ES Lakefront Chicago stay Nov 23rd-25th
Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-Downtown/Lakefront 511 North Columbus Dr.

As a Gold, I just returned from a Thanksgiving weekend award stay at the ES Lakefront property, and wanted to point out some differences from what others had reported. I received excellent Gold treatment, with water, candy and chips waiting in my room along with a welcome letter, and a card upgrading to "Top Shelf" liquor-it was just a business card from the hotel with a manager's signature and VIP upgrade listed on it that I was told to present at the bar with a room key. It was a "mid shelf" upgrade, anything on the bottom 2 shelves was mine for the asking, but top shelf was off limits.

It is a one glass of liquor per person per wait in line (which was nearly a 10 minute wait most times), but the drinks were poured strong and wine glasses full if you gave a tip. The free food was some of the best ES fare I have seen in recent years with buffalo wings, mini egg rolls and quiche, veggie trays with dip and fried shrimp all regularly restocked during the happy hour-not at all what I had heard described for this property.

For those asking about rooms to pick, my room was upgraded to King bed partial lake view on 15th floor away from elevators facing Illinois St-1504 (if you can get 1505 next door or any high floor xx05 you would have a corner suite with partial lake view). Pool and hot tub are small and on ground level-so no views like many Chicago hotel pools have-and crowded with children all weekend. Adjoining PJ Clarkes restaurant is not bad either and more affordable for carryout to your room than room service for the budget minded-concierge has discount coupons.

For Midway "L" train riders-take the Orange L train to Roosevelt then the 29 bus to Illinois and Columbus 4.50 paid at the L station gets you to the hotel and back roundtrip.