The Pavilion

05/12/09

Prepare to be nickel and dimed

by jenathan at Citysearch

For a hotel that seems to be going to great lengths to appear "luxe," the Chicago Hilton scrimps on basic ammenities. Come prepared to pay at least an additional $25.00 for day if you want to be all fancy and have internet access. Count on $50.00 to use a treadmill. Don't count on having the correct number of beds on your room. Be prepared for slow elevators, and to have to transfer elevators if you're on the upper floors. Try not to think of how perhaps they could have forgone the TV's in the elevators and instead provided guests with, oh, I dunno, a decent fitness center and internet access. If that's what you're looking for, you should've stayed at a quality inn.

• Pros: Comfortable beds
• Cons: Poor value for the money

03/13/09

Good food - bad customer service

by houtraveler at Citysearch

My coworkers and I stayed Sunday, March 8th - Thursday, March 12th for PITTCON. Upon arrival my co-worker and I were not treated nice by Shawn at the reception desk. We booked our rooms through a travel agent and the agent did not cancel the original reservation for Saturday. This is not Hilton's fault but Shawn treated my co-worker and I like it was all some evil plot against her. Not once did she smile at us and she acted as if the entire event was a burden. Luckily, her supervisor, Sylvia, was pleasant and understanding. I knew that I needed to take up the discrepancy with the travel agent but Shawn was intent on making the process painful. We were then charged a $25 (per room) "reinstatement fee" as well as a $20 (per room) early check in fee. Also, internet access is $19.99 per day. I've stayed in all types of hotels... and I've never been charged such a fee. $20 a day for internet is ridiculous. With that being said, Alicia took my breakfast order every evening before I went to bed and she was delightful. The breakfast was wonderful although, again, there was an odd fee. I understand gratuity but then a $5 delivery fee to your room? The cheesburger was EXCELLENT! The quality of the room is average. The total fees I paid, just for my room, for a 3 night stay is $115.00. We definitely will not use this hotel again for PITTCON. It's just not worth it.

• Pros: Good location for McCormick Place Convention Center
• Cons: Front Desk Receptionist and fees for EVERYTHING!

06/21/08

Good location, but TERRIBLE service!!

by awesome514 at Citysearch

We stayed one night in June (before Taste of Chicago) as a relaxing retreat to the city. Being from the suburbs of Chicago, and having extensive travel experience, I felt the Hilton was a safe bet and reasonably priced for our one night stay.

I was impressed by the location, but disappointed by the hotel itself. This particular location seems to be more like a glorified convention hall. There are few places to sit and relax in the public portion of the hotel because there are event areas and bars/restaurants taking up most of the downstairs space. The registration area is claustrophobic and inefficient. Our room was not ready for check in at 3pm, and we were promised that we would be called in 20 minutes. 3 trips to the desk (after waiting in line again and again), and 1 hour 20 minutes later, we were given keys to our "upgraded for your trouble" room.

There was a room service platter sitting outside our room when we got there, and it was still sitting there when we left the next day. There was only a stand-up shower, and there was no place to put shampoo except the floor. We received a bill under the door for $85 that referenced food we didn't eat. When I called to inquire about the charge, they stated that it was for minibar charges. We had not used the minibar, and no one had been in my room to check the minibar usage.

The staff was distracted and unaccomodating. The room was only okay. Overall, I was not satisfied with my stay, and I will reserve at Swissotel (which I have stayed in and LOVED) the next time I overnight in the city.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: stuffy staff, dirty, overpriced