Congress Plaza Hotel - Chicago

We had to kick the door open to get into our hotel room. The room smelled like mildew. The next morning while getting ready the power went out. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone!

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We stay at the Congress for a variety of reasons, but it's a great location-- right across from Grant Park and that great plaza with the huge fountain. So the view is spectacular, especially because of the lake. It is within walking distance to everything you'd want to see when the weather is great. Yes, it's an old hotel, but I think it's been maintained quite well. I like the price, the view and the location.

Awesome Hotel! I loved everything about it! They were clean, polite, helpful, and classy. The location was fantastic!! I will stay there every time I go go Chicago!!

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This was a fabulous hotel in its day. It is starting to show its age a bit. It is a clean place, very comfortable, convenient to downtown Chicago. Short walk to Buckingham Fountain. Easy access to taxi or bus stops. Tour buses are a few blocks away. The room was a great view of Lake Michigan and Navy Pier. Saw the Saturday fireworks from the comfort of our room. Cons: tub didn't drain well so your ankles were covered by the time you were done with a shower. Tub got very slick. Toilet needed just a little more pressure, sink a little less. Picketers outside not an issue but they have been there for 5 years! Had a fabulous time in the hotel. Raphael's in the hotel had good food. Could use a make over. Decor dated, mismatched chairs with black table coverings. Wood paneling showing it's age. This is a fantastic and historic hotel. Put a few bucks in it to bring it back to is glory. Final comment: a bit overpriced for the condition.

The Congress Plaza Hotel is an historic building in the South Loop of Chicago. While the rooms themselves have signs of age, they are comfortable, clean, and well appointed. The lobby is really quite beautiful, and the location couldn't be better. This is a comfortable, pleasant and convenient place to stay for the traveler who wants to be in the heart of Chicago without spending a fortune on a hotel.

I found out after we checked into the hotel that there has been a strike from the workers there since 2003. The hotel is very historic and beautiful, but there wasn't new items in the bathroom. ie shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap. When we came back to the hotel after our evening events, there was a huge pile of vomit in the hallway. I called front desk and told them about it and they said they would send someone up. A security guard came up and told us that we had to be quiet, even though we were getting ready for bed and were not talking loudly. The next morning the vomit was still in the hallway. A cleaning lady came by at 9:00AM for room checks and when I checked out at 11:30AM, the vomit was still not cleaned up. I would not recommend staying here at all.

The hotel is not properly equiped for a business traveler..The rooms are moldy and very unsavory!...

I would not recomend this hotel to any one do to the smell and unclean rooms pluming did not work eighter...

The Hotel staff was exceptional,they had several fantastic recomendations for resturants and went out of their way to accomodate our needs from providing an extremely late check-out time (5:00pm)to give my wife and 15 month old daughter a place to wait for me, to printing our airline boarding passes, and providing a refrigerator for my daughter's snacks and milk all at no extra charge, they made us feel like valued customers and we will definately stay there again when we return to Chicago.

Location is great if you want to tour Grant Park and the museums. Hotel built in 1893 is impressive in many ways. However I would have liked a larger room. There was little room to move around. There was no bedside table on one side of the king size bed (which was a great bed) - no room for it. There were no easy chairs to sit in either - no room for one. The view was a parking structure. The shower water did not drain properly and by the time the shower was ended, you were standing in 4 inches of water. The staff were great and helpful. Hotel was clean and the bed was very comfortable.

The hotel itself is or was a very beautiful one (over 100 years old) but it is lost on tacky decor and poor maintenance. The beds were extremely uncomfortable. Beware of parking fees - $28 to $39 per day depending on self-park or valet and size of vehicle. Location was great - easy to get to all kinds of great Chicago attractions and transportation. No concierge other than pamphlets on area attractions. There is a charge for internet but several cafes with WIFI in the area to help try and find information. This hotel could be much more with a little effort. Too bad - I won't be coming back.

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Not good overall. Just too old and smelly.

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Historic hotel in a great location right across boulevard from beautiful Grant Park. Friendly people take good care of your needs.

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Great location across the street from Grant Park and easy access to the Chicago Lake Front, tour buses, and other sites. Easy access to the "EL" which is the subway that runs above the streets in that area of the city. It is an older hotel but is well kept and is run by a great staff.

We were right across Grant Park; in an area specified by the trolley guide to be the center of downtown Chicago. Many things nearby and within walking distance. What was a bit farther, public transportation was readily accessible for the quick ride. Being from South Texas, I had no trouble familiarizing myself with the rail and bus routes. Hotel staff were very helpful and I was able to check in early upon arrival, and hold my bags for several hours the last day. The room temp and beds were comfortable but the pillows could have been a bit softer. The way I see it, I got a great deal and gladly overlooked the dated carpets. As far as the picketers outside, they bothered no one and it was very easy to walk around them. I would definitely go back.

great for the cultural activities

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At least the rooms were clean. ...but they haven't been updated in probably 20 years unless you count some new bathroom fixtures and an LCD tv. The wallpaper is peeling off and there's bare 2x6 pine boards for base board. We reserved, and paid extra for a king size bed, but after trekking to our room at 1am we found a pair of twin beds instead. We were too beat to hike back to the lobby, but were pissed when, come morning, the desk told us "there were plenty of rooms available, I don't know why they did that" but made no attempt to amend the situation (not even an actual apology). The additional $33 to park the car overnight is a rip off since you can park just about anywhere in Chicago for less than that for a full 24 hours. Even if you put out the do not disturb sign, the walls are so thin that their banging on all the surrounding doors ensures you will be awake at 7am promptly. I know it's a historic building, but they should tear it down and put in a parking structure, or something more useful than what's there now; it's barely a step above a budget hostel in my opinion. Next time I'm staying just down the street at the Palmer House, it costs a bit more, but is a thousand times nicer with quality service!

