60601 Travel Guide

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You Can't Miss Fairmont Chicago's Reception Desk

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 200 North Columbus Drive [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
January 17, 2012 at 9:35 AM | by | Comment (1)

Wow. It has been a while since we last stepped into the lobby of The Fairmont Chicago. In fact, the hotel came out of a $50 million renovation in 2010 and we only saw the place in its shiny newness just last month. First impressions? Niiiice. Oh, it's still vanilla enough to please the majority of travelers, but there's a hint of an Amazon jungle in those dark woods and LED underlights.

Specifically our attention was drawn to the reception backsplash—an undulating wave pattern of lights that begins at the ceiling, and flows down underneath the desk, out towards the center of the lobby floor. We like it and yet...

Does this look like a Fairmont to you?

[Photo: HotelChatter]

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Seeking Out the Lobby Christmas Tree at the Fairmont Chicago

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 200 North Columbus [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
December 8, 2011 at 4:41 PM | by | Comments (0)

Getting in the Christmas spirit may be easy for those who love wearing kitschy knit vests, or going shopping amid crowds, or baking in general, but we pretty much rely on hotel lobbies to jolt us from our pre-winter malaise. When the trees go up and the garlands come down the staircases, it's pretty hard to resist the warm fuzzies that rise in our gut, and thus we typically go seeking out hotel lobbies with classic scenes.

A few days ago in Chicago, we popped into The Fairmont for this very reason.

The Fairmont is a hotel we tend to forget exists, since it's behind the stocky business buildings of Michigan Avenue and covered from the south by the monolithic Aon Center. Oddly it's been the presence of the new Radisson Blu Chicago that's drawn us back to the area. Guess what, though—the Blu doesn't have a tree! So across the street it is.

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How Do You Wash theWit?

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 201 N. State Street [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
December 1, 2011 at 3:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

How do you wash theWit? Very carefully...or rather gracefully as if it's a dance, if you're one of the window washers we watched prance across the glass of theWit Hotel in Chicago earlier today. No, they weren't messing around; they were just doing their job, which involves the very cool combination of walking and washing a piece of stunning modern architecture, while rappeling down it at the same time.

No awkward window washer carts here, which is a good thing considering what can sometimes happen if a cart goes rogue in the wind.

One more thing: let this be a reminder to always yield those warnings about window washing happening while you're staying in a hotel. Typically a little note will be placed on your pillow or desk regarding washing times, along with advice to keep your curtains closed. We know these guys probably have some great stories...

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A Somewhat Secret $9 Room Upgrade at the Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 221 North Columbus Drive [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
November 7, 2011 at 5:15 PM | by | Comments (2)

If all our stories on the US' very first Radisson Blu has you plotting a stay, you may want to remember this little upgrading trick for the future.

When we booked our City View King for a total of $287 on the hotel website, all was normal. Then we received the confirmation email, with a tempting little red notice that upgrade options were available, from only $9. After your room purchase is complete, Radisson would like to sap a few extra dollars (like $9 for the chance at a one-category upgrade or $39 for an 11am early check-in) from your wallet.

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Radisson Blu Peekaboo: The New Chicago Hotel Has a Running Track, Billiards Room

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 221 North Columbus Drive [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
November 4, 2011 at 3:33 PM | by | Comments (0)


The Aqua wall and weights just inside the gym entrance

Happy Friday! We've spent most of this week filling you in on everything from the beds and balconies to the design details of the just-opened Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago, but there's one huge area we've saved for last: the massive fitness center, outdoor activity deck and two pools.

The reason for these extra amenities and the large gym is the fact that the Aqua Tower is also a condominium. Want to live above the Radisson Blu hotel? You can, and if you do, you'll need more than a typically small hotel-size gym. Thus the fitness center is 8,000 square feet with new machines, stretching areas and floor-to-ceiling windows. Inside it is also what we'd consider one of the coolest "secret" amenities of the hotel: a basketball half-court.

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Paper Lamps and a Secret Art Gallery at the Radisson Blu Chicago

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 221 North Columbus Drive [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
November 3, 2011 at 5:59 PM | by | Comments (3)

Welcome to our newest new feature, Design Thursdays! Thursdays are now our day to focus on hotel design through photo tours, video walkthroughs and interviews with hotel designers. Got a cool hotel design story we should know about? Let us know.

Now that the United States finally has its first Radisson Blu hotel—the Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago—what kind of awesome modern design details can you expect to find when checking in?

To check out all the nooks and crannies of the room, see our previous story, photo gallery and video here, but if you're more interested in the lobby, bar, restaurant and art gallery, you're in the right place. Yes—we said art gallery!

