Congress Plaza Hotel Chicago

I went to DePaul and had always wanted to stay at Congress but had no reason to until this year and I was FLOORED at how beautiful it was. Sometimes you have an urge to be in an old ornately designed building and this made me feel like I was in the Tower of Terror but in a good way! AND THE ROOM. omg I felt like Eloise at the plaza. I feel like it is perfect for feeling fancy on a budget.

Traveled here for the Chicago marathon and from the 6 hotels I've used for this event THIS was my favorite. I got to sleep in so much later than when using other hotels, just get out of bed, change, cross the street and you're in the starting line! I've included a view from my room as a photo. The room was reasonably big and nice by Chicago standards (and we got a very good price for this expensive weekend event!). The furniture was pretty new. Some parts of the rooms could show their age (hello bathroom fan not working), but the staff took note and hopefully it's changed for the next guest. The bed was comfy which is all you really need before running a marathon. There's a minifridge to keep anything you have cold. I think I saw microwaves near the vending machines, but didn't get to use one. The gym on the ground floor was pretty well equipped according to my husband who lifts weights as his main workout. They had a pasta dinner before the race too which is a life saver since it's so difficult to get a seat at a restaurant the day before. Bathroom had good shower pressure and hot water (especially for that big of a hotel, I always worry about this!). They have ample space on the ground floor to lock your bags (before checkin or before leaving the hotel/after checkout). The lobby has a nice waiting area if you don't want to walk around the city before getting your room.

I had a suite with a lake view. It was gorgeous. The room /suite was clean and comfortable and I really enjoyed it. I will probably stay there again. It was close to the Art Institute which I visit all the time in Chicago and across from the park. The staff was very friendly and helpful and helped me get into the room early.

Nice, charming quaint hotel. It has the glamor and glitz of downtown Chicago, but many of the facilities are a bit old (e.g. heating, hot water, etc), so you can expect sometimes issues with them. The price was reasonable given the location and the events going on in Chicago. I would recommend it for a short-term stay.