May 4, 2014, 9:29 pm
DISCUSSION for Hilton Honors Hotels in or near Chicago, Illinois, USA {US-IL}
Apr 7, 2015, 11:39 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,682
You should never be refused lounge access as a Diamond. Can't comment specifically on ELs in Chicago properties, as none of the many properties I've used there have had one!
Apr 7, 2015, 12:27 pm
#17
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Oh dear. I was actually starting to think about how I would start to explain domestic Hilton property lounge and breakfast "benefits" to someone who has only been to non-US properties, but then I got embarrassed. I'll leave now.
Apr 7, 2015, 12:33 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,797
Have a look at this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...roperties.html
I have not been denied access to the lounge at the Drake as a Diamond. I had four stays there last year.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...roperties.html
I have not been denied access to the lounge at the Drake as a Diamond. I had four stays there last year.
Apr 7, 2015, 1:21 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: HH Diamond, Delta Skymiles Member, Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 6
I have stayed on the Executive Floor at the Palmer House and have been quite pleased with the experience there. They have served a nice breakfast in the morning and then good apps in the afternoon. There are snacks and soda's available throughout the day, but no alcohol is complimentary. I'd highly recommend it though for as a strong US Executive Lounge.
Apr 7, 2015, 1:55 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: UK
Programs: LH lifetime Sen; HH lifetime diamond; flying blue silver
Posts: 285
As a European I can honestly say that there isn't a single US EL lounge which is of any interest whatsoever. US EL breakfasts are a bit, well, too "US" for my taste. Everything is too sweet..
If I am in Chicago I stay at The Wit (doubletree). No EL, no upgrade, but a contribution coupon towards a decent breakfast.
If I am in Chicago I stay at The Wit (doubletree). No EL, no upgrade, but a contribution coupon towards a decent breakfast.
Apr 8, 2015, 10:04 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,397
As a European I can honestly say that there isn't a single US EL lounge which is of any interest whatsoever. US EL breakfasts are a bit, well, too "US" for my taste. Everything is too sweet..
If I am in Chicago I stay at The Wit (doubletree). No EL, no upgrade, but a contribution coupon towards a decent breakfast.
If I am in Chicago I stay at The Wit (doubletree). No EL, no upgrade, but a contribution coupon towards a decent breakfast.
Wit is my favorite Chicago hotel, but usually the rates are a lot higher than the Palmer House
Apr 8, 2015, 2:09 pm
#23
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
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Posts: 15,397
Dear All,
I am going with my wife to Chicago in week of 27th April for 5-day holidays. I was planning to use my HHonors points to stay in one of Hilton and leverage my Diamond status to get an access to Executive Lounge, like I always did while travelling & working in Europe. As I never stayed in Hilton in US before I did my research to choose the best option (incl. valuable insights from this forum), but it seems to me that Exec Lounge experience differ a lot between US and Europe. In hotels I visited so far (London, Vienna, Prague) I was always granted access to Exec Lounge (as Diamond member) and the concept was quite similar:
•full breakfast in the morning (could freely choose between Restaurant and Lounge)
•For most of the day Lounge open with cold & hot drinks and some snacks & fruits
•2-3 hours during the evening with free beverages, alcohol (wine, whisky, etc.) and some hot & cold snacks /food
As I understand in Hiltons in US (Chicago) is a little bit different. Firstly, you can be refused access to Lounge even being a Diamond member (e.g. The Drake) and then there is no time when you can have wine / drinks for free (you pay what you consumed based on your declaration) ? Moreover, I understand that for Diamonds the breakfast is always guaranteed, but sometimes you cannot eat in the restaurant (you have to do it in lounge, where I guess variety is limited)?
As said, initially I wanted to choose one of the Hilton in Chicago with Executive Lounge (i.e. The Drake, Palmer House, Hilton Chicago or Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile Suites), paying for them with points, but if Diamond benefits are so limited I am not sure and probably would like to consider other options.
