OverviewSituated in downtown Chicago and about a 30-second walk from Monroe-Red Metro Station, The Palmer House Hilton is suitable for business or vacation travellers who prefer a centrally located hotel with meeting/banquet space, on-site dining and easy highway access.
This hotel has 1,639 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering cable TV, an iPod docking station, a desk, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. In-room Wi-Fi is an additional $13.95 and wheelchair-accessible rooms are available upon request.
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a steam bath, fitness facilities (for an additional $10 per person), a spa and wellness centre, meeting/banquet space, a business centre, a beauty salon, a gift shop, laundry services, a florist, a lobby bar, a lounge (open Tuesday through Saturday serving dinner), and Lockwood Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. On-site parking is available for an additional $62 per day and pets are permitted for $50 per room, per stay.
Millennium Park is roughly a 3-minute walk east of the hotel, while Atrium Mall is about a 7-minute trip via public transit. Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) is an 11-minute walk southwest and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a 25-minute drive southwestward. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps).
Verified with a front desk agent: Wi-Fi $13.95/day, parking $62/day, pets permitted for $50/room/stay, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: August 29, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's location, staff and rooms.
Many guests enjoyed the hotel's location, and described it as central, and close to downtown, public transit, shopping, restaurants, Bank of America Theater, the Art Institute and Millennium Park. One lodger remarked, "The location is excellent as the proximity to many Chicago attractions is within walking distance. There is a metro stop just outside of the hotel, so transportation is not a problem".
The hotel's staff were the source of numerous compliments by reviewers, who characterized them as friendly, helpful and efficient. One guest noted, "The staff is delightful and so willing to accommodate requests and always there to assist and answer questions with a smile".
Several lodgers praised their accommodations at the hotel. They described their rooms as clean, nicely decorated, well equipped, well maintained, quiet and spacious, with comfortable beds and great city views. It should be noted, however, that a few patrons had complaints about their lodgings (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the added costs and the rooms.
A few reviewers were disappointed with the added costs they incurred while staying at the hotel. They complained that the added fees for Wi-Fi, the fitness facilities and parking were expensive, and also felt the rates were overpriced.
While several lodgers were pleased with their clean and comfortable rooms, a few guests had complaints about their accommodations. They reported small-sized rooms and bathrooms, no in-room coffee facilities and noise transfer from guests in adjacent rooms and the hallways.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #75 of 166 Chicago hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 3,465 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.3 out of 5 with a 90% recommendation rate from 3,092 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.5 out of 10 from 380 reviews.
The author called the hotel on August 29, 2013 to verify some information.
