Radisson Blu Chicago - Master thread
#106
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,460
Lounge access is included in the room description at the hotel website:
"[...] Business Class Room, which provides access to the Business Lounge."
"[...] Business Class Room, which provides access to the Business Lounge."
#110
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat, Club Carlson Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 317
#112
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 877
I must be lucky. I was able to get a two-day stay in August.
#113
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 877
Radisson Blu Chicago - Master thread
I requested an upgrade as a Gold member through email, and the response I received said I got a corner room on a high floor, but due to capacity, I couldn't be upgraded to a business room even though there are at least four business rooms available. Should I push the issue any further or wait until check-in and ask again if there's still availability?
#114
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 877
I requested an upgrade as a Gold member through email, and the response I received said I got a corner room on a high floor, but due to capacity, I couldn't be upgraded to a business room even though there are at least four business rooms available. Should I push the issue any further or wait until check-in and ask again if there's still availability?
#115
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,738
Stayed here over the weekend. Impressive, but the lack of upgrade was disappointing.
Pros
-Location. One of the best in Chicago.
-New and stylish.
-Lots of free facilities - gym, sauna, steam, pool, basketball court, outdoor terrace, running track?
-Bathroom ledge/bar. More space to put things.
-Comfortable bedding.
-Generous bottled waters for Gold members.
Cons
-Lack of upgrade. Gold member here, only upgraded to better view, same room type. No lounge access (and no free breakfast). I can understand no room upgrade when hotel is full, but no lounge/breakfast is disappointing coming from Marriott.
-Valet is $63/day, self parking $49. Did not see any "overnight free" meter nearby.
-Useless welcome gift - a pack of gummy bears.
-Incredibly cheap toilet paper.
-Drape not fully closable (light will come in morning).
Hard to believe we splurged on the valet. Felt very un-travel hacker-ish. Traveling with parent does that to you.
But that location is really something.
Pros
-Location. One of the best in Chicago.
-New and stylish.
-Lots of free facilities - gym, sauna, steam, pool, basketball court, outdoor terrace, running track?
-Bathroom ledge/bar. More space to put things.
-Comfortable bedding.
-Generous bottled waters for Gold members.
Cons
-Lack of upgrade. Gold member here, only upgraded to better view, same room type. No lounge access (and no free breakfast). I can understand no room upgrade when hotel is full, but no lounge/breakfast is disappointing coming from Marriott.
-Valet is $63/day, self parking $49. Did not see any "overnight free" meter nearby.
-Useless welcome gift - a pack of gummy bears.
-Incredibly cheap toilet paper.
-Drape not fully closable (light will come in morning).
Hard to believe we splurged on the valet. Felt very un-travel hacker-ish. Traveling with parent does that to you.
But that location is really something.
#116
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,778
CC Concierge Bennies?
From attending the Star Megado 6 and paying for a few CC nights, I was comped Concierge status through February 2017. Does anyone know if the Radisson Blu Aqua upgrades Concierge members as a matter of course? Is the included continental breakfast only in the lounge, and what is the fare?
Thanks....
Thanks....
#117
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: SPG Gold/HH Diamond/CC Gold/Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 310
Stayed here over the weekend. Impressive, but the lack of upgrade was disappointing.
Pros
-Location. One of the best in Chicago.
-New and stylish.
-Lots of free facilities - gym, sauna, steam, pool, basketball court, outdoor terrace, running track?
-Bathroom ledge/bar. More space to put things.
-Comfortable bedding.
-Generous bottled waters for Gold members.
Cons
-Lack of upgrade. Gold member here, only upgraded to better view, same room type. No lounge access (and no free breakfast). I can understand no room upgrade when hotel is full, but no lounge/breakfast is disappointing coming from Marriott.
-Valet is $63/day, self parking $49. Did not see any "overnight free" meter nearby.
-Useless welcome gift - a pack of gummy bears.
-Incredibly cheap toilet paper.
