distance from here (Navy Pier, Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, etc).
The hotel itself looks newly remodeled and clean. The staff was friendly for the most part but didn't care that we were Starwood Preferred and told us to go to the back of the line when we were checking in. Other than that person, everyone else was courteous and helpful.
The rooms were on the small side but that's to be expected due to its location. I didn't have time to enjoy the amenities or try the restaurant, which looked like a popular choice for tourists.
People thought this was:
My girlfriend got married here over the weekend. It was absolutely beautiful.
Apparently, this Westin is one of the few places in the city that can accommodate a wedding of 350 guests. Every detail was well executed and the ballroom was exquisite. I spent the morning of the wedding day in the bridal suite. It is an older hotel and you can tell, but it still has fantastic views and luxurious amenities. They also have the very comfortable Westin beds! The stair way was beautifully decorated for photographs. Everyone at the hotel was awesome.
As for the food, the salmon was dry, but my date's filet was very good.
I'd definitely recommend the Westin for a large wedding!
People thought this was:
I haven't stayed at this property in a while so it was time for a checkup.
Located at the north end of Michigan Avenue this property is all about location, location, location. In the shadow of the Hancock center, a stones throw from Watertower Place and abundant, restaurants, nightlife and shopping.
The last time I stayed here the management was totally inept and I ripped off a seething letter. I was happy to be informed that the individual, who made my previous stay hell, has been relieved of his duties.
Other than a long line at check in this property this property has improved by leaps and bounds.
Long line at check in as staff was changing shifts. There is a dedicated Starwood Gold/Platinum line. The G/P line was unoccupied as I waited in line and opened, alone with another check in, when I was second in line.
The lobby and common areas are very clean, bright, well lit and maintained. In the lobby they have a refreshment center right next to check in line.
The room I was assigned comprised of a nice sized bedroom and corner parlor to make up a pretty large suite. The suite was large enough to accommodate several people.
Overall First Impression, renovated and on par with the DC and Philly Westin's I've recently visited. This Westin's Heavenly bed wasn't as firm as I like, but all the accoutrements of the Heavenly Bed was there. The room is decorated in a casual modern decor and in good condition. Décor is appropriate for Downtown urban hotel. The closet was a bit on the tiny side, for a room it's size the closet seemed out of proportion. The 27" TV is a disappoint, but I understand that they will be upgraded to 40" sets soon. There is ample lighting in the room and the room has large windows so there is a ton of natural light. The workspace desk shares the ice chest and other items and could be a problem for some. There were extra electric outlets in the room for those with lots of devices. The room has a nice view since it is a corner room. You can see up and down Michigan Avenue. No iPod docking station and a dated radio. Starwood has to up it's game in this area.
Very long narrow bathroom, but no separate shower. I found that odd for a bathroom of this size. While in the bathroom I could vaguely hear people in the hallway. The bathroom has dual sinks with lots of counter space and great lighting.
A heavenly bath but no separate shower.
The parlor connected from the bedroom. Walking out of the bedroom into the parlor there was a nice sized bathroom. With amenities that matched the bedroom bathroom.
There was a large desk with lots of outlets and a great view looking south on Michigan Avenue. The room is a nice size and has a sofa, two club chairs and few ottomans. The is a Murphy bed and a huge closet. In addition, the parlor has a Bose radio.
The housekeeping staff was adequate. I had the DND sign on the door and was never interrupted. They replaced all items and toiletries on each night of my stay. Received turndown service every evening.
This Westin features a nice sized Fitness Center with up to date cardio machines & ellipticals, a smaller room with free weights off to the side.
There is no pool or club lounge at this property.
Free Internet in the lobby, $13 a night in rooms. Signal was strong throughout the suite and suffered no interruptions.
Did not use valet, as there is no car for a car in Chicago. The hotel is convenient to public transportation, cabs are plenty and always ready right out the front door.
FINAL IMPRESSION
Overall hotel cleanliness:
On par with other Westin properties and cleaner than the W's
Staff attitude, conduct & support:
Staff has greatly improved, over my last stay. The staff has had a complete overhaul for the better. Everyone was prompt and attentive.
Location:
Great location. Can walk to your office (if on business), restaurants, attractions, parks, and shopping.
Would I return? Yes.
Would I recommend this as family friendly? No.
Good for business travelers? Yes.
Good for a romantic get away? Yes, nice rooms and spa services.
Would I recommend for someone looking for Dining/Nightlife? Yes
Would I recommend restaurant? NA
Value for price paid? Good
Overall property rating on a scale from 1 to 5 = 4.5 since there is no pool or lounge.
People thought this was:
I was in a wedding at the 4 seasons last weekend. We stayed here because even at $200-$300 a night its cheaper than the 4 seasons!
