| Hotel Rating: |   | | Satisfaction: |   | | Reviews: 16 | Photos: 18 | | 17 East Monroe Street Box 75845 |
 | Chicago The Palmer House Hilton Reviews | 1 - 10 of 16 |  |
 |
|
 |
 | The Palmer House Hilton: 125 Years of Splendor...
Tip Rating:   Satisfaction: |  |
 |
|
 |
 Huge Christmas Tree in
Palmer House Lobby 2005 by deecat
Don't even ask how many years ago I stayed at the wonderful Palmer House (before Hilton owned it)! I was a senior in high school & attended a Newspaper Convention in Chicago. Can you believe that we stayed at the magnificent Palmer House?
When my daughter Jill was married here in Chicago, my dear friends, Marilyn & Bruce Hart, stayed at the Palmer House Hilton. They loved it, bringing back my own memories.
It's such a part of Chicago, & for all 125+ years, people from all over the world have come here to stay when they visited Chicago. Why? Because of the Beaux Arts ceiling in the Lobby, the mythological statues all around, the famous EMPIRE ROOM, & because of its location near Chicago's business & financial district. It's also within walking distance of The Art Institute; Symphony Center; Goodman, Chicago, & Shubert Theatres; Grant Park & the Lakefront.
My friends said that the rooms were smaller than most luxury hotel rooms, but they were still more than satisfied.
It's a huge hotel with over 1500 deluxe rooms & almost 90 suites. The Penthouse Suite has 11 rooms!
The Palmer House Hilton has what they call "an Executive Level", which my friends belong to, & so they enjoyed the following:
a. complimentary Continental breakfast
b. complimentary hors d'oeuvres at cocktail time
c. private elevator to a private registration area, lobby, & lounge
Restaurants & Bars:
a. The French Quarter (American Cuisine)
b. Windsor's Lobby Bar & Cafe
c. The Big Downtown (new) Bar/Restaurant
d. Jacques for caffeine lovers who eat on the
run such things as pastries, muffins, or
bagels
There is also a Fitness Club with Nautilus equipment & other exercise gear plus massage therapy, sauna, whirlpool, & steam room. Oh, yes, there is an indoor pool.
Just a few days ago (July of 2004), Allan & I visited for old time's sake...the Lobby is wonderful with all the restoration of the ceiling by a Florentine artisan who also worked on the Sistine Chapel. A staff member let us into the famed EMPIRE ROOM, which has also been restored and is used for special parties. I'm so pleased, as you, too, will be when you experience this 1971 Landmark Hotel.
Note: Price is per person. Here in the USA, prices are quoted per room; however, the choice here is per person so calculate accordingly.
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR PANORAMIC VIEW Theme: HotelPrice: US$40-80 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averagePhone: 1 (312) 726-7500Other Contact: Fax: (312)263-2556
|
 | |  |
|
|
|
| The Palmer House Hilton: Old Landmark Building
Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | |
|
|
|
Small but fine rooms, with windows which open to let in fresh air, but also aircondition. Clean, crisp rooms, usual 5*hotel amenities, such as TV, Telephone, internet access, minibar.
The architecture inside makes you think you belong to that old age of glamour.
It also has a pool, sauna, a gym, which is for the number of guests too small.
Breakfast was deliciuos, in the Lobby Breakfast restaurant.
|
|
|
|
| The Palmer House Hilton: Grand Old Lady of the Loop
Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | |
|
|
|
The Palmer House Hilton is a historic hotel in the heart of Chicago's Loop. Currently undergoing renovations, the Hotel was owned and owned and operated by Hilton International from 1945 to 2005, but it is now no longer part of the Hilton family. however, the current owners (an international investment group) have retained the rights to use the Hilton in the name. (Is that weird or what?)
The Lobby is the big attraction here. It was originally built in the 1870s, after the terrible Chicago fire, and it certainly earns its keep as an opulent and grand public space. When I stayed in the Palmer House in March 2008, the lobby was more chaotic and confused than normal - due to the ongoing renovations underway at the property. The lobby bar was operating in the lobby itself - peculiar, but (I hope) just a temporary expedient until the renovations are completed.
The guest rooms of the hotel date from the 1920s, when the present structure of the hotel was created by the architectural firm of Holabird and Roche. It's one of the largest hotels in the city - around 1600 rooms - and their quality varies: some of them are quite small, and very few of the rooms have interesting views. On the other hand, with Priceline I've been able to stay here for around $80 a night, and you can't beat that!
|
| | |
|
|
|
| The Palmer House Hilton: Nice for the Money
Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | |
|
|
|
Well of course the first thing you have to say about the Palmer House deals with the outstanding lobby ceiling. Done in an art deco style, the lofty ceiling is quite something to behold. Frankly, it's worth seeing even if you're not staying there.
The hotel is located on Chicago's Loop, and within walking distance to many pubs, eateries, shopping, drug stores, and general shopping locations. Not the least of which being the tiny walk of 1.5 blocks to get to the Art Institute of Chicago.
About the only negative thing I have to say is that I feel that for the price, this place should have free wifi or high speed Internet. Instead it's a 9.95/day or 59.99/week.
