I've long been a fan of the Embassy Suites chain. The hotels are usually new, clean, modern, comfortable, and you gotta love that free breakfast that's really a breakfast. I've been wanting to stay at this particular hotel for the last couple of years, as it is located near Navy Pier, but for whatever reason it never worked out - until last week.

I was in Chicago for a conference being held at Navy Pier, so the Embassy was the logical place to stay, especially since the company was paying the bill. This review will track my experience from arrival to departure, with my observations and (hopefully) helpful tips.

The Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown Lakefront is the cornerstone of a complex featuring: P.J. Clarke's Restaurant; Holmes Place River East Fitness Center;
Spa Mondial; AMC Theatres featuring 21 screens. The hotel is billed as the "official" hotel of Navy Pier, which is about four blocks east. It was cold during my stay, so I opted for a cab ride to Navy Pier, cost was $4.70. There is also a free trolley to Navy Pier that runs nearby, but the timing wasn't right for me to utilize it.

Arrival - (mid-evening): I found the hotel with no problem. The building is prominently marked with the big white "E" on green logo. Entrance to the drop-off / valet parking is on the South side of the building. Self-parking is $29/night, valet is $34. In Chicago I recommend using the valet, it's well worth the extra 17%. Given the time of my arrival, there was no line at the valet stand. The bell captain was courteous and professional.

Check-In - there was no line at the counter. I was checked in within 60 seconds. Again the staff was courteous and professional. They asked if I was in town for a conference, and if I would like to reserve a cab for the next morning.

The Facility - the hotel follows the standard Embassy Suite "rectangular atrium" motif, with an urban twist. Instead of the familiar goldfish ponds, brick walkways, and towering trees, this atrium was sleek and modern. A large, long, monolithic black wall was covered by waterfalls on both sides and fountains. There was a small bar, with seating for about 20 at the bar, and several comfy coffee tables and chairs nearby. Unfortunately, I missed the manager's reception held on weeknights in the early evening. There are two banks of three high-speed elevators. The ride up to my 12th floor room took just a few seconds. The elevators are arranged so that each offers a view of the skyline as you ride.

The fitness center is on the main sky-lobby level. It had about 5 treadmills, a few stationary bikes and a few weight machines. There was more than one tv, but only one was on.
The pool and spa were closed. This is my only complaint about my stay. I always look forward to an evening swim and some relaxing hot tub time. There was paper taped over the door so I cannot report on the size of the pool, nor on what they're doing to work on the pool area. If a pool / hot tub experience is high on your priority list, I strongly urge you to call the hotel before booking to determine if they will actually be available.

The Room - unlike many of the so-called suites now on the market, the "living room" and "bedroom" are two distinct rooms, with a door in between. The bathroom is accessible from the living room. Between the rooms is a wet bar, dorm fridge, microwave, and coffee-maker. Opposite the kitchenette area, is a closet with a full size ironing board, iron, drying rack, and several extra pillows and blankets.

My non-smoking room was clean, and followed the standard Embassy Suites format. The door opens into a room with TV on a chest of drawers, sitting table, and sleeper sofa, coffee table and chair. On the table was an insulated ice bucket, four old-fashioned glasses (real glass, not plastic) and a corkscrew. Also on the table was a large leather binder with a rundown of hotel services and a personalized letter to me welcoming me to the hotel and offering the concierge team. This is a nice touch, and while it didn't really give me anything extra, it did make feel that they cared that I was there. I hate it when hotel staff act like they couldn't care less if you were there or not.

The Bathroom - had all the standard equipment, except for a fan. It was very clean and had an generous number of towels. Water pressure was good and there was plenty of hot water.

The Bedroom - I had a king bed. It was comfortable with plenty of blankets. The bedroom also had a sink and mirror, so a couple can both be getting ready at the same time. The TV is in an armoire with ample storage space in drawers, and a hanging rack.

In-room services - Room service for food is available, but at the usual outlandish prices. Dry cleaning service is available daily. Both TVs had most of the major network and cable channels and HBO. Also available were movies on-demand with prices ranging from $3 to $14; internet via a wireless keyboard; and about a dozen Nintendo 64 games. Interenet is $11 for use until noon the next day, Nintendo is about $6 an hour.

The Breakfast - if you've never tried it, Embassy Suites makes a real stick to your ribs breakfast. They offer eggs and pancakes made to order; hash browns, bacon, sausage links. They also offer, fresh fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and pineapple), cereals, breads, coffee, milk and juices - included in the cost of your room. Once you've had this spread, it's hard to go back to the hard donuts and cold cereal at places like Comfort Inn.

The Overall Experience:
Except for the pool being closed, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. I paid the Government rate of $130 / night plus tax.
Through the Chicago Tourism Bureau, rooms can be had for significant discounts on certain nights.

Great Hotel Write-Off

Recommended: Yes