The Good: The room was clean and spacious…read more The Very Bad: The elevator situation was completely unacceptable. Out of four elevators, only one--and possibly a second--was working. For a hotel with 455 rooms, this is inexcusable. The result was constant, extremely long lines just to get to your room or leave the building. Two elevators were completely out of service, making an already bad situation worse. If you're staying on the 9th floor, expect to watch elevator after elevator pass you by without stopping. Your only real chance of getting to the lobby is to squeeze onto one that's already going up--if you can even get on.

Out here for a conference. Really like the layout of the room, a suite with a living room, bathroom…read moreand bedroom. Very spacious. This place also offers complimentary breakfast during your stay. They also offer evening reception at the bar - one complimentary drink. The sound proof was not that good. When I was in the living room, I can hear the noise outside in the lobby. But there is a door for the bedroom. Closing the door may make the bedroom a bit quiet.

A NIGHT TO OURSELVES…read more An enjoyable stay at this Embassy Suites in downtown Chicago was nearly undone by elevator problems. This is a solid - although somewhat outdated - upscale hotel on State St, between Ohio & Ontario St.  It's located in the River North neighborhood and surrounded by bustling city life, not to mention being only a block away from Eataly.  The wifey and I stayed here for one night at the end of February. Bathrooms inside the rooms were gorgeous, I could tell they were recently remodeled.  The bed was comfy enough even though neither of us cared for the squishy pillows.  I loved the view looking east; seeing those massive skyscrapers served as a reminder that we actually left the suburbs for an evening. The complimentary breakfast is really nice and features a little bit of everything.  The highlight is a made-to-order omelet bar, the line for which can get quite long on weekends.  Apart from this, they also have hash browns, sausage patties, Eggo waffles, cereal, oatmeal, fresh fruit, yogurt, juices and coffee. Both TVs in our room had a Chicago slideshow with a custom greeting saying "welcome Eric!"  Little touches like this make all the difference ......and I also happen to like seeing my name on TV.  When we scoped out the pool (which is small to begin with), it was packed with youngins. Hard pass. The guys operating the valet were absolute pros.  Efficient and polite, they shuffled cars around with surgical precision and somehow managed to navigate gigantic vehicles in the comparatively miniscule underground parking lot.  It'll cost a pretty penny to park overnight, though, to the tune of $80. The elevator situation was downright goofy.  Out of the bank of 4 elevators, only 3 were working, and more often than not, they were already filled with guests from other floors.  People became so desperate at times, they'd head "down" in order to go "up" because the next available "up" would inevitably be full! This phenomenon peaked at checkout, when we waited 10+ minutes and STILL couldn't get an elevator ride.  I said "ahhh screw this", grabbed our sh*t and took the damn stairs down from the 7th floor.  The front desk had to open the outside rollup door (the one normally used for cars) just so we could get to the valet!  This was a big ol' logistical mess that added unnecessary stress on a chill Sunday morning.  People, can I get a harumph?  (HARUMPH!) * TL;DR * This Embassy Suites features solid breakfast, a beautiful atrium and tastefully remodeled bathrooms.  The elevators though?  Bogus as hell. Aside from the exorbitant overnight parking fee, the elevators were the only major issue we ran into during our stay, but we - along with everyone else - felt it big time.  Since we booked using Hotwire (and thus got this hotel randomly), it's unlikely we'd find ourselves here in the future. If they get the elevators fixed, I'd stay here again.

An overall lovely 3 night stay at the Embassy Suites. The place is affordable and you get many…read moreamenities including the pool, fitness center, complementary breakfast buffet, evening reception, etc. Love the proximity to Michigan Ave, a grocery store on the next block, etc. I stayed in a 2 room suite on the 6th floor. I loved the layout of a tv room with a sofa bed, desk, and little kitchenette, bathroom and a separate bedroom (king bed). Lots of space for me and my young son and I loved that when he went to bed I can close the door to my bedroom and watch tv while he sleeps. The rooms are pretty modern compared to other hotels I've recently stayed in. Huge kudos to John M and the entire crew that manage the breakfast. They are top notch. They were friendly and helpful. The Pool - the pool can get pretty busy and there are only 9 beds to chill on. Kids can get pretty rambunctious there as well, lots of jumping in the pool and splashing in case you are looking to chill and relax. Towels are available to use when you're there. It was perfect temp on our first day but then was super chilly the following 2 days. Cons - Some of the front desk staff weren't the friendliest. I was hoping to check in a little bit early but they have a strict 4pm or later check in unless you want to pay $40 to check in early. The team that helped store bags were awesome! Another time we wanted to buy something from their little snack area and I was told by one of the hotel front desk team to use the kiosk but it was next to this guy checking in and talking to the other front desk worker. I'm holding ice cream that is melting while trying to patiently wait to check out. All the while the kiosk didn't even work so they had to just manually add it to our hotel room. All that waiting for nothing when the original front desk reception member could've helped me all along. Also as a side note, I did like the fact that I did receive a text message checking in on my stay. That was a very nice additional service. The housekeeping staff were great too!

