I had an opportunity last weekend to experience the Four Seasons Chicago (I booked at the Preferred Partner Third Night Free rate) and to have site inspections of three other luxury properties, the Ritz-Carlton, Peninsula, and Elysian. There are other reviews of these properties on this forum, notably
luxury's outstanding trip reports, but here are my impressions:
Four Seasons Chicago is a traditional hotel with great service. Entering through the lower lobby at street level, elevators take guests to the main lobby on the 7th Floor where you will find the check-in and concierge desks as well as the hotel’s restaurant. Take the elevator one floor down to gain entry to an enclosed Mall anchored by Bloomingdales, or up one floor to the hotel’s spa and pool facilities.
Guest rooms are accessed via another set of escalators going from the Lobby directly to floors 30-46. Room decor is attractive but understated; the Four Seasons offers comfortable and spacious room with great views. Corner rooms provide the best views of the city and Lake Michigan. Marble bathrooms feature separate soaking tubs and step-in showers, although there is only a single sink in a vanity that is quite wide enough for two quests.
Service was excellent. Room service came promptly when ordered, the Concierge took care of requests accurately and efficiently, and calls to the front desk to handle problems were quickly and expertly handled.
Ritz-Carlton Chicago is likewise a Four Seasons property (predating the establishment of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company) with an entirely different ambiance. Just a short walk away from the Four Seasons, the twelfth floor lobby of the Ritz-Carlton is filled with natural light with a beautiful fountain at its center.
Guest rooms feel slightly larger than those at the Four Seasons and are decorated in a more contemporary fashion with more splashes of color. There are two basic color schemes — blue topaz or pewter. Bathrooms have dramatic black granite counters, and deluxe rooms and above offer dual vanities. Premier rooms and above provide separate step-in showers and guaranteed lake views.
The Peninsula Chicago has the look and feel of a Peninsula property, its dining room reminding me of the lobby of the Peninsula’s Hong Kong property. Guests are provided with complimentary internet, and each room has a fax machine with dedicated incoming number. Electronic bedside controls can adjust the mood lighting or turn on the “do not disturb” sign.
Superior, Deluxe, and Grand Deluxe guest rooms are identical in layout except for view (Deluxe rooms offer city views while Grand Deluxe rooms offer lake views). Upgrades from Superior to Grand Deluxe can often be offered at time of booking, and guests booking a Grand Deluxe can often be accommodated with an upgrade to an Executive Suite at booking.
The Executive Suite is a great room with a cozy living room and bedroom. These suites are all corner rooms and provide great views and lots of natural light. Their bathrooms provide dual vanities and separate step-in showers - everything most guests would want. Families are advised to book Junior Suites which offer a larger living room with pull-out sofa beds.
The Elysian was originally Virtuoso, but their Virtuoso affiliation has mysteriously disappeared; the hotel’s sales manager did not know the circumstances surrounding this question. This is a shame because the The Elysian is truly worthy of consideration for your stay in the downtown Chicago area. So no Virtuoso amenities, at least for now, but the pricing is right and the property is superb in every respect.
Guests enter the hotel lobby through a courtyard and enter the hotel’s art-filled, contemporary lobby decorated with bright splashes of color. The hotel has large guest rooms, averaging 890 square feet. Bathrooms feature white Carrera marble with soaking tubs, step-in showers, and dual vanities. Guest rooms are on lower floors here, so this is not the hotel if you want the most dramatic views, but otherwise this hotel receives high accolades. A client who recently stayed at The Elysian described her stay as “all 10’s” in terms of room quality and service. Hopefully, The Elysian will soon be returning to Virtuoso!