Congress Plaza Hotel

Grand Old Dame

The Congress Plaza has a wonderful history and character. I love the large windows in the room and the fact that the windows open. The high ceilings give even the standard rooms - which face the other tower of the hotel - a really light and comfortable feeling. Next time I want a room that faces the lake. What a view! Note - the last time I stayed here I was in the back corner. You do not want to be in the back, unless you like the sound of the "El". The hotel is really close to the tracks and although the windows are new, nothing is going to block that noise. Okay, the in-room wallpaper with the seal of the hotel repeated ad nauseum is over the top cheese-tastic, but other than a questionable hair dryer, everything else in the room was in working order, and up to date. The bed was super comfortable. The hallways are clean and done in a traditional style. The lobby is worth a walk through even if you aren't staying there. Look up and down - amazing! The staff was friendly and they printed off my boarding pass at the desk. I also was able to check-in early, which made my schedule work so much better. You can't beat the location. If I'm just in town for a quick stay, it's convienent, less expensive than many other nearby options, and I love being able to tell where I am just by looking around. Not a cookie-cutter hotel.

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awful, old building, do not stay

took 20 minutes to get hot water running. when called front desk, they sent an engineer who said that was normal since it was a very old building and the water had to get up from the basement. the building was at least 12 stories I think. We were on the 4th flr. What about people on the top floor? did they have to wait 1 hr? and when the water did finally get hot, the water pressure was laughable. even their own engineer admitted that there was not much water and it wasn't that hot. and when switch to shower head, made this awful screeching noise. the room was dry as anything, and the view from our window was this nasty cement thing littered with trash. Don't even know how to describe it, other than that it made us feel like we were sleeping in a very dry sewer. there was no ac/heat in room. no thermostat. just a fan with basically on/off capabilities. it did have low/med/hi but changing between low to high made no difference whatsoever. only pro about hotel was location. a few fast food places within walking distance and drug store nearby. other than that, awful awful awful. would never stay again. would never recommend to anyone.

Management Issues

Pros: Great big rooms, monogrammed everything from walls to pillows Cons: Striking union workers picketing outside for ~5 years (which management should have resolved longtime ago), poor service inside (probably from scab workers), no wireless internet only cable connection, old plumbing with long delay in getting hot water and pooling of water in tub, towels smaller, no newspaper service.

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congress plaza hotel

The hotel is not properly equiped for a business traveler..The rooms are moldy and very unsavory!...

one of the great hotels for a bargain rate

located two blocks from the Art Institute and near Millenium Park. Comfortable beds and clean rooms with high ceilings and lots of signs of the hotel's former glory as one of the elegant highlights of Chicago. Disappointed that there was no free internet, as hotels.com ad had indicated. No free internet in lobby, either, which was inconvenient. public transportation at your doorstep.

Good for the money

I was surprised that the hotel was so nice downstairs in the lobby and the surrounding areas. The rooms were a tad old looking, but were very clean. Beds a bit small, but it was overall ok. I really think that it was a good price for the hotel being so cheap. Also, I wasn't a fan at how far the hotel was from the Mag Mile because I've been so used to staying there, but it was nice being close to the parks. I may stay here again, but I'd prefer something closer up Michigan Ave., near the John Hancock building.

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Needs improvement

Lesson here is to believe the Hotels.com star rating '2*' ...not the gushing '5*' reviews entered by Joe Public, who probably doesn't get out much... Views of the park and lake are excellent.