Chicagos Essex Inn

Stayed here for a couple of Football packages. I would rather have payed the ticket scalpers and stayed in a different hotel than go through this experience again! Getting the bellman to help move luggage was like asking a blind man to drive you to the game. After wainting 50 minutes for the bellman, we carriead 3 rooms of luggage down 12 flights of stairs (the elevator was just as slow as the bellman). I would rather join the homeless people sleeping outside than waste my money on a rude hotel that is not accomadating to their guests at all.

We paid $99 for the Essex Inn for two adults and two children on Travelocity at the end of October, 2003. Pleasantly surprised. Room with two double beds was comfortable, faced a concrete wall but if you leaned you could get a view of the lake and museums. Great great new swimming pool: airy, bright, clean. and warm. Good selection of exercise machines next door individually equipped with overhead TV. Although the view of my husband and children playing in the pool beat any cable TV. Walking distance to the museum campus. Hotel shuttle leaving hourly for the Art Institute and the Magnificent Mile some part of the day. Service prompt. Hotel restaurent you can skip. Only mistake: charged me $2 for one day of local calls we did not make. Husband said: don't fuss.

The hotel is a real bargain. We got a rate of 143.00 per night. The rooms were very nice and quite large for Chicago hotels. We had no problems from the staff, but we never really made any requests. We didn't eat at the restaurant, so I can't comment on the food. However, the location couldn't have been better. Also, we really enjoyed the indoor pool--it's a great pool for kids. Also, the work-out facilities were impressive.

Stayed at the Essex for two nights with the hotel football package. Our tickets were not with our friends as promised at the time of booking.

The room we had was not real clean and the staff seemed not to care as they had our money in advance for months.

We stayed in this hotel mid Sept 03. We found the staff really unfriendly - the people on reception were miserable and when we asked for recommendations for bars and restaurants it was if we had asked them to move the earth. Our room (we were on the 15th floor) looked really grubby and dated - there were stains on the chair covers and on the bed covers and the room quite frankly smelt of urine...GROSS. The rooms and their tiny bathrooms are in desperate need of an update.

Unfortunatly we were unable to change hotels due to several big conferences going on so we bought a scented candle, threw of the bed covers and eagerly awaited the end of our stay.

The only good thing about the hotel is the friendly and helpful staff.

The hotel offers none of the usual amenities. For example, no coffeemaker, no place for anything in the washroom (e.g., makeup), not even a hook on the bathroom door. The room was too small for a rollaway; and the rollaway was a soft "u" shape that no on could sleep on. They provide throwaway plastic glasses (rather than glass). There are no plastic shower caps. The ice machines only work on two floors (and that changes daily). Checkout is 11 a.m. with no allowance for late checkout.

At $139/night, I expected much better; and I am easy to please. I would far prefer a Motel 6 to the Essex Inn.

We stayed at the essex because of the Lion King Play. The Staff was very good. The room we had was excelent. The Savoy Restraunt was very good also. I would reccomend this hotel to anyone staying down town.

We were pleasantly surprised by our stay at the Essex Inn. We found it to be a clean modest hotel, located conveniently to Chicago's atttactions and transportation system. The staff was courteous and helpful. We have never stayed at a hotel with such a large pool and an exercise room equiped so well with machines and free weights. Within a block is located a great Blues Bar. We plan to make the Essex our place to stay when visiting Chicago.

A group of us travel to Chicago at least once a year and always stay at the Essex. It's convieant location to Grant Park and it's neverending festivals makes it a superb location. We can walk to the festivals and Buddy Guy's Legends and easily and affordably take a cab to all that Chicago has to offer.

My first time in Chicago and I stayed at the Essex Inn over the Labor Day weekend, Aug 30 thru Sep 2, 2002. This hotel is your typical 3-star, 15-story mediocre hotel with a very small unimpressive lobby and an even smaller front desk area for checkin. The rooms were of adequate size, with dressers, a small round table with 2 chairs and 2 full size beds, at least the one I got. The bathroom had a bathtub but the tiles had grime on them which was somewhat of a turnoff. Needless to say I didn't take a bath but rather just showered. The hotel also had a gread indoor pool and workout room on the 4th floor. That was one of the best things about the hotel. There was also a restaurant on the first floor though I never really tried it because it didn't look so appealing and there are so many good restaurants nearby.

The hotel is really in a prime location in the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Ave. It is only 2 blocks from Lake Shore Drive and there is a park right across the street. Other things like shops and restaurants are no more thatn 10 to 15 minutes walk. I got the room for $79 for 2 nights and $99 for one night. Great price for a hotel in that location. The Hilton right beside it is probably twice a much, at least.

Would I stay in this hotel again? Yes, if only because it is such a great deal. By the way, my room was facing south but it had somewhat of a view of Lake Michigan, though none of the rooms have balconies. As long as you set your expectations properly, this hotel will not disappoint.