BlueHenFlyer

Just spent a night (Thursday 4/8) in the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. Have stayed in this property on numerous occasions and can't believe that it has become the shabby hole it has. This thing looks like an old 4 Points. Drove up and asked where Self Park was - had to sit and wait - made mistake by not just getting valet parked. Self Park is a public garage across a walkway from the hotel, which looked and smelled like a shooting gallery. Opened the hotel (unsecured) doors and was ushered into a corridor where the HR department was with overturned tables and chairs, electrical outlets pulled out of the wall and the baseboard heaters bent out. Wallpaper peeling off, stains (of who knows what) on the carpet. After walking a good 3/4 of a mile, finally made it to the lower (poorly signed) level and struggle with my bag up to check-in. Was accosted by every small child in Illinois, enjoying Spring Break (mental note - don't go near the pool!!) and finally checked in.

Found that hotel policy is to give Plat members the small corner room between the elevators and the ice machine (but sir, it is on the top floor, as you request in your profile). Got my room changed - ("oh, you'll have to come down and get the key...) and went to the Club Louonge for a drink. Had to put up with Chatty Kathy who was upset (nay, perturbed) that Amarosa had returned to The Apprentice - and couldn't stop talking about it. Of course, it being 7:15, there was no food left...

Scene from check-in (one agent, fifteen minute wait) was repeated in morning at check-out. Serious staffing cuts.

I'd definitely take this one off the list for Chicago stays (I should note that I've been staying exclusively in the W hotels for the past few years, but took advantage of a great rate - again, stupidly thinking that a Plat paying $100 is as well treated as one paying $200...)

choptliva

Pool? What pool? I've seen bigger bathtubs. I agree with BlueHenFlyer. Don't think I'll stay at the Sheraton Chicago again any time soon. And it looks so nice on the outside too!

sphere

I don't recommend this hotel either. It is really like a high rise motel. The bathroom I had smelled like a public restroom. It has long been off my Chicago hotel list.

One word: AVOID!!

pbiflyer

We were planning on using points to stay for 5 days (28,000). It sounds like I would not be at all happy. What is an alternative suggestion? I would like to avoid using 40,000 to stay at a Westin.

choptliva

The other *wood properties downtown are category 4. Despite its shortcomings, the Sheraton does have good location...so if you are planning a visit downtown, and using points, you don't have much of a choice. BTW, the Westin Michigan Ave is also cat 3...but from discussions on FT, the reviews are mixed. Location is also pretty good. You might wish to search for previous threads and make up your own mind re that property...
I will not pay to stay at the Chicago Sheraton, but for 28,000 points, it might be tolerable.
If your visit will include a fair bit of visit to Chicago suburbs, consider the Westin O'Hare.

Pietro

You'll get what you pay for - try the Westin River North on Dearborn. I've had great experiences there over the last three years or so. It should be around the same if you're paying with points, while the rates are usually similar too. (Also, there are numerous threads in the archives discussing the virtues of this Westin and other local Starwood properties, so you may want to check those.)

choptliva

River North is very nice ^ . But it's cat 4, so it'll cost you a few more points. But I agree with Pietro, it's worth it!

christianj

Great! I will be at this Sheraton for a convention in June! We wanted the Westin River North or Michigan Ave. but this was the only *W property on the convention hotel list. Any ideas on what tower or room number to request that will at least be decent?

choptliva

My beef with the property has been with its self-park (see an earlier post about going through HR and upturned chairs, etc.), the long lines at check-in, and the bath-tub sized pool. The rooms, unimpressive as they were, were at least bearable. So, if you're not driving, don't swim, and don't mind the lineups, it's not totally bad
Again, the location of the property is very good, and you can walk to pretty much most things downtown, IMHO. Summer is a great time to visit Chicago. That itself will make up for a lot of hotel inadequacies. Have fun!

airships

I had such a bad experience at the Sheraton Chicago this winter that I moved to the W City Center, which was wonderful. (I stayed at the Westin Mich Avenue last month and that was also good.) Bottom line is that there are much better Starwood choices in Chicago.

morpheus

I recommend the Westin River North, but if you're looking for a category 3, the Westin North Michigan is only 7k points/night. It's not as nice as the Westin River North (or either of the W properties), but much better than the Sheraton.