Awesome!
My husband traveled to Chicago for our anniversary and chose the Hotel Monaco after much research for a comfortable, upscale hotel in a great location and that is exactly what we got! We are Kimpton reward members so we knew that the hotel chain is great and offers many benefits.
Two days before our arrival, I got an email from the front desk manager, Amy, which included information about the hotel's amenities and some tips for Chicago travel. I wrote her back and asked for transportation information from OHare and she promptly replied with easy directions by taxi or train. This was my first trip to Chicago and riding the train, but her directions were simple to follow and we had no problems. Very nice!
When we got to the hotel (just a few blocks walk from the blue line train), Frances greeted us with a friendly smile and great warmth. We were traveling on the weekend of our anniversary and she made sure we were in a room overlooking the river so we could enjoy the city views. We LOVED seeing the water taxis and tour boats go by all day long.
The rooms at the Monaco are really cute- the decor is a little funky and colorful. The best part has to be the window seats, which you will probably read about in every review for this hotel. They really add a nice touch, and it's a perfect place to relax after a long day or walking and seeing the sights.
After just a few minutes in our room the concierge, Ryan, sent up a bottle of champagne and cupcakes for our anniversary- which was perfect timing! The window seat was an awesome place to enjoy the treats and we certainly did!
The hotel's wine/ sangria hour is nice and we enjoyed talking to some of the staff and getting advice on Chicago's best sights. Ryan Parker, the assistant manager, was great and extremely welcoming.
One of my favorite perks was the bikes they have to lend. My husband and I used them to bike to Lincoln Park one day and south on Lake Shore drive all the way to Hyde Park the next. It was an awesome way to see the city and the lake, and we enjoyed the relief from walking! The bikes are cruisers and are super cool and easy to ride. Definitely check them out!
I would definitely recommend this hotel. It was very close to all of the sights we were interested in. We went without a taxi the entire trip- just the red line to Wrigley one day. The staff is excellent and I really couldn't have asked for more.