-Drape not fully closable (light will come in morning).
Hard to believe we splurged on the valet. Felt very un-travel hacker-ish. Traveling with parent does that to you.
But that location is really something.
Pros
-Location. One of the best in Chicago.
-New and stylish.
-Lots of free facilities - gym, sauna, steam, pool, basketball court, outdoor terrace, running track?
-Bathroom ledge/bar. More space to put things.
-Comfortable bedding.
-Generous bottled waters for Gold members.
Cons
-Lack of upgrade. Gold member here, only upgraded to better view, same room type. No lounge access (and no free breakfast). I can understand no room upgrade when hotel is full, but no lounge/breakfast is disappointing coming from Marriott.
-Valet is $63/day, self parking $49. Did not see any "overnight free" meter nearby.
-Useless welcome gift - a pack of gummy bears.
-Incredibly cheap toilet paper.
-Drape not fully closable (light will come in morning).
Hard to believe we splurged on the valet. Felt very un-travel hacker-ish. Traveling with parent does that to you.
But that location is really something.
The welcome gift gummy bears went to good use since we had a bottle of vodka on hand for pre-Lollapalooza cocktails. Poured some vodka in with the gummy bears and put them in the cooler. The gummies soaked up the vodka and were pretty delicious afterward.
Overall, I really liked the hotel and am glad I have two more award weekends booked prior to the recent devaluations (50k vs. 140k for 2 nights). It's a great location and that pool deck is tough to beat in downtown Chicago!
#119
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere in Northen Europe
Programs: BA Silver, Club Carlson Concierge, Avis President's Club, SAS Silver
Posts: 43
I am trying to book a few nights in January to tag onto the front-end of a Company Conference, and the room rates are showing as $499/night!
I did the exact same thing this year in January, and paid around $180/night.
The $499 is presumably a "rack-rate", perhaps because I am still almost 6-months out?
Any idea when the hotel might start charging sensible rates?
We are after all talking about Chicago in January! Bleak doesn't even begin to describe what the weather will be like!!!
I did the exact same thing this year in January, and paid around $180/night.
The $499 is presumably a "rack-rate", perhaps because I am still almost 6-months out?
Any idea when the hotel might start charging sensible rates?
We are after all talking about Chicago in January! Bleak doesn't even begin to describe what the weather will be like!!!
#120
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Phoenix area
Programs: AA, SWA, most hotel programs
Posts: 356
Just spent 4 nights here--nothing special
I was really looking forward to 4 reward nights here but I wasn't very impressed. Maybe that's because my last reward nights were in Paris at the Park Hyatt Vendome, so it's not a fair comparison. I was greeted at reception and given an "upgraded" room on the 18th floor. I was given a welcome letter and a plate with a peach, tiny bit of chocolate and small macaroon (delicious), and two sparkling waters. The room was quite small as was the bathroom with only a shower (no tub). I had a small view of the river between buildings. WiFi was terrible and unfortunately, I have T-Mobile which only worked while I stood near the window. After I filled out the online survey mentioning these complaints, the GM emailed me and said my upgrade included lounge access--too bad it wasn't told to me while I was staying there! I guess I will always ask just in the future, just in case. My room only had a coffee maker--nothing to make tea with, which is my morning drink. (Website says coffee/tea-making facility, whatever that is.) It was a hassle to leave the room for a cup of tea in the morning.
Personally, I didn't really like the location. I've stayed at the Sheraton across the river a few times and those 2 blocks to Michigan Ave seem long to me. I would prefer to stay on the other side of Michigan.
The positives were the staff is incredibly friendly and the gym/pool are outstanding. I wish I had more time to use the workout facilities.
Personally, I didn't really like the location. I've stayed at the Sheraton across the river a few times and those 2 blocks to Michigan Ave seem long to me. I would prefer to stay on the other side of Michigan.
The positives were the staff is incredibly friendly and the gym/pool are outstanding. I wish I had more time to use the workout facilities.