More than 54 million people visited Chicago last year, and with all the Second City has to offer, it’s easy to see why. We consider ourselves really fortunate to live in the suburbs of Chicago and it’s always fun to play tourist in the city. Recently, my family enjoyed a staycation at Fairfield Inn & Suites Downtown Chicago/Magnificant Mile.
What I loved: Location
This hotel is perfectly situated for access to all of our favorite places in Chicago. The location is fantastic. Just blocks off Michigan Ave., we were able to walk to shopping, tons of restaurants (Do Rite Donuts was around the corner!), and Navy Pier. On the night we saw Hamilton, it was a little late, so we grabbed a cab back and it was quick and cheap, under $10.
What my teen loved: The Room
We had a King Suite, and that meant that there were two separate areas – the bedroom and a living area with a sleeper sofa couch, as well as two separate televisions. The teen was so happy to have a bit of her own space. There wasn’t a door between the two spaces, so she didn’t have total privacy, but it was enough to make her happy.
What pleased her even more was the discovery that she had access to Netflix on her television. (And my husband was pretty happy that he had ESPN, too.) Please don’t think that all we did was watch TV. She watched for maybe 20 minutes, but just knowing it was there brought her a lot of glee. It was a good way to unwind from all the fun and sensory stimulation of the city.
My teen loves trendy, so she was a fan of the decor in the room, as were my husband and I. It’s very sleek and modern. I loved that the floors felt like wood and weren’t carpeted.
The whole hotel felt very sleek and stylish.
What my husband liked: Breakfast
My husband appreciates value and the free breakfast that was included was both tasty and good for the budget. They offered hot options like eggs and sausage, in addition to cereal, fruit, yogurt, and other cold options. The morning we were there was busy – there were a lot of football fans in for the Bears game – and a guest had left their water running on the floor above, resulting in a leak into the breakfast room. (Note to self: Always double-check that you’ve turned off the water!)
The staff handled it beautifully, making sure that guests had the food they needed and apologizing for the rather minor inconvenience. I confirmed today that the minor damage has been fixed and everything is back to normal.
We all loved: The Shedd Aquarium Package
The Shedd Aquarium has been a family-favorite for more than a decade – it’s always fun to visit the dolphins and our other favorites there. It’s our happy place. So, we were thrilled that the Fairfield Inn offered a package that included VIP tickets to the Shedd Aquarium, as well as a Shedd stuffed animal. Our turtle was adorable and made for a fun companion throughout our weekend.
Even better: The package includes valet parking and you don’t have be out until 5 p.m. the day you leave. We checked out of the hotel, left our bags with the helpful folks at the front desk, had a great day with the fish and friends, and returned late afternoon to get the car and head home. It was so much easier than having to move and park the car, especially with a Bears game that day.
We all loved: Free Wifi
It was fast, too! That’s a hotel unicorn!
If you go
Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago
Location: 216 East Ontario Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611
Check-in and Check-out: 3 p.m. and 12 p.m.
Parking: Valet parking available for $58 with in and out privileges. Off-site parking is also available for $42.
We received a free stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago. All opinions are our own.
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