Depressing rooms with big dressing rooms
I paid an extra $25 or so at check-in to be upgraded to a business suite as the lady offered this - which meant free internet and 2 bathrooms and on a floor that had been renovated. So then, in the room is a console (screen/keyboard/mouse) that you can use to check info about the hotel and uh.... view the internet. It states very clearly that internet usage on this console is not included in any room package - so if you want internet to be free - bring your own device or pay twice. We had our iPad and were able to use internet WiFi no problem.
Later we enquired about getting some washing done - and were told the hotel could do it for us and charge per item - and that they could not refer us to a laundromat nearby - "there are none". So we checked the prices for washing and it was like $10 for a shirt (ironed) and $4 for a pair of socks. Needless to say we did not do washing in Chicago. Instead, at our next hotel in Washington DC they had a huge washer and a huge dryer for guests to use for $2 per load. So we did our washing in Washington for the price of a pair of socks at this sad establishment.
Onto the room itself. There are kind of wings to this building - or like deep recesses - between sections. We scored the sides of a recess so were opposite other rooms - privacy could be achieved by closing the blinds/curtains. The external bricks of the hotel are dark brown and don't throw much light at all. The interior decorators of our renovated room saw fit to decorate everything internally in dark tones - furnishings, walls, beds. The combination meant that you were sitting in a pool of gloom looking out onto other rooms and brown brick. Very, very depressing rooms.
The layout of the room was pretty bad. 2 double beds in the middle with not much room to walk around them. An armchair and table next to a window in one corner. There are big walk-in cupboards that you won't use - and would be better to take this space and do something with it.
The towel rail in our bathroom was loose and precariously balanced - as in - don't touch it because it will fall off the wall. Apart from that the 2 bathrooms were adequate and clean. Our room was clean and the beds were comfortable. The TV was good - high definition and easy to control. The hotel has some interesting, old, ornate common areas - particularly the front entrance and the ballrooms. They are worth a look if you happen to be in the area, but I would suggest that you don't stay the night. The ATM in the lobby does not charge a transaction fee for withdrawals (we bank in Australia) so that was a plus. Clearly Hilton need to work on this - an opportunity lost to grab a few more dollars has been missed!
There's a convenience snack store next to that where you can grab sandwiches, drinks etc. Well be prepared to pay $7 for a small tub of yoghurt, $9 for a sandwich etc. You get the idea. We did this and they were good and fresh - but you are paying for the shelf because at those prices the turnover is going to be low and throw out un-sold rate high.
On leaving, they will store your luggage for $2 a piece. We had 3 pieces to store. Other hotels I stayed in ALL stored luggage for no extra charge.
Hotel location is great. Chicago is a great city (our first time there) and we enjoyed our visit despite the depressing room and money milking tactics.