I booked this hotel after reading rave reviews. They were wrong. The hotel itself is beautiful and luxurious, the service was spotty. When I checked in, they asked for a credit card to secure any use of amenities. I provided my card. They told me it was their policy to automatically charge $150 to the card ""for security purposes"" and that I would be refunded the $150 when I checked out. I objected, as this is NOT common practice in all but the poorest hotels. They insisted if I did not allow the $150 I would not get the room. I allowed the charge. Because I had already paid for the use of amenities, I ate at the hotel restaurant one night and charged it to my room. At check out, they said they would have to charge the meal in addition to the $150 dollars and that it would now take 3-5 days to refund the $150 I was owed!! They would not hear of the option of simply subtracting the $45 meal from the $150 and refunding $105. This is far from standard practice, and the insistence on payments came with a horrible attitude from the clerk.\r
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While I was at the hotel, most staff provided good service. However, the day I checked out, I asked the gentleman who had been hailing me taxis all week, to hail one for me. He looked at my suitcase and pointed to the street corner and said ""you should be able to get one out there."" This is appalling!!! Simply because I am leaving the hotel does not mean service should tank.\r
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Finally, the amenities are overpriced, even for a top hotel in Chicago. Printing from the business office is $1.00 a page, Vueve Cliqout Yellow Label was $110 a bottle, $80-85 was the standard price everywhere else in Chicago. It is too bad that such a lovely facility falls apart with its employees.\r
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I will not stay here again.
Pros: lovely furnishings and room
Cons: service, price, service, and service
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