Located at the end of the Magnificent Mile, the location for this historic hotel couldn't be any better. Every shopping, dining experience, or tourist attraction was all within walking distance (and a pleasant walk it was!). The rooms are furnished with elegant furniture and feature lots of original (or close replicas) hardware on the doors, toilet, lights, etc. This, however, is what made part of this experience quite unejoyable...
The walls and doors are paper thin because they're (as far as I could tell) quite orginal. I could hear every conversation in the hall from my bed, got to know personal (ahem)business my neighbors were involved in, and couldn't talk above a low murmur without worry everyone else in the hotel could hear me as well. This made sleep uncomfortable and caused me to be awake as much as I was asleep on one night in particular.
Additionally, while every member of the hotel staff greeted you and made contact as you passed, they were very uninviting. This isn't reserved to the custodial staff that you'd normall expect to be quiet, but every other group in the hotel you'd expect to be more hospitable. Don't mistake what I'm saying... VERY service minded, but VERY unfriendly. If you're not looking to make nice or expect others to at least pretend to be nice back, this won't bother you. However, as a southerner, this is completely opposite to what I'm used to.
Finally, my opening comment was regarding the perfect location... this is ONLY true if using public transportation or walking. If you have to leave the downtown area, GOOD LUCK. This city system is so screwed up, there's bumper to bumper traffic across all 5+ lanes going each direction around the downtown area from about 14:00-18:00. This makes getting back to downtown from any of the surrounding burbs a miserable (and very slow) experience.
Chicago was a nice city, but I'm in no hurry to go back. If I do head back that way, I'll find another hotel in the relative location that hasn't forgotten that (in my opinion) hospitality goes SO much further than just being subserviant.
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