HotelChatter

For the $69 (plus $11 taxes for a total of $80), we were handed our RFID keycard to room 601, a standard king room with a 32" flat-screen TV, free WiFi and a view onto Huron Street. We weren't quite sure what to expect, but we're happy to report that we liked it and would return.

Amenities: Bathroom toiletries are H2O, which is kind of a big deal in Chicago. We especially liked the milk hand soap bar and considered taking it with us on checkout. Rooms do not have coffee/hot water makers, but to counter this the hotel offers complimentary tea and coffee in the lobby bar ever morning. That's a great way to get guests to socialize, but that also means getting dressed and proper before having our coffee, and that's asking a bit much.

Internet Connect: WiFi is totally free and relatively fast in both the rooms and in the lobby/bar.

What We Liked: The price, naturally. Nonetheless, three things really solidified the Felix as a good Chicago hotel option for us: the super comfy bed, the free and fast WiFi and the premium location within walking distance to everything in River North (and beyond, depending how much you walk). The design of the place was modern and the spirit reminded us of the playfulness of Kimpton Hotels.

What We Didn't Like: We should've taken a hint from the Foursquare tips that the rooms here are small, but seeing it for ourselves, we understood better. Sure, the rooms are cozy, but the overall size isn't the problem; the problem is that other things in the room must be small to best use the space. The closet is a shallow niche, the sidechair is squat and pretty ugly, the desk is thin and directly under the TV and the folding luggage rack probably wouldn't do very well with a large, checked luggage on it.

Bottom Line: For $69, it was a steal. We love its eco-friendliness (it's the first LEED-certified hotel in the Windy City), the amenities, the design of the lobby, the comfy king bed and speed with which they were able to accommodate us. On the other hand, it could get tight for a family or even a couple and we wouldn't recommend staying more than four consecutive nights as it's hard to spread out and feel at home in the space.

[Photos: Cynthia Drescher for HotelChatter]