Embassy Suites is one of my favorite hotel brands. I get points because they are part of Hilton and…read morethey provide what I believe is the best value for comparable hotels. Mainly: 1) Always a suite with a living area, for more room 2) Happy hours in the evening with complimentary drinks and some snacks (chips, pretzels, etc.) 3) Breakfast is included, and it's not continental. They offer a hot food bar and an omelette station. 4) Checkout is usually noon rather than 11 am. At least at this location it is. This location also has a pool and a hot tub, which I love. Hubby and I stayed here last weekend for his birthday/Valentine's Day and we had a great time. Looking forward to another staycation as soon as possible!

I had a great experience at this Embassy Suites for one night. It was nicely situated in an area…read moreclose to where I needed to be and relatively not far from O'Hare. The hotel is large with ample and free parking. The staff who checked me in were very nice (including the trainee) who was very friendly and confident. The room itself, although not a boutique hotel, was updated and modern enough to not feel like a generic motel. It was clean and spacious (and 2 rooms as it's an all suite hotel so there was plenty of space.) I loved that the fitness room was open 24/7 so I could get my steps in even if I got back late. I had a little bit at the included breakfast buffet (which was popping at 8 in the morning on a Saturday.) There were plenty of basic options and the coffee was serviceable. I'd definitely stay here again if I was coming back to this part of the greater Chicago area.

Today I stopped the executive chef in line while waiting for breakfast to tell him what a good job…read moreis people had been doing for us for the week that we've been staying here. Jose S. and Luis are masters of their craft. My eggs were perfect ever time. I even mixed it up on days to get over easy, and they were not a second overcooked. Jose was bright and friendly every morning. I would highly recommend this breakfast. In the evening, we really enjoyed the happy hour drinks. The bartender, Eddie, is so good! He was making his own sour mix, and muddling things properly. One of the best old fashioned I've had at a hotel. Just be sure to ask him for cherries as it's a thing in this area to not add them. Again, so professional and kind. I am super impressed. If anyone from the hotel reads this feel free to reach out. Matt H. Room 531

Poor customer service. GM was rude and arrogant. Stayed at 100s of hiltons and this was by far…read morethe worst customer service experience I've encountered. Hilton Diamond Customer Service did nothing to address. Waited 25 min in guest reception line for beer served in a paper cup. Appetizer's were sparse and not replenished. Went to eat at restaurant where we paid $70 for 2 mediocre pizza. Definitely recommend ordering delivery pizza for a better option to experience Chicago pizza.

The front desk staff was very pleasant and before, my first night was completed I received a text…read morenotification asking how may stay was so far, which reflects good customer service. The overnight rooms are spacious and I loved being on the top floor with a view. Be aware, there is a daily parking charge which was surprising since there was not a parking garage. Both the breakfast and evening reception were good. The line at the omelette station could have used a second cook to shorten the wait time. However, my omelette was good. This location will definitely put on my return list

3.5 Pretty big hotel. Self-parking but hard to get a spot…read morewhen there was an event. First floor has a small seating area when you enter. Reception towards the left, and elevators nearby. Walk more inside and the breakfast area and pool are there (had no time to check out the pool though). Some steps but has a ramp for accessibility. Can see the atrium from walkways outside of rooms. Room has old furnishings, dark wood. Hotel itself mostly looks old. Bathroom had dirty caulking and cracks. Slow drain. 3 sinks total in the room, which was helpful. Quick response to requests from housekeeping. Evening welcome event included- nightly I believe but didn't get to attend. Hot breakfast too. A wristband (for each person) and a dining card have to be presented (these were given to us during check-in). Smooth on our first morning; questioned more about the card and bands our 2nd morning. Omelettes were made-to-order and cooked just right. Best part of breakfast for me. In another area, employees man the hot food. Other sections were self-serve.

This was a great central spot for our recent weekend stay in Chicago to celebrate my husband's 40th…read morebirthday. Lots of nearby garages for parking and it's right by Eataly! The hotel was clean and nice, but not the best place I've ever stayed - but to be expected for this hotel class. Rooms can be pricey but be sure to use the best price guarantee if you find your room and date cheaper elsewhere (I saved doing this!).

This place was decent and fair for the price! it was close to the areas we wanted to visit. You can…read moreeven walk to Starbucks Reserve! ain't that a amazing? During our stay here, the workers have been nice and respectful. Location was perfect because everything was walking distance and it was easy to get around. Would stay here again!

