Wanted to post a recent stay review for those interested in this property.
Stayed July 3-6, using points, myself, husband, two kids (12 and 15). We were well warned that it could be a zoo at this hotel over July 4th holiday. We arrived at 3pm, check in is offically 4pm. The room assigned to us was not available yet and as we wanted to check in right away they found a comprable room for us. It was a non-smoking, 2 double bed on the 15th floor, city view. We were fine with the room, it was clean and near the elevators. We used valet parking @ $40 per day.
The location of this hotel was perfect for us. We wanted to see the fireworks from the Navy Pier July 3 and 4. Pier is about a 4 block walk to actual Pier, and 2 blocks to Mich. Ave. Lots of dining nearby. We did not use the free trolley. We did see a movie at the AMC located in the lower levels of the hotel one night. Also Lucky Strike Bowling looked fun but we were too tired from all our walking!
As the hotel was full or nearly full each night of our stay you can imagine the crowds at the free breakfast and evening snack hour. Breakfast was survival of the fittest. Each day we brought donuts, yogurt and bagels up to the
room for the kids. Husband and I did the omlett station only one morning when we went down at 8:15. I think the hotel tried to accomodate the crowds as best as they could but it was unpleasant for sure. We had a nice, relaxing drink one afternoon in the lobby but around 4:45 people started gathering for the 5:30 freebies! Barkeep did not charge us for our son's drink, only the adults.
The clientel was mostly families so we didn't encounter any late night loud noise. The night of the July 3 fireworks you had to show your room key to enter the hotel which kept out the hordes of people streaming off the shoreline. The elevators were crowded and you had to wait but inside things settled down quickly. Another night a glass was dropped and broke in the hall outside our room. I called the front desk and they immediately sent a cleaning crew up and a security guard who shined his flashlight around to make sure all the glass was gone.
Overall we had a very good stay. Would stay there again with our kids but for adults only trip we much preferred the Hilton Suites we stayed at last summer (was Doubletree then).