Stayed at the Monaco based on recommendations on Travelocity. We got a good deal on Travelocity and stayed there for two days right before Christmas to do the "Chicago" scene.

The location is perfect. You can walk 3 blocks south, to Marshall Field or Carson Pirie Scott, or Filene's Basement, where I got my girlfriends christmas gift. Or you can walk north, right across the Chicago river to the Wrigley Buiding on Michigan Ave, the south end of the "Magnificent Mile" (and trendy shopping). Or go downstairs from the Wrigley to the Billy Goat Tavern (parodied on SNL "Cheezborgya, Cheezborgya....no fries, cheeps!")

I called to confirm my reservation and asked if they could block a room witha view, but when we got there we got one looking right at another building. I called downstairs and they changed it cheerfully. We got one looking at the river and Merchandise Mart.

The rooms are nice and large. There is a big mirror right next to the beds, for....well, I don't know. The decor is somewhere between French bordello and Cirque de Soleil, but it's kind of refreshing and not that sterile corporate generic furniture. We had two easy chairs, an ottoman, and a table with four chairs. Each room has a CD player, with radio, a pretty good one, not just the cheapo alarm radio. Our coffee maker didn't work, but they cheerily replaced it. The Windows have a 'meditation center', it's like a little mattress in the bay window you can sit in. And if you get lonely, they will bring you a complimentary goldfish.

The staff wears black slacks and black tees or turtlenecks....very German minimalist or "Dieter Sprocket". The doorman dresses in a long trenchcoat and Fedora, more like Dick Tracy than the quasi military garb most doormen are forced to wear.

The in room Guide to Chicago is a complete hoot, you have to steal one. And there is a wine reception every night in the lobby 530 to 630pm.

We didn't take advantage of any of the restaurants or bars, we were gonna get Room Service breakfast but the menu looked overpriced, but a little to trendy...no plain old Steak and eggs and hash browns. They had something like "Duck Confit" hash...??what's that all about?

There is valet parking and it's $28 bucks but that's about the rate all over Chicago, maybe a tad higher.

I recommend it, check it out.


Recommended: Yes