OverviewLocated about a 3-minute walk from Jackson Blue Metro Station, and a 3-minute drive from Interstate 290 in downtown Chicago, the Central Loop Hotel is suitable for business or vacation travellers who require a centrally located hotel with on-site dining, free Wi-Fi and easy access to public transit and the highway.
Each of this smoke-free hotel's air-conditioned guest rooms comes equipped with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a desk, a coffeemaker, an iPod docking station, a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board. Rooms with a separate sitting area, a mini-fridge and a microwave are also available.
The hotel also offers a fitness room, free bottled water, meeting space, a business centre, laundry services and on-site dining at the Elephant & Castle, which serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service daily. Valet-only parking is an additional $41 per day and pets are not permitted.
Atrium Mall can be found about 8 minutes away via public transit, while the Chicago Board of Trade is a 3-minute walk away. The Navy Pier is roughly 9 minutes away by car and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a 20-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, valet-only parking $41/night, pets not permitted, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: October 6, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's location, rooms and staff.
Many reviewers praised the hotel's location, describing it as easy to find, central and safe. Lodgers found it close to the Art Institute, Union Station, the business district, Navy Pier, Millenium Park, Grant Park, museums, Magnificent Mile and restaurants. One patrons noted, "Convenient location in Chicago's loop. The Monroe and Jackson L stations are close by. The Chicago Institute of Art, Willis Tower, and Adams St. are all within comfortable walking distance".
The hotel's accommodations were enjoyed by numerous guests. They described their lodgings as clean, quiet, modern, well equipped and spacious, with comfortable beds and good Wi-Fi. Some travellers did feel their rooms were on the small side, however.
Several lodgers were pleased with the level of customer service they received. They characterized the staff as helpful, efficient, friendly and attentive.
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the hotel's value.
Some lodgers complained about the hotel's value. They found the hotel's valet-only parking fee to be expensive, and also felt a free breakfast should have been included. A few guests also felt the room rates were too high.
As noted above, numerous guests were very happy with their accommodations, although some reviewers did mention that their rooms were a bit small.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.3 out of 5 with a 94% recommendation rate from 1,195 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.6 out of 10 from 307 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #79 of 166 Chicago hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 165 reviews.
The author called the hotel on October 6, 2013 to verify some information.