I was in town on business and spent 12 days at this location.
Although my room was on the 14th floor with a view of the interior courtyard (aka the roof of another building down below,) I would still recommend this hotel for several reasons. First of which being the great service I received when I checked in. Now, I'm not sure if this was due to the fact that I'm a HHilton Honors member or what, but they seemed quite kind and caring about my wellbeing after flying into town. I was given coupons to put down in the room so I could drink the $5 bottled water for free.
Additionally, I was given access to the Executive Lounge on the 23rd floor. This worked great for me, as I was able to get a free breakfast, drinks throughout the day, pop as needed, and cookies as well whenever I liked.
My room was HUGE. I was shocked when I saw it after reading all the reviews about tiny cramped rooms - mine had two full bathrooms and two closets!!! But I will say that as I was walking back to my room one evening I happened past an open door of another room on my floor - and indeed! It was tiny!!! My recommendation would be to request the two double beds in an effort to get a larger room.
|
| | |
|
|
|
| The Palmer House Hilton: Promises, promises . . .
| |
|
|
|
Paying full fare and getting what one is paying for is the way to go if you ask me. Unfortunately, that may not be the best approach with the PHH as their disorganization, understaffing and poor management did not allow for that. Let me start this review by saying that Palmer House did a lot to try to make up for our disappointing stay there this past weekend. Let me say further to this that I would have gladly forgone the room credits and free drinks to have what I had reserved with them in the first place. . . happy to bypass the hassles and loss of sleep.
I will abbreviate the issues but . . . where to begin?
The good things:
It was pretty clean (upholstery in all three of our rooms needed cleaning but the bathrooms were spotless) and despite other opinions, not expensive for the area. I book hotels a lot and found their price reasonable. The beds were very comfortable, nice bedding. The lobby is beautiful - though inconvenient as you enter and exit through a lower level. They have an airport check in kiosk that is a plus.
The not good things:
Reservations were made months in advance with needed room configurations and a special request that two of the rooms connect. They advised me - gave a special number - to call the day prior to check in and make my requests again, which I did. I received an email comfirming my room needs and that we were guaranteed a connecting room for our 80 year old mother. After we traveled much of the day - from Colorado, Louisiana, Idaho and New York - we all arrived at PHH (40 minutes after their 3 PM check-in time) and met with a 55 minute wait in the long long check in line. When we finally got to the desk, they didn’t have the rooms available that they had confirmed by email the day before - AND what rooms they had were not ready. "We're really busy" I am told. Mind you it's now after 4:30 PM. We are told that we'll have three rooms - each two beds- on the same floor and are given keys to two of them. We are leaving soon for early dinner and theatre plans and are promised that the keys to the third room will be waiting upstairs in our room upon our return. 10:45 PM - we're back - no keys. I go downstairs, wait in another line at the front desk and finally get the keys. Back on the 10th floor, my brothers head to the third room - which turns out to be a KING bed, not two beds. I call back downstairs, they have no other room for them and offer to send up a rollaway bed saying that it will take 15-30 minutes to get there. It takes one hour and by now, it's just before midnight. My brothers head off to their room again - but something has changed and their keys no longer work. This time I ask that someone from the staff come up and bring new keys. He does and promises that FIRST THING in the morning housekeeping will come and change the bed in the king room so we can switch and put Mom in there instead and get my brother off the rollaway. "We've been really busy," he says. Just then, a single gal checks into the room next to ours - she's alone but she gets a room with two double beds. I was supposed to have a king room she tells me. We both stare at a pizza box that's been there since we arrived.
The next morning, off we go for the day at 8 AM - returning at 4:30pm to find that King room has not been cleaned yet!! Pizza box is still out in the hall too. I call downstairs, 45 minutes later the room is finally made up and Mom gets her nap. I call management and they nicely comp us for the first night in two of the three rooms. That was the right thing for them to do. "We've been really busy," he says - but agrees that that's a lousy excuse to offer someone paying for their services.
My opinion: While I woulld recommend this hotel, don’t go there with expectations and don’t believe that they will do what they say they will. Communication and organization there are nearly non-existent. . . and "they're very busy."
Pool and spa "not part of hotel" - $15. service charge for use. Pool closed anyay. Theme: HotelPrice: US$180 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageDirections: downtown - near Art Institute and park
|
| | |
 | 1 | 2 |  |
|
- The Buckingham Athletic Club
#82 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Drake Hotel - Chicago
#37 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown
#253 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Hostelling International Chicago Summer Hostel
#137 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Club Quarters Central Loop
#87 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Four Points by Sheraton Chicago Midway Airport
#125 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-Downtown/Lakefront
#59 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Hilton Suites Chicago - Magnificent Mile Hotel
#72 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Hotel Blake
#79 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - City Suites Hotel
#103 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Oakwood Chicago
#80 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Hyatt Regency Chicago
#3 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Omni Chicago Hotel
#7 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Ramada Plaza Chicago O Hare
#120 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL - Hampton Inn and Suites Chicago Addison
#19 of 193 Hotels in Chicago, IL
|
