Remember our trip to Chicago a while back? The one that began a bit adventurous? Luckily, once we finally made it there, there was nothing adventurous about our hotel, the Swissôtel. If you’ve never heard of the Swissôtel, that’s probably because there is only one in the U.S. & three in the Americas (the other two are in Quito & Lima). Located in the heart of the Loop, right along the river & only steps from the Navy Pier, this hotel is comfortable, modern, & even a bit luxurious.Lets start with the elevators. You don’t push the up button to go up to your room. You type in your floor on a key pad & an elevator comes just for you. I’ve stayed in European hotels with this feature, but this is my first time seeing this in an American hotel (& based on the number of confused American visitors, I’m guessing they hadn’t either). It makes the run-of-the-mill ride in the elevator a little bit more fun.
Our room on the 37th floor looked out on many of the new condo buildings popping up downtown. But of you focused between the buildings, there was a stunning view of Lake Michigan, the Field Museum & Soldier Field. The best view was found at the end of our hall: an unobstructed view of the Navy Pier, all lit up in it’s touristy glory.
As any traveler will tell you, a comfortable hotel bed is key to a good nights sleep in an unfamiliar place. I’m officially giving the Swissôtel the award for The World’s Most Comfortable Bed. The sheets were incredibly soft, the duvet puffy & luxurious, the pillows bountiful. Directly across from the World’s Most Comfortable Bed was a large work station (seriously, bigger than my desk at work) & entertainment center, including a giant 50″ flat screen TV. A highlight of the room was the large black & white photographs taken around Chicago – I really appreciate it when a hotel goes the extra step to use art from local artists. The closet was large enough for two suitcases & quite a few hanging garments. The luxurious feel continued in the bathroom, which felt very spa-like, with a giant corner glass walled shower & a soaking tub.
Along with the European luxury was the hotel’s many amenities. What will surprise many American visitors, though, is the charge for these. A $15 charge to use the hotel’s fitness center & pool (which did offer amazing views from the 42nd floor). Parking is very high, even for a downtown hotel, at $30 a night (however, the L is located just a few blocks away). The staff was very gracious & genuine, although we were surprised when the bellman didn’t know the location of the nearest brown line L stop (being regular users of public transportation at home, this seems like a pretty run of the mill question).
While definitely geared toward business clientele, the Swissôtel is also a comfortable stay for families, groups of girlfriends, & couples traveling to Chicago. We never would have chosen the Swissôtel if we hadn’t scored a discounted rate (make sure & poke around a bit before you book), but I’m glad we did. I won’t hesitate to chose this warm, comfortable hotel again.
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