InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

Spent the weekend and disappointed in this once great hotel. Only book the historic tower. The modern tower is horrible. It looks like a cheep boutique hotel. Now I know why there was black liquid spatters all over the bathroom, another reviewer had the same experience months before. So the management is fully aware there is a problem yet book these rooms with unsuspecting visitors. It can’t be safe when something is spewing out of your heat, cooling and exhaust systems. I would not allow my son to shower, nor did I. The system for snacks is absolutely absurd. Touch it for more than 30 seconds… you bought it. Why don’t you just sell snakes at your gift shop, this practice makes me question who manages this property. Truth be told this is a nice place to go to an event. This is one of the worst hotels I have had the displeasure of spending the night. Will never return.

The reception staff was friendly and upgraded our room because we were IHG members. While the room was indeed quite large, it was spartan with only a single chair for the both of us and not much in the way of amenities commonly found in a hotel of this class. We had breakfast at the hotel and it was incredibly expensive for what one received. I had two eggs over medium and two pieces of toast for $ 15. The toast arrived cold and unbuttered and the eggs were cold. We stay at several downtown Chicago hotels a year and this is the only one that has not met expectations.

Came here with the wife and wasn’t impressed.
One lady was working the front desk to get people checked in, had a long line of about 8 different parties.
Called to order some new pillows due to the ones on the bed being thick and high probably 5 inches thick with no softness.
Took not even lieing 6 minutes of the phone ringing till someone picked it up.
Rooms a little small
The air conditioner is throwing out black foam everywhere… Sort of odd.
Won’t came back.

Marianna at the front desk was amazingly courteous, patient and resourceful. We originally booked two rooms for our family of 6, but we really wanted a suite that would sleep all 6 of us (and we had been told on the phone that there wasn’t one). Even though it was a very busy time, she took the time to find us a suite that would sleep all six of us, and then checked with her manager to give us a low rate as well as canceling our other room for free. She called about 45 mns later to be sure we were satisfied. We were! It was a great start to our weekend!
The other staff have been wonderful as well. The bell men are eager to help yet not pushy and the pool and fitness center attendant was very gracious — offering us towels, ear buds, lockers and a description of the facilities. The pool is incredible — huge and beautifully tiled with a balcony. It’s like a trip back in time. No hot tub though. The fitness center is two levels with a weight room and free to guests.
The rooms are smallish like they normally are in an old hotel, but clean and the beds are new. We are in the Grand Tower, and It suits us fine but for luxury I would try the Executive Tower. I like the character of old hotels so I wouldn’t change a thing — ESP in the pool area. This trip into Chicago was a Santa gift for a family day and Hotel Intercontinental has been exceeding our expectations. We used Spot Hero to find parking one block away ($ 25 for 24 hours). Very pleased!

InterConti Chicago provides great service, excellent location and typical InterConti rooms and amenities. The Grand Tower on this property is significantly better than the ‘executive’ tower but both are more than acceptable.
There’s a Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse on property and it is excellent I told by local folks other than the hotel’s concierge. The Starbucks on premises helps.

My wife and I booked a Saturday night at the Intercontinental for a short getaway. We arrived just after 6pm and my wife went to check in as I parked the car. She waited for quite awhile to do check in. The representative did provide her two breakfast coupons for the following morning for her trouble.
We were given a room on the end of the hall of the 19^th floor. While the room was clean and acceptable, we were disappointed with the lack of «plushness» that we expected from a 4−½ star hotel. The room reminded me of a 3-​star in NY. The bed was comfortable, but other than that, nothing special.
I would recommend another hotel if you are looking for luxury.

Deceiving… 67 $ per night to park your car.
29 $ for breakfast…
Rooms are very small, old and outdated. Thin walls so you hear everything. How this hotel is considered 4 stars is beyond me!
The location is good and that’s it…
Proceed with caution.

Came here for a wedding and was really impressed. I can’t review the rooms because we didn’t stay here but we did hang out in the lobby and the banquet hall for the wedding. It was a very elegant experience. The vintage décor and feel of this hotel makes you think of the years when guys like Al Capone roamed the streets of Chicago and frequented places like this.
It was one of the best weddings I’ve ever attended and they offered a menu instead of one standard dish for dinner. I ordered the monk fish which I really liked. My wife ordered the braised beef which I tried and it was equally amazing.
The evening was extremely enjoyable and we still talk about it when we remember that night. I would love to go back in the future an stay in the hotel as a guest.

Thank you for your follow up Markus, as i stated previously, i was unhappy with how things turned up while i stayed there. Things could have gone a lot wrong had i not have my wallet with me, thinking that things were all taken care off. I do however believe in giving honest reviews and updating them as needed. I do like the fact that you followedup and address this issue. For this, i have updated my review to reflect this appreciation.
Best,
Moby M.