Very friendly filipino staff- they explained everything to be expected and are very kind and…read morepatient, making sure all answers asks answer--maraming salamat po Andre C

I was here recently to do my oath-taking for my dual citizenship. I wasn't sure what to expect with…read moreparking and it being downtown so I was able to get my brother to drive me and drop me off. It's nice to know that there's a jollibee next door to satisfy those Filipino food cravings in case you get a touch of nostalgia at the consulate. When I arrived on the floor, there's someone to check you in and explain where to go and the process. I sat down and was handed a form to complete for my voters registration. When I finished, I went up to one of the booths where they took my photo and my completed form. It was a little bit difficult to hear since they were behind the glass and the room was full of people. Once I got registered to vote, we waited to be called up to verify our documentation. I signed a few forms and got fingerprinted then we all recited our oath to make it official! Overall it was a smooth and easy process. Next time I'll be back to get my Philippine passport.

Solid choice for staying in the city. I had a Bonvoy FNA that was expiring so we decided to do a…read morestaycation at this property. The room was a bit dated but spacious and had a tiny kitchenette area which would be convenient for longer stays. The location is fabulous and walking distance from a ton of great restaurants. And the hotel is connected to a parking garage, and if you use spot hero you can get a pretty good deal (we paid $30).

I had a really great experience during my stay here. Everything was clean and well maintained,…read morewhich made it feel comfortable right away. The staff truly stood out they were super friendly, professional, and always willing to accommodate any requests, making the whole stay feel smooth and welcoming. The rooms were also a highlight, very nice and spacious. I also really like that there is hotel security on the bottom floor before entry to the hotel lobby. Overall I had a great time and would stay here again!

I had recently applied for a Tourism (L) Visa at the Chinese Consulate in Chicago (FYI- they do not…read moreaccept appointments for applying for a visa). I'm visiting from out of state so it did mean I was taking a mini vacation ...twice, unless I decided to stay for 5 weekdays as it takes 4 business days to process and then you can pick up on the 4th day. I applied on a Friday and it was ready by the following Wednesday according to the pickup receipt. The day of pickup, I got there by 9:05 and I was like 3rd in line to wait for the office to open but once it's almost 9:30 you won't see the line in the lobby because the people will be making their way upstairs to go through security. You stay in the same order as when you line up downstairs after you sign in with security. Once upstairs, the line splits off depending on what you are doing. There's a separate line for pickup and a separate line for applying for the visa- so just because you see 10 people ahead of you, maybe 3 of them is for pickup. So, before you go to the embassy, you need to apply via the online form and you need to include a headshot of yourself on a white background, not off-white because the application will not let you move forward. I typed just my personal info in CAPS but did everything else in normal writing with some capitalizations. Though it says that filling in your "position" at your job and "job duties" as optional--You actually need to fill it because they will make you fill it on the spot if you don't. The "where you stay form" is not optional, though it says that...I had to fill it at the embassy so just print and have it ready to give to the officer. I had all my photocopies in color but I'm not sure if that matters but to be safe, I wanted the copies to look exactly as they are. I put that I wanted multiple entries for 9 years and something, and I got multi for 10 years and I am a US citizen who had a 6 months Chinese visa 15 years ago when I was studying abroad in HK. If you have all your documents, it should be very fast at the window. The day I applied I got to the building around 10:30AM, silly me brought a coffee up thinking I can drink it while I wait inside...SIKE. You can't bring any drinks or food inside the office. So, I was outside chugging my coffee! This meant, like 7-8 people passed me while I was drinking my coffee in a span of like 7 mins and I finally went through security at around 10:35AM? I was #19 but they were on #5. I was called around 11:30AM and it took less than 10mins for the officer to review my docs and approve it. They give you a pink receipt to bring back to pickup your visa! You can pay with credit card on day of pickup and it's $140--NO CASH ACCEPTED Here's what I brought with me: - my actual valid passport with at least 6 months - printed copy of my passport -my actual copy of old passport (this is required because I had a visa before) -printed copy of my OLD passport (this is required because I had a visa before) -printed copy of OLD CHINESE VISA (this is required because I had a visa before) - copy of your state ID - printed copy of your completed Visa application with the QR Code -copy of marriage certificate (because of name change) -Where you Stay Form They had 2 officers that were just for the visa application line.

The address is 1 E. Erie. Everything was very fast and efficient. They no longer have computers…read moreto use and making copies is .25. It would have taken us a few minutes because they are so fast and efficient but we needed to take pictures which took longer that the actual processing our documents. It is a great deal for the pictures and they looked better than the ones at Walgreens.

Well, this is a very, very nice hotel. The staff is extremely helpful and I absolutely loved the…read moremorning breakfast choices, which was continental or a full breakfast. The prices are so reasonable. The only thing that this hotel really needs to do are some upgrades to the rooms there was peeling wallpaper on the wall and I do recommend this hotel.

If I could offer 0 stars I would. I called looking for a late/early checkin and the receptionist,…read moreNate, had a very nasty attitude. Almost as if I was bothering him by calling to inquire & verify availability. They were 1 of the very few hotels with availability & I bypassed them thanks to Mr. Nate. This was around 1a on 3/21.