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Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago
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Congress Plaza Hotel

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Reviews: 14Photos: 7
520 S Michigan Ave
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Congress Plaza Hotel: Congress Plaza-still on strike    Check Rates
  • Tip Rating:
    • Dabs
  • Updated By Dabs on May 20, 2007
    • 5/19/07 update-I walked past today and there are still picketers outside this hotel

    This isn't a statement for or against unions, the workers at the Congress Hotel or the hotel management since I'm not all that familiar with the issues, just a warning to anyone considering staying there.

    Workers at the Congress Plaza Hotel have been striking since June 2003 and from what I understand the protesters are out there every day although not in great numbers and low on enthusiasm now that the strike is nearing it's 4th anniversary. Just my opinion, a hotel with striking employees would not be my first choice for accomodations.

  • Theme: Hotel
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Congress Plaza Hotel: Downtown Hotel    Check Rates
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    • hunterV
  • Updated By hunterV on February 2, 2004
    • Hotel's emblem, Chicago - Chicago
    Hotel's emblem, Chicago
    by hunterV
    We, ten Ukrainian educators from Luhansk, stayed in this hotel three days and two nights.
    It was striking to see the old hall, the grand piano - a museum piece - and lots of other well-known places that made that hotel famous.
    I had a good room - I think the number was 1107 - with a view of Sear Tower.
    I felt I traveled in time and I lived in the twenties of the last century...

    Gazebo Restaurant (American cuisine, relaxed atmosphere, big choice of dishes); Tavern Tap (cocktails, full menu & popcorn, electronic games, pool table & big screen television); Fitness Center located in the lower level.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$120-180    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Phone: (312) 427-3800
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Congress Plaza Hotel: lake view    Check Rates
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    • traveloturc
  • By traveloturc on June 8, 2006
    • michigan lake from the hotel room - Chicago
    michigan lake from the hotel
    room
    by traveloturc
    There was a strike in my visit but still the rest of the personnel try to help you and I had by chance a very beautiful room at the top floor of the hotel with excellent view of the lake

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$80-120    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Congress Plaza Hotel: I stayed at the Congress Hotel...    Check Rates
  • Tip Rating:
    • brucegt
  • By brucegt on August 24, 2002
    • I stayed at the Congress Hotel and it has a nice view of the Lake.

    It has less street traffic noise, you can walk across the street on to the park, and to the Navy Pier.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Comparison: about average
  • Directions: I think it is off of Lasalle and Michigan, but please check with the website listed below.
  • Other Contact: http://www.congresshotel.com/sit
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Congress Plaza Hotel: This is THE Place to Be    Check Rates
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    • Fewf
  • Updated By Fewf on August 2, 2006
    • We were lucky enough to be traveling when a bunch of this hotel's employees were on strike. For us, this meant that we had to cross a picket line to enter (they were peaceful and never even said anything), that room service was unavailable...and that the prices were ridiculously low. The service, despite the strike, was impeccable. And the views from the windows were just as amazing as they must always be.

    It's a great upper-class hotel, right in the middle of town, and within a stone's throw of the lake. So far as I understand, a bunch of US Presidents have stayed here, including Thomas Jefferson.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Directions: You know that spot right in the middle of the west side of Grant Park where there's that little circular arc of a road? Right across from that.
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Congress Plaza Hotel: Terrible. Do not stay here...    Check Rates
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    • chrisf05
  • By chrisf05 on October 29, 2007
    • DO NOT STAY HERE!!!!! After we checked in.. They gave us the wrong directions to our room & we got lost finding what we thought was our room, we finely found what we thought was our room only to find out both keys didn't work to the door.. Well unknown to us they have 2 of the same room no#'s. ARGH Then we wait 30 minutes in the hall for them to send up someone with new keys & no one shows up, we get agravated & went back down to the lobby (that's when we found out they have 2 of the same rooms with the same room no#).. On top of this they didn't have the room I reserved/requested & on top of all this the whole place was terrible, it was old, every thing smelled like curry, it was in terrible shape (the halls, doors, every thing).. Not worth the money & we didn't even get to see the room which we figured was just as bad as every thing else. We just told them to give us our money back & we left. If your looking for a romantic getaway go to the Essence Suites in Orland Park or the Sybaris.. We ended up at the Essence & it was well worth the agravation... Oh & the hotel was on Strike. They had strikers out front. ARGH Terrible Terrible Hotel.. Will not even try to stay here again....