This hotel is wonderfully convenient to all the shops and food on Magnificent Mile. It was also a perfect location to get to my conference. Overall, the hotel is nice but not too fancy. Pricey, for sure, but work was paying. As a rewards member, you receive free wifi and free Starbucks coffee/​tea coupon. The shop is attached to the hotel.
Check-​in was easy and did not take long. However, they had an issue finding me in their rewards system. This seems to be a major problem with this rewards program. They ended up creating a new account for me (without telling me so). The same was done on a trip to a sister hotel in Denver. I ended up with 3 seprate accounts. Ridiculous. They gotta work that out. You must be a rewards member to be able to use the gym for free. When I get up there, the attendant tells me that they don’t have me down as a member and I need to rectify at the front desk. Well, I get to the front desk and they tell me that they DO have me down as a member. WTH, people. I did get to use the gym cause the attendant took my email down, but this is just silly and poor systems communication.
The room was interesting. Fairly decent size overall, but I thought the beds were on the small size. In a double room, fitting two people in a bed would be tight. I wish the shower was versatile so you could use different pressure and angles. Also, a section of the bathroom mirror is magnified — quite the surprise when you walk in.
Check out the historic pool if you are staying. Mom loved the robe in the room.

Overall we really enjoyed our stay here. We stayed in the grand tower & thought it was great! The rooms are updated, comfortable, & really quiet (especially compared to a few other places I’ve stayed downtown — so helpful for a great night’s sleep!). I was a little nervous about the rooms from reading previous reviews, but we were really pleased.
We booked over the phone with the national reservation line & the agent I spoke with gave me information about the room that wasn’t exactly true. If you’re booking over the phone, I would speak with people at the hotel itself to answer any questions about rooms, views, etc. The management team at the actual hotel was able to sort things out & honor our requests which was great! We ended up with a wonderful view of Michigan Avenue!
Most of the staff was incredible! Helpful, friendly, and kind. We had a few experiences with front desk staff that were just okay. Also, they could put a few more coffee pods in the room. We only had enough for one cup of regular coffee in our 2 double bed room. I requested another to be sent up, but never received it. Not a huge deal, but sometimes small improvements go a long way!

Centrally located next to all of the shopping, bars and restaurants but still has a professional setting. You are literally steps away from the best Chicago has go offer from food to tourist attracts to shopping. The concierge was magnificent and we used her recommendations daily. Stayed In the renovated historic tower. The reviews said to expect a small bathroom but I had a bathroom big enough for 5 people with a spacious standing shower and large soaker tub.
Beneath the modern amenities there was a historic touch on floors 5 – 14! The pool as many have said is an awesome historic touch it just makes you feel like a socialite in the 1920s enjoying a heated escape from the harsh Chicago winds.
Comfy beds, great service, Starbucks in the lobby, Michael Jordan Steakhouse on main and a wine, noche and chocolate bar attached.
Everything was wonderful, i just wished for a hot tub and poolside bar service go that extra mile. I will stay here again.

This past weekend I stayed here. It wasn’t a terrible experience but it wasn’t great, and certainly not worth the money that I spent.
There were quite a few hiccups with the reservation, prepaid mind you, that left a bad taste in my mouth before I even reached the hotel. I reserved a room a month before my arrival and while they were able to get me a room on my arrival date, it wasn’t the type of room that I originally reserved. So for a romantic birthday getaway we had to be in a double instead of a king room. Yes I understand the hotel was booked, that’s why I reserved a month in advance. No one seemed interested in making things right, other than a room (that I already paid for).
The pictures make the hotel seem a little grander than it does in person. The pool was every bit as nice as the photos (except for the peeling paint on the ceiling). The rooms were nothing more than what I would find at a 3 star hotel for a lot less money. (Yes I know Chicago has small rooms, I did in fact live there at one point). The service was not 4 star. Were they mean or nasty? No, but they were not accommodating and certainly just did the bare minimum. I didn’t even order room service because the front desk is a little harsh when answering the phone so I thought why bother?
The hotel is in a great location and the valet staff is warm and welcoming but apparently that’s just about all your money gets you here. I was planning the American Girl Doll trip, but I might just skip it at the Intercontinental.

Unquestionably the location in the center of Chicago and Michigan Avenue is great. Some architectural aspects are of historic interest and in that sense remarkable too, for example swimming pool, lobby, tower. The rooms are mediocre, the hallways disgusting (see photographs). There is simply no excuse for such a rundown appearance for a $$$ hotel that wants to be noted.