I would appreciate all insights about Exec Lounges in Hiltons in Chicago. Of course any other information / suggestions about Hiltons in Chicago are welcomed. Thank you in advance!
I am going with my wife to Chicago in week of 27th April for 5-day holidays. I was planning to use my HHonors points to stay in one of Hilton and leverage my Diamond status to get an access to Executive Lounge, like I always did while travelling & working in Europe. As I never stayed in Hilton in US before I did my research to choose the best option (incl. valuable insights from this forum), but it seems to me that Exec Lounge experience differ a lot between US and Europe. In hotels I visited so far (London, Vienna, Prague) I was always granted access to Exec Lounge (as Diamond member) and the concept was quite similar:
•full breakfast in the morning (could freely choose between Restaurant and Lounge)
•For most of the day Lounge open with cold & hot drinks and some snacks & fruits
•2-3 hours during the evening with free beverages, alcohol (wine, whisky, etc.) and some hot & cold snacks /food
As I understand in Hiltons in US (Chicago) is a little bit different. Firstly, you can be refused access to Lounge even being a Diamond member (e.g. The Drake) and then there is no time when you can have wine / drinks for free (you pay what you consumed based on your declaration) ? Moreover, I understand that for Diamonds the breakfast is always guaranteed, but sometimes you cannot eat in the restaurant (you have to do it in lounge, where I guess variety is limited)?
As said, initially I wanted to choose one of the Hilton in Chicago with Executive Lounge (i.e. The Drake, Palmer House, Hilton Chicago or Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile Suites), paying for them with points, but if Diamond benefits are so limited I am not sure and probably would like to consider other options.
I would appreciate all insights about Exec Lounges in Hiltons in Chicago. Of course any other information / suggestions about Hiltons in Chicago are welcomed. Thank you in advance!
I have been denied access as a diamond at the Drake (not sure if they changed that policy or not) since I wasn't on the exec floor despite the T&C of Hilton.
I don't care for the location of the Drake. The Chicago Hilton isn't that convenient to the subway either, a few block walk to the redline at Roosevelt and you have to transfer trains if you are coming from ORD. I haven't been at the Chicago Hilton in a while, but I did get a suite upgrade last time I was there a couple years ago but the lounge isn't that good.
Palmer House used top have an issue with overcrowding when they allowed all gold's access but now gold's have to take breakfast in the restaurant and don't get access so overcrowding isn't as big of an issue and they have scrambled eggs and pancakes as breakfast choices. Upgrades are hit/miss there, I have received a huge suite upgrade before and my stay a couple weeks ago I received a large exec room upgrade with two bathrooms but other times it's possible a gold will get a better upgrade than a diamond there.
No lounge, but the Wit is my preferred property. They are great about giving upgrades if they are available and the breakfast if a voucher towards a certain $ amount off the menu items in the state/lake restaurant. It is a boutique type hotel and has a great roof top deck and is a good value for points since rates usually are pretty high
Apr 8, 2015, 9:16 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,243
Palmer house is best for location for both airports. The orange line to midway is literally outside the adams street entrance and the Blue line to O'Hare is only a block away.
I have been denied access as a diamond at the Drake (not sure if they changed that policy or not) since I wasn't on the exec floor despite the T&C of Hilton.
I don't care for the location of the Drake. The Chicago Hilton isn't that convenient to the subway either, a few block walk to the redline at Roosevelt and you have to transfer trains if you are coming from ORD.
I have been denied access as a diamond at the Drake (not sure if they changed that policy or not) since I wasn't on the exec floor despite the T&C of Hilton.
I don't care for the location of the Drake. The Chicago Hilton isn't that convenient to the subway either, a few block walk to the redline at Roosevelt and you have to transfer trains if you are coming from ORD.