This hotel is very convenient, very clean, very serviceable and very forgettable. The hotel bar is average, and the room decorations were so dull. I mean, white linens and 2 black and white photos? And no flat screen? Strange.
I also found the lines at check in to be long and annoying each time i needed something.
That being said, there are beautiful flower arrangements and the seating in the lobby is generous and well appointed. They should have hired the lobby decorator to do the rooms as well!
People thought this was:
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. I think in general Westins are the best value for your dollar. The Westin Michigan Ave is no different. Its a solid hotel. If you enjoy your heavanly beds and showers, this is a good hotel for you.
Be advised though, this hotel has some of the same problems many older hotels have in Chicago. While this property has definately gone through a facelift to renovate both the public spaces and the rooms, you still have some rooms that are very oversized and not furnished with enough furniture. Our room was no exception. However, they attempted to fill the space by marketing it as a Westin Workout room with a stationary bike and some workout equipment in the room. Overall, this hotel is pretty good. Its not as nice as a the four seasons but not as bad as the Palmer House Hilton.
People thought this was:
This place was awful and I do not intend to go back even if the company is paying for it.
If you sign up for a package and misread the fine print and don't ask a question and they stick you with a charge, that's your fault. However I called down to the front desk and asked them specifically if my room (rate schedule in hotel speak) covered Internet charges. They said yes on Friday, but when I checked out on Monday I was pleasantly surprised with several internet charges that they're not taking off.
Also - if you're expecting to sleep soundly til say 9, you'll be awakened by the sounds of their maintenance and renovation crews drilling things into the wall or dropping things on the ground. Which is something they don't tell you about when you check in.
Yes the beds are comfortable but there's another Westin on River North that's really easily accessible. Or there's about a dozen other hotels that you can pick from along the Magnificent Mile.
Don't stay here. If you have a reservation, cancel it. Tell them I told you to. You'll end up paying way too much to be disappointed.
People thought this was:
Biggest plus here to me was location. It's right across the street from the Hancock building. You're right Millenium Mile so there is A LOT of shopping to be done. You're also right by one of the hop on hop off tour buses so how's that for convenience?
The Lobby has been recently updated with nice seating areas and decorated with fresh orchids and other flowers. Wish the lobby was "grander" though - for a Westin, it's not a flashy or impressive first impression. Front desk staff was very friendly and efficient, as was the Belldesk.
The rooms were clean and updated - granite countertops, curved curtainrods, comfy bedding. We had some issues with the wireless internet; 40% connectivity is pretty low when you're paying 12 dollars a day for internet! We had to call our own company IT as well as the Westin engineer to get up and running.
Conference rooms were nice enough, no AV problems. Continental breakfast was so-so. They also did a boxed lunch which was OK. We had them cater a social event too but the food wasn't anything spectacular.
Would stay here again.
The lobby here gives you the impression that this is a fantastic hotel (although a bit cramped). The floor I was on, not so much. The halls looked like they hadn't been renovated in the past 20 years and the room was updated, but not very well-laid out. The bathroom was tiny and the hallway (in the room) was huge, but useless. The tub shower didn't work properly, nor did the ventilation (didn't have any). Now THAT works out nicely if you had a bad meal of spicy Indian food the night before. I also didn't like that they didn't bother to replace the soaps with new ones when they cleaned the room.
The bed was very comfortable with down pillows and duvet. It was pretty quiet for a downtown hotel too. Staff was very friendly and had me checked in quickly. The workout room here is fantastic. And the hallways on that floor looked so much better than the floor I was on (9th).
So I am wondering if the fact I bought the room through Priceline had anything to do with the room I was put in? Probably.
So I am here right now. I had a layover in O'Hare and my flight was cancelled. So i'm staying in Chicago for a night. The hotel is nice.
Service: Well, the only thing that kinda bugged is the fact that the girl who checked me in, gave me a room that someone else had. How ackward. So I had to go downstairs and get a new room.
Rooms: The room gave me a funky vibe at first. I went in and turned on all of the lights and the television. But i'm in here now and I'm okay.
Amenities: One main reason why i stay at Westin hotels is for the heavenly bed and the heavenly shower. I've always been a big fan and I can't wait to go to sleep.
I didn't stay in a room so sadly I can't talk about these so-called Heavenly beds everyone is raving about. However, I did hang out in their lobby and their bar/restaurant The Grille.
Our bartendar, Alex (?) was very cute and poured STIFF drinks. What more could a girl ask for? The clientele inside was heavily dominated by older men in business suits. And apparently older men in business suits like young(ish) girls from Cali!! *shudders*
Inside we met coaches and players from our favorite team. The doormen were especially nice. Fun times!
Perfect location if you're gonna stay in Chicago - you've got views of everything important.