I ended up staying here for an event for two nights. I’ll start by saying the hotel is stunning, inside and out. It has such charm and character — very classically beautiful. The room itself was OK on the surface, but it had some issues which I’ll explain in a bit. The conference center was great as well — decent Internet connectivity and the food that was served as part of the event was surprisingly good. I end up going to a lot of conferences at hotels for work, and the food is typical cafeteria garbage, but this was definitely a step above. The location of the hotel is just about perfect. It’s in a great part of town — tons of options for shopping and eating.
So the negatives…
First, parking is $ 67 for valet parking. I didn’t rent a car for that reason alone. I’m told that $ 67 is the typical rate in this area, but still, that’s just ridiculous. From what I understand, the parking garage is not owned by the hotel, so they do not necessarily set the rates.
Secondly, Internet is nearly $ 20/​night. If you are an IHG member, it’s free. I am a member, but they did not offer me an Internet code when I checked in (I guess my membership info was not tied to the reservation?). Despite that, the Internet connection is fast and pretty solid. In any case, I did end up getting a code for free…
Next, the room details were pretty disappointing. The bed and the rest of the furniture were pretty comfortable, but that’s about it. The bathroom was bad… the shower would not drain properly (always good taking a shower in 8−10″ of water), the toilet would barely flush, and the sink dripped constantly. Also, the towel rack (which is in the shower) was barely hanging on to the wall — it was at a 45 degree angle, and any more weight would have likely caused it to come out completely. The refrigerator is a nice touch, but not when it’s nearly completely full of mini-​bar items — you are left with a very, very small area for your own personal items. In my case, that space was full of the previous guests leftovers… gross.
So with all the negatives, why 3 stars you may ask? Well, I left a review with the hotel directly prior to writing this review. Surprisingly, the front desk manager called me and listened to my concerns and was very apologetic. He took a genuine interest in the problems I experienced and wanted to make sure they were resolved. I was also offered a discount on a future stay and he assured me that big renovations were due for the tower I was staying in.
Would I stay here again? Not in its current state. I’m curious to see what renovations are planned, but as it is right now, I really don’t feel it’s worth the price. The reality is, I’ve stayed in $ 100−120/night hotels with nicer and better kept rooms.

Hoping for a good view and a central location for the night, we stayed here. The room prices aren’t terrible for a hotel room in a city. The rooms themselves, however, are laughable.
First of all, the cheapest parking nearby is $ 48. Ouch.
Secondly, the room is tiny. We are on the 18^th floor, and the room is tiny. And the view is below average.
Thirdly, the tub was gross. I was really looking forward to a nice bath… but the paint in the tub was peeling, and the bottom of the tub was textured for grip (impossible to clean).
The fridge will charge crazy fees to your room if you look at it funny.
I’m afraid to use the soap in case they charge me for it.
Our total stay was less than twelve hours. We booked our room with points (free… Or is it…), and so far have paid almost $ 80 just to exist in this room. The only consolation is that we got free small drinks at Starbucks, so I guess it balances out.

Came to the hotel for an event. We needed to stay for 5 days and so we did. When I made the reservation, the gentleman on the phone signed me up for the hotel rewards program and now I’m thankful that he did. By doing so, I got free internet and free starbucks upon check in. Great perks just for being a member!
The hotel itself is gorgeous. It’s old but well maintained. The history just reeks from it’s pores. And the Pool. My god, talk about breath taking! Our room was a king room and it was comfortable. The husband loved the bed, but I found it too soft, so I spoke to the staff at the desk and they sent up a fold away bed for me, at no cost. Anthony was a delight.
All in all this is a hotel and staff that loves to help. They are beyond par with their social networking too! If I checked in on Unilocal,they responded on twitter! I loved that. They are very intouch with their social media!
When I come back to Chicago, I hope I get to stay here again!

I booked this hotel because it was in a perfect location, walking distance to several locations I wanted to visit. The hotel is in a beautiful historic building with a wonderful pool that I am told Johnny Weissmuller once swam in. (It was originally built as a fitness center). My grandchildren enjoyed the pool both days that we were there.
The view from our widow was outstanding and I never got tired of looking out. Michael Jordan’s Steak House is downstairs as well as a Starbucks.
If you are in Chicago to do some shopping on the Mag Mile, this place is a great place to land afterwards.

First review? Ok.
Location: 5 stars– Located in the center of downtown. Perfect for a tourist looking to walk everywhere. 5 minutes from Grant Park and the Bean.
Service: 5 stars — I booked on priceline but was still able to get upgraded to a Jr Suite. Nightly turn down service and a printed weather report for tomorrow make you really feel at home.
Room: 5 stars — The building is a 100 year old converted fitness center. The fact they were able to create a hotel here at all is amazing. I’m sure some rooms are nicer than others. Mine was awesome.
I would totally stay here again.

I went to a private «gala» event here a couple weeks ago — it was on the 5^th floor and it was just lovely. The food, as well, as quite good, considering it was several hundred people. There was a butter lettuce, grilled pear and blue cheese salad, and even my very cheese snobby husband though the cheese was exceptional, and the chicken *yes, even the chicken* for dinner was very good — I even ate the crispy skin, which is saying something because I usually don’t. If you’re looking for an event space, I thought the hospitality was 5 star, food 4 star, and just a quality overall experience.
Also, you can park after 4:30 at the lot down the street for only $ 13! Amazing deal.