Last summer for both of my stays at the Conrad, I took the Blue line and transferred to the red line as the Conrad is about a block of so from the Grand station on the red line. Transferring with luggage was a bit of a pain. The Drake and Waldorf are a bit of a hike with luggage from their nearest station. I blew out one of my spinner wheels on my Samsonite whilst navigating the streets of Chicago last summer moving between the Waldorf and Conrad and as a result would not recommend walking too big a distance with luggage.
Apr 21, 2015, 12:45 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,655
i have 2 weekend night certificates expiring in june so i'm planning on using them on an upcoming trip to chicago....i've been to the city multiple times but have never stayed at a hilton property here before....i would prefer to be in the downtown/magnificent mile area....i'm not picky about executive lounge access or upgrades....which property would the local experts here suggest given that i can use up the certs at any location????
Apr 21, 2015, 5:10 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,797
i have 2 weekend night certificates expiring in june so i'm planning on using them on an upcoming trip to chicago....i've been to the city multiple times but have never stayed at a hilton property here before....i would prefer to be in the downtown/magnificent mile area....i'm not picky about executive lounge access or upgrades....which property would the local experts here suggest given that i can use up the certs at any location????
Apr 22, 2015, 6:14 am
#27
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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i did & i was leaning towards either the wa, the conrad or the wit....couldn't decide between the 3....the agent said i could use it at any property....
Apr 22, 2015, 7:59 am
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,397
Conrad you'll have to walk about 1/2 mile from the clark blue line stop if coming from Ohare or transfer to the red line and it will take you right to state/grand where the Conrad is or coming from Midway transfer at Roosevelt to the red line to State/Grand or walk 1/2 mile from State/Lake.
Wit is easiest to get to of the three from the airport. From MDW the orange line goes to state/lake directly in front of the hotel and Ohare the clark/lake stop is only a couple blocks away.
If you don't mind the location, go with the WA. If you want to be closer to the L and shopping, etc then I would chose the Conrad if you prefer a more traditional hotel or the Wit if you like a more upscale boutique type feel.
You can't go wrong with any of those properties.
Apr 22, 2015, 12:31 pm
#29
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Join Date: Apr 2009
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The WA is the nicest of the three but location is a pain if you are coming from the Airport.
Conrad you'll have to walk about 1/2 mile from the clark blue line stop if coming from Ohare or transfer to the red line and it will take you right to state/grand where the Conrad is or coming from Midway transfer at Roosevelt to the red line to State/Grand or walk 1/2 mile from State/Lake.
Wit is easiest to get to of the three from the airport. From MDW the orange line goes to state/lake directly in front of the hotel and Ohare the clark/lake stop is only a couple blocks away.
If you don't mind the location, go with the WA. If you want to be closer to the L and shopping, etc then I would chose the Conrad if you prefer a more traditional hotel or the Wit if you like a more upscale boutique type feel.
You can't go wrong with any of those properties.
Conrad you'll have to walk about 1/2 mile from the clark blue line stop if coming from Ohare or transfer to the red line and it will take you right to state/grand where the Conrad is or coming from Midway transfer at Roosevelt to the red line to State/Grand or walk 1/2 mile from State/Lake.
Wit is easiest to get to of the three from the airport. From MDW the orange line goes to state/lake directly in front of the hotel and Ohare the clark/lake stop is only a couple blocks away.
If you don't mind the location, go with the WA. If you want to be closer to the L and shopping, etc then I would chose the Conrad if you prefer a more traditional hotel or the Wit if you like a more upscale boutique type feel.
You can't go wrong with any of those properties.
Apr 22, 2015, 12:42 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,397
thanks....just the type of info i was looking for....it seems like the conrad & the wit are both not available anymore for the dates i'm looking at....from your post it doesn't seem like the wa is in the best location....so now i'm looking at the palmer house as well....which one would you pick between the wa & palmer house????
I love the location of the Palmer House, but upgrades are very hit/miss there and as a gold you'll only get lounge access if you are on the 22nd or 23rd floor. You'll probably get a lot nicer room at the WA and you are convenient to Michigan avenue shopping.