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Inside the Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago, the First Radisson Blu in the United States

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 221 North Columbus Drive [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
November 2, 2011 at 4:58 PM | by | Comments (0)

Guess what? The United States finally has a Radisson Blu hotel, and it's in Chicago in an architecturally striking building named the Aqua Tower. This very first Radisson Blu on US soil only opened to paying guests last night—November 1—and since we just happened to be in Chicago enjoying the fall foliage, we also spent the night to enjoy some of that "new hotel smell."

Booking directly on the hotel website we paid $287 total for the lowest category room, a "City View" with a king bed. So what did we think of room 720?

For photos and video of the Radisson Blu Aqua Chicago, keep reading!

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Virgin Hotels' First Location Will Be Chicago

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 203 N Wabash Ave [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
October 24, 2011 at 11:16 AM | by | Comments (2)

Well, here's the news we've been waiting for for over a year now. The location of the first-ever Virgin Hotel has been announced, and it's not quite what we were anticipating: Chicago—specifically the Dearborn Bank Building in the north Loop—will welcome the brand's 250-room debut in Fall 2013. And boy have they put a lot of thought into this decision!

Virgin announced this morning at 11am that Chicago was chosen because it's "economically vibrant, culturally exciting, and a sports and entertainment hub." They neglected to mention that this yet-to-be renovated building also finds itself smack in the middle of an area populated by tons of other hotels.

Whether this is just a way to show their own superiority over lesser hotel beings, or tap into a well-visited section of the city (or both), we can't say. But to forgo the expected cities like NYC, SF or Miami is obviously Virgin's way of saying they want to establish their presence as a major player in the up-and-coming hotel world from the get-go. And really, who's about to stop them?

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Soak in Lake Michigan from The Deep-Soaking Tub at The Park Hyatt Chicago

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 800 N. Michigan Ave [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
September 29, 2011 at 4:45 PM | by | Comments (0)

We're not only suckers for a killer view here at HotelChatter, we're suckers for a deep-soaking tub with a killer view, a few of which we've lusted after here.

But the other week when we were in Chicago we got to soak in the views of Lake Michigan while doing some soaking of our own in the tub at the Park Hyatt Chicago.

This here is the view from the hotel's Lake Suite, an enormous suite on the 16th floor with prime views of the Water Tower and in the distance, Lake Michigan. And yes, you can even see this view while sitting in the suite's oversized tub, thanks to a set of sliding wood doors that open out to the bedroom.

Further setting the mood are trio of candles and a vessel of bath salts. Even better, the entire hotel has free WiFi so you could actually peruse your iPad while soaking if you want. (We didn't trust our clumsy selves to do that.)

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What is This at The Public Chicago?

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 1301 North State Parkway [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
September 28, 2011 at 11:26 AM | by | Comments (0)

We like to keep it fun but informative here at HotelChatter so our newest series, What is This? is devoted to odd-looking items in hotel rooms that upon first glance look as if they serve only a decorative purpose. But everything happens for a reason, right? And we're here to tell you what these things really do.

The other week during our stay at Public Chicago we found a plethora of goodies in our hotel room but this leather pull near at the top of the nightstand had us perplexed as we've never seen anything like this before, just hanging out all by its lonesom. What is this, we asked?

There was only way to find out--by pulling it.

And when we did, a backlight lit up behind the bed. Here, allow us to show you some before and after pictures below.

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What Does The Public Think of Public?

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 1301 North State Parkway [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
September 27, 2011 at 4:53 PM | by | Comments (0)

We gave you the complete lowdown on Ian Schrager's brand new Public Chicago hotel the other week but today we decided to check in with the rest of the general public on TripAdvisor to see what their reactions are. And so far, so good. Or as good as it can be with just three reviews.

The first reviewer claimed to stumble across the hotel by accident but is now a devoted fan, especially of the delicious The Pump Room:

The other thing...I don't often eat in hotel restaurants, and I've NEVER done this before but I stayed two nights and ate lunch and dinner in the hotel both days. The Pump Room may very well be my favorite restaurant, so even if you aren't staying there definitely go for lunch or dinner. There's a great bar on the other side of the lobby too where you can get some some of the lunch entrees.

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We've Been So Busy in Public, We Nearly Forgot About The Radisson Blu Aqua

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 221 N. Columbus Drive [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
September 19, 2011 at 9:00 AM | by | Comments (0)

While we've been dying over the just opened Public Chicago, we can't forget that another amazing new hotel brand will grace the Windy City very soon--The Radisson Blu Aqua, the very first Radisson Blu hotel for the U.S.

A rep for the hotel sent us some renderings of the hotel's public spaces as well as guestroom shot. Rooms are available on opening night--October 31, Halloween for $211 and that includes free WiFi. We'll have more on the Radisson razzmazztazz later this week but for now, sit back and enjoy the pics!

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