This has everything but one shelf....
Written: Apr 06 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Service, amenities, restaurant quality, layout and location.
Cons: There are really no cons.
The Bottom Line: beautiful retreat with every detail accounted for. Friendly staff, very clean and comfortable rooms, great restaurants, pool and gym. Tremendous views.
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| WBDBaj's Full Review: Swissotel Chicago |
Let me start by finishing that thought. Our beautiful bathroom had a glass front instead of a shower curtain, and a separate tub. There was a traditional shelf for soap, but no convenient place to put shampoo, shower gels, and conditioner. Even the top rim of the shower was too thin to hold them. My only recommendation would be that a shelf is somehow attached to the beautiful marble walls of the shower to hold those products. As an afterthought, a clear no-slip shower mat would be great for the somewhat slick marble shower floor. But, how beautiful even the bathroom is!
The Chicago hotel is located on the Chicago River, across from the Sheraton. The fact that there is little traffic on that part of East Wacker is really very nice. And the views from the hotel are either the first section of N. Michigan, the bridge, and the Wrigley Building, or Navy Pier and Lake Michigan itself. The small driveway still holds about 20 cars (or several Humvees as we could see!). Cabs are lined up in front and very easily accessible, and during the day, no fewer than five (!) doormen are there to get your car, take your luggage, hail a cab or whatever else you wish. And, I mean that! When you arrive, they are thrilled you are here and have you heard about the....(whatever). Entering into the heated ante-chamber, you can see the beautiful wood in the lobby and the entry to the Palm Restaurant on your left.
Taking a diagonal, you can see the front desk, with 3 stations of clerks to check you in. Most are international people, instead of Americans. I would expect that to be true as the hotels are located literally around the globe. We were checked in quickly, and opted to carry our things up ourselves. On the 26th floor, our room overlooked the Michigan St. side, and the Wrigley building is very very bright, but doesn't bother you. Looking up Michigan is a treat with the NBC building, the Marriott, and the grand John Hancock in sight. With the lake just past it, a magnificent view. Right next door was an office building, and our family delighted in watching people like in "Rear Window," looking for a white-collar crime on a Friday evening. Saturday evening, no one was in the building at all.
Our room was two double beds for my husband and me and our son. The lavish headboard reached across both beds, with no side table between us. A nice bold digital clock was there - easy to read and set for wakeups. TV had basic cable and HBO, with a Chicago tourist channel and the hotel channel. Two tables - one a desk with computer outlets and business accomodation - made plenty of room to put things. The closet had ample and beautiful hangars, a luggage rack, an umbrella for borrowing, two terry cloth "Swissotel Chicago" bathrobes (new could be purchased for $95 each)for use to the pool or what have you, and an iron.
The bathroom had an enamel tub separate from the shower, a well-lit marble sink with coffees, coffee pot, toiletries, and cotton balls and Q-Tips. A phone is located at the toilet, as well as a plastic bag dispenser to put "icky" things in.
We called for extra towels and they arrived promptly, followed by a courtesy call to make sure they were adequate. We used the pool for free, and the very nice machine/weight rooms for $10 each. I did a nice treadmill for a half hour right up against the glass of the 42nd floor watching all of S. Lakeshore Drive! It was stellar. I would exercise longer if I could do that every day. At the desk were free apples and in the morning, oj for everyone. The machines were in excellent shape, the pool was perhaps 20' long and a bit too warm for my taste, but the jacuzzi was the same temperature, much to the chagrin of my family. The free weights were contemporary, and located on the other side of the pool.
Looking at the locker room, there is a sauna and massage (being used) in both women and men, along with plenty of private showers and changing areas, and lockers with benches. One area is lounge chairs facing out to Lake Michigan, and a TV up in the corner. Also, one shower has complete privacy (but no door to it) but no curtain - it faces out to the lake so you can see the view while cleaning up!
Everything was spotless as well. This hotel is very very clean.
We ordered take out dessert from The Palm Restaurant - very Chicago with steaks, chops, etc...and wood/brass ambiance. This is the most popular restaurant with our Hollywood set, I hear, and the desserts were fabulous, if not too expensive. On the first lower level is a pizza place, along with a breakfast buffet in "Geneva." included on the menu is Swiss meusli, plenty of cheeses, fish, and traditional eggs - bacon - bagels - and pain au chocolat. Next to the is "Expressions" a coffee bar where you can get the lattes, blah blah blah. These are also available at "Geneva." Our breakfast tab was $43 for all our nibbling, but well worth the trip.
The pillows were a little high for our heads, but the beds were nicely firm and the heat was very adjustable to our taste. We missed the chocolates on the beds they used to do (Swiss of course) but cutbacks are important in these days. Our stay was lovely and well attended. Parking for 2 nights was $70. I got our rooms at Hotels.com for about $170 each night - we felt it was worth it.
A lovely stay slightly off the main track. Recommend highly!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
WBDBaj
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Member: Debby
Location: Indiana
Reviews written: 511
Trusted by: 19 members
About Me:
Samaritan Center, Elkhart.
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