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$120-180    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Congress Plaza Hotel: VERY faded glory    Check Rates
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  • Updated By cohdane on September 19, 2007
    • I was booked here for a convention in Chicago. The literature and website stress that it is a historic hotel, built in 1893, which has "catered to our nation's presidents and political leaders, foreign dignitaries, opera, stage, and movie celebrities..." Well, I'm not sure who was the last president to stay here (FDR I think), but today they would probably find better value for their money at one of the other lower-end hotels in the area (e.g. Travelodge, Essex Inn). The immediate impression upon entering the lobby (after crossing the picket line out front - apparently the staff has been on strike for the past 4 years because of low wages!) was dingy, a little too run down. The contrast between the hifalutin names on the conference rooms (Oxford, Buckingham) and the down-market appearance of the halls. There is a sad little workout room languishing in the basement.
    The accommodations were adequate: hot water with good water pressure, working A/C. There were numerous small details missing (no condiments with the complimentary in-room coffeemaker, no "Do Not Disturb" card). The adjective the room shouts from every corner is "run-down": wallpaper is peeling at the floor where baseboard is missing. Bathroom tile is a little grimy. Paint is peeling in spots. Maybe the place would look better if they paid their staff better?

    Good location right at Grant Park, walking distance from Millennium Park, the Art Institute and Symphony Hall. Convenient to the "L." High-speed internet access in the room (but no WiFi) and nice flat-screen TV.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$180 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: less expensive than average
  • Phone: 800-635-1666
  • Directions: South Loop on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway
  • Website: www.congressplazahotel.com
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Congress Plaza Hotel: I tried it! and would stay again No Problems!    Check Rates
  • Satisfaction:
  • By alan456 on June 28, 2008
    • My problem. Late booking to a convention at the Hyatt and all rooms for anything less than $500 a nite totally sold out. I read all the negative reviews but I had no choice. so I took a shot. The lobby is just as pictured - grand old Chicago - The halls were kind of grungy but the room was a clean well lited place fully, newly tiled bathroom. All the plumbing worked - air conditioner worked fine. Not a huge room but big enough for 2 full sized beds. And I was on the top floor lakeside view - magnificent right at Buckingham fountain. Now I think the following may have contributed to the success - I booked for 2 nights. I booked 4 days in advance and I reconfirmed a late check-in the day before my arrival. I was nice to everybody on the phone - they were nice to me - check in lady same way. AND I booked the reservation through american airlines - by doing this, I may not have scalped the last dollar out of the price - I probably overpaid what priceline would have charged by 20.00 a nite. BUT at $238 I had the best room in Chicago that $238.00 would buy I assure you. Yes there was a strike - better said, there were some "strikers" casually walking in front of the building near the street. I was not hassled in any way by the strikers and in the evening when I came back they were gone. - There may be some bum rooms in this place but I would return. alan456

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$180 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: less expensive than average
  • Directions: right on Michigan avenue across from Buckingham Fountain. The X3 bus (2.00) right across the street takes you to the center of town in 5 minutes or you can walk it in 20
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Congress Plaza Hotel: Not bad for the price    Check Rates
  • Satisfaction:
    • movybuf
  • By movybuf on April 7, 2007
    • This is an old hotel, and it shows. The rooms are very old looking, the beds are old looking, the bathrooms are old looking, the hallways are old looking, everything is old looking. However, for the price and the location, its worth it. This is a good place for crashing and storing your stuff when you are in Chicago.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Price: US$80-120    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Congress Plaza Hotel: Congress Plaza Hotel    Check Rates
    cinay
  • By cinay on August 25, 2002
    • Congress Plaza Hotel - Chicago
    by cinay
    $100-$350

    Almost Lakefront. Cool view. Moderate price.

  • Theme: Hotel
  • Comparison: less expensive than average
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
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