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For the price we paid, it was a great stay in Chicago. The hotel is close to parks, museums, and shopping. The closest subway stop is three blocks away, but other than it is a great hotel.

Old, but clean, great location. Staff was helpful.

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The Congress Hotel is in a perfect location in downtown Chitown on michigan ave. The hotel was extremely clean. Although it was a older hotel, it has been kept up really well. The bed and especially the pillows were SO comfortable. Really enjoyed my stay and will stay there next time I am in Chicago.

great location, very good room for the money

The room wasn't what i had expected the restaurant was overpriced the room was over priced and was not as luxurious as i thought it would be.

The Congress Hotel is located in an excelent location. I loved all the surroundings and the beautiful gardens and convinience to all major attractions. I was very satisfied with the hotel itself and how clean and maintained it was outside of the room. I was extremely disappointed with my room. The ceiling was falling due to water damage.The furniture was old and the beds was very very small, I had my 2 kids and my husband and I, sharing two double beds was ridiculous. We also had problems with my eyes due to the strength of cleaning chemicals used to clean the carpet in our room. The smell was very strong, but I am glad everything was clean. I am afraid, I would be embarrassed to recommend this hotel to a friend or a client. I have been an travel Agent for Carlson Corporate Office for many years and your hotel will not be in my list of recommendation due to the condition of the rooms at The Congress Plaza Hotel. I would recommend, The Congress Plaza to invest in repairing the ceilings and walls, and maybe improve furniture somehow. Another thing.....we hated the fact your hotel was on strike. And last,I do have to say the price was too expensive for the overall condition of the room I stayed.I am glad, we stayed only one night.

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12th floors is a small attic with hardly any windows. The hotel in general is pretty average and nice. It is definitely dated but still clean. The sink in our room leaked and after alerting the management no one was sent up to fix it. If you avoid the 12th floor the hotel's location and cleanliness is great. If i come to Chicago again i will definitely stay more north and most likely on the other side of the river,

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located two blocks from the Art Institute and near Millenium Park. Comfortable beds and clean rooms with high ceilings and lots of signs of the hotel's former glory as one of the elegant highlights of Chicago. Disappointed that there was no free internet, as hotels.com ad had indicated. No free internet in lobby, either, which was inconvenient. public transportation at your doorstep.

When I first got there, they gave me the wrong room, with 2 beds, when i booked a 1 bed. The lobby lady, Rosa, was on the phone not talking business, and I had to wait for her to get off, like I was inconvenient. Then the new room had a broken sink stopper thing. Also, the air conditioner was leaking and got our clothes wet. The workers were on strike, and apparently they have been for the past 6 years, and no one was kind enough to let us know before hand. Other than that, the room was clean, bed was really comfortable and the location was great. Those were really minor things, I actually did enjoy my stay at the Congress Plaza.

Located at the center of some great Chicago hot spots for tourists, like the lake, the married with children fountain, sears tower (willis), Giordonos Pizza, close to all metros (the loop) which gives you access to the rest of Chicago. The hotel is old, but the room was comfortable. I was close to the CTA, so would hear trains go by a lot in the evening hours. Our shower's water was luke warm and had low pressure...would probably be my only complaint.

I was surprised that the hotel was so nice downstairs in the lobby and the surrounding areas. The rooms were a tad old looking, but were very clean. Beds a bit small, but it was overall ok. I really think that it was a good price for the hotel being so cheap. Also, I wasn't a fan at how far the hotel was from the Mag Mile because I've been so used to staying there, but it was nice being close to the parks. I may stay here again, but I'd prefer something closer up Michigan Ave., near the John Hancock building.

I was a bit leery because of negative reviews I read here, however our room was large, clean and comfortable. The public areas, particularly the stairwells show the hotel's age but were clean and for the most part newly carpeted. Considering price and location I would stay here again. Clearly this isn't the hotel for someone looking for luxury but for a big, clean, comfortable room across from Grant Park, within walking distance of Museums, Millineum Park, the El, etc. it's a good deal.

I feel it was a great place to stay and I had a good view. A lot of reviews I read before I went on the trip made me think the place was going to be horrid...It was the total opposite when I got there. I have a clean room with a decent view. Everything worked very well and I had hot water unlike some reviewers stated. The workers on strike weren't even a big deal simply because there were only like 5 out side striking. All in all I would def go there again.

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Drain in the bathtub wasn't good at all. Something was wrong. And our room was smell bad too, the air conditioning made worse. Good thing was it was just one night. But the location was the best though.

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Wonderful hotel for the price. Great location. Within walking distance to most of the sites we wanted to see. I'd recommend this hotel to anyone.

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My son & I stayed here for 3 nights. We chose the non-smoking room. When we get there, the room was very clean, no smell at home, and the bed was very comfortable. The bathroom was also very clean, and they gave us new sets of towels the next day. Aside from that, the lobby is very spacious and elegant. The hotel atmosphere was quiet.The staff were accommodating. Overall, our 3 nights stay was great. We get to walk and check places because it is just a walking distance to most of the places we visited. Will stay there again in our next visit.