Oh, and ... MOST COMFORTABLE HOTEL BEDS EVER. Perfect for that... anniversary ;)
People thought this was:
This Westin is great! We went during Taste of Chicago and it was the most inexpensive hotel I could find on/near the Magnificent Mile ... considering the location and amenities offered I think it's an excellent value.
Yes, it's somewhat sterile in terms of decor because there's nothing trendy or flashy about it... they focus more on form than function with their comfy beds, dual shower head, etc.
Service was very friendly (friendly than the Hard Rock!) and I highly recommend it.
People thought this was:
Two stars may be a stretch. I live down the street, but my company was having a sales contest where you could stay at the hotel for two nights if you won.
So, the room was a sauna and we had to sleep with the window open each night. It gets two starts b/c the front desk was nice enough to give me an upgrade with a killer view of the lake. I was excited to use the Reebok Gym. For those who are not gym rats, these are great gym with TVs built into bikes, treadmills, etc. they have it all. I went down around 6:30 and there was no water! I called and they said they would send it up. No biggie. I get on the exercise bike and there is only one that has straps.
For those who bike, you know you need the straps, so I use the one with the straps and the TV does not work. I check the one next to it and the TV does work. I swap the straps. Start riding and there are only two channels. An hour into my work out and still no water. I called again and they said it would be right up. After 1.5 hours and no water I called it a day.
That night, I called the front desk to get a mini-bar key and they were so RUDE! I cannot believe how rude they were. I will not recommend this hotel to anyone until they get their act together!
People thought this was:
I love you priceline! I was a little disappointed as I booked my flight to Chicago to spend a weekend away with my boyfriend as he had to go for a few days for work- there was a gigantic city-wide convention in town and all the hotels were booked or $300+ to stay anywhere decent.
I have been lucky with priceline before- and since I could cancel my Best Western reservation up until 6pm the night of arrival I thought that I would gamble and see what I could get. Luckily we got this place for $100 a night instead of its $369 rack rate. Wooohooo!
We were happy with the location as it was right on Michigan Avenue in the thick of things. The room was spacious and clean, but since we got in so late because of our American Airlines flight (we flew them in the middle of all the drama of canceled flights) we could only get a room with two beds that seemed like they were full size.
We picked possibly the worst weekend to go as it was pouring rain, windy and freezing the whole time, but we were happy to be able to come back to nap and stay warm in a really nice hotel,
I really do like the Westin more than other business class hotels. The heavenly beds are fantastic, but they really need to figure out the heavenly shower thing. It's not that heavenly or different from other hotels.
This hotel in particular was great! It has a prime location on Michegan Avenue, next to the John Hancock building. The only thing that I might complain about was the noise from the elevators (try to get a room away from them), but I won't dwell on that, because the staff was fantastic.
They were very helpful and supportive during a very bizarre incident that involved my husband losing his mobile phone on the street and the attempted extortion from the crackheads that found it. The staff performed outstandingly, and, for that reason, I would stay here again.
People thought this was:
I had been here before years ago and was only here for one night this trip. Back to my usual how can you screw up one night.
The hotel and location are great. Of course love the heavenly beds. I had a very nice room on the Starwood Preferred Guest Floor. They had coffee on the floor in the lobby area in the AM, would be nice if they threw in some snacks too.
My view was of the building next door so that was less than to be desired, but my room was spacious and recently renovated.
The dual shower head was nice as well as the toiletries.
The place was pretty crowded since there was a convention of sorts in town, I didn't get a chance to check out the facilities because my trip was packed and very short.
My only question is why do the stores in the Bloomingdale's' shopping center close soooooo early. I went over there a little after 7pm and it was a ghost town (nothing against the hotel) - just a note for people visiting expecting to get a good shopping experience in. In fact most of the stores nearby looked closed. A bummer because sometimes after a long day of meetings you need some retail therapy.
People thought this was:
I arrived 10:30pm last night to the Westin. The beds were super comfortable and indeed heavenly.
The restaurant downstairs (aka "The Grill") is a bit generic as you would expect from a hotel restaurant. I ordered the 18oz new york strip and it was tough! For $80 (1 steak + drinks) I expected a much better experience.
People thought this was:
DO NOT have your wedding room block here!!!!!
We had our wedding room block here in August for our wedding (our wedding was not at the hotel though). We had nothing but issues, issues, and more issues. It was the biggest problem that we had in all of our wedding plans.
The hotel itself is nice, clean, and the beds are very comfortable. I have no complaints about the quality of the hotel and furnishings.
Our first issue was that we were misled about the nature of the room block. We were reassured that when the initial block was filled, we would be able to add 5 more rooms at a time, no problem whatsoever. What they failed to mention was that they would hassle with us about the room rate.
Next issue, my grandfather needed a handicapped room. The reservation was made 8 months in advance, and when he checked in....no handicapped room for him. Had to wait 24 hrs. for a handicapped room. Unexcusable.
Next issue, multiple guests were not able to check in by 3 pm. One guest had driven from Canada and was not able to check into her room until 7 pm. This was because someone was still occupying the room. They reassured her this person would be charged. They did not however offer her another room, or offer anything to her at all! Again, unexcusable.
Next issue, the gift bags I provided for the guests were not properly delivered to the right guests. I had provided a typed, very clear list of which guests were to receive bags to the bellman (this is the Westin's policy). I had to speak with the bellman multiple times about gift bags not being delivered. I should not have to do this the weekend I am getting married!! The biggest issue...they charge $2.50 per gift bag. When I'm paying for this service, it should be done correctly.
The service at this hotel is ridiculously unexcusable!!!
People thought this was:
Dated exterior but conveniently close to the Mag mile and the Hancock, this was the hotel I stayed at in July 2006 for the Gay Games.
Inside was OK. Probably your usual Westin decor. Loud busy bar that I did not have a chance to try.
Beds were very nice and plush. Room was poorly insulated from noise and I could hear some family yammering in Spanish either below or next to us. I expected better for a Westin.
They also lied and said they would credit my Starwood account with points they missed but the credit never showed.
I always wanted to stay here and am glad that's now done and over with.
People thought this was:
MAN do I hate this hotel. This place told my friend that he didn't have a reservation even though he was HOLDING THE CONFIRMATION. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Don't stay here. They can't tell their @$$ from their elbows.
People thought this was:
I wasn't really impressed by this Westin that much. I didn't have much time to hang out in the hotel because I got in at midnight the one night I stayed there, but my room was underwhelming.
The amenities were all good as you'd expect, but there just wasn't the flair of other Westins. My bathroom was kind of small, the room had an odd configuration and it gave off the 70's modern vibe.
it's just that it's crowded. i think that's really it
the rooms aren't bad, though a little smaller. but it's a downtown hotel, at maximum capacity, all the time.
as long as you don't need any servicing for anything, it's fine. but if you want anything (fix the shower), be prepared to wait an hour, or (i need deoderant) it may not come at all
People thought this was:
Location, location, location. These are the three words where a biz can thrive. In this case, it is also key for things to see and do.
Westin's, well a good one, are known for the heavenly bed. I remember when they switched to them and how comfy they were. People I worked with eventual bought one of these beds and know you can get the whole bed set.
The inside stuff. They Grill downstairs is nice place to meet friends or start off. Prices are pretty reasonable for a hotel place. There is a small Starbucks on the nice but not overly large lobby. The weightroom could use some improvements. It is about the same you'd find at a condo/apt comlex with some dumbell weights. Good enough for a sweat especially on a winter visit. But, well more in a sec. I didn't see a pool or hot tub but... They do offer an in-room massage. They also have running maps from Runners world. They also have large rooms for meeting, parties and weddings. The staff is very good. I didn't get that early morning knock on the door. Still want to play a joke on an unsuspecting cleaning person. Naw.
The outside stuff. You will first notice the John Hancock building across the street. So it gives you a good landmark when about town. Two blocks away is Lakshore drive and also good area for just being waterside. The Westin is on the Magnificant Mile. This is shopping on par with Madison Ave and maybe a little higher Union Sq. Bloomingdales sits right across on Michigan Ave and North Face is in the JH building. Eating well pizza and dogs are what most seek. There is a Cheesecake Factory in the lower level of JH. Gino's pizza is close. For best local pizza, Pizzano's is what you need. Many historcial sites are close and you'll see the tour busses go by. Short and under $10 cab ride to House of Blues with 10 Pin, Bin 36 and Smith & Wollensky's on the same block. Also those somewhat famous condo/apt that look like something out of the Jetson's. The nightlife is real close. Each city has at least one signature street. Rush St is one in Chicago and only about 5 blocks away. You'll have fun "crawling" to this place with many other places to stop on the route.
People thought this was:
I walked in to the Westin expecting the Westins I saw as a kid that were not hip one iota. Starwood moved some of the W style over this a way. Slick lobby with a nice straight modern Eames-esque woodgrain look. The beds are clearly a big draw as well as a double showerhead that has so much pressure your body may well have some red spots for a few hours if you stay in one place for a minute. Of course, the location is great for a visitor with all the Mich Ave stuff. Let's just say H&M saved my ass when I forgot my tie for a job interview.
People thought this was:
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Hotels
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
Category: Hotels
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Hotels
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Hotels
Neighborhood: Streeterville
Category: Hotels
Here's how I gained 10 pounds during my weekend in…
Visiting Chicago? Or maybe just a local getaway?…
I have either traveled to these places or lived…
The good and the bad, but mostly good, from my…
