The Drake Hotel

04/02/09

A grand old hotel in a grand location

by mjoshea

This place is beautiful from the outside, but some of the rooms are quite dated. The location at the north end of Michigan Ave, with the lakefront path and Oak Street beach steps away, is perfect.

• Pros: Can't beat the locale
• Cons: It's old

01/26/09

Old fashioned. Just the way I like it

by anders79

I always stey at the Drake when visiting the windy city. You get what you pay for.

One on the few classics that still stick out in a scenery with high-rises and busy streets.

Comfort and luxury.

• Pros: Yes
• Cons: n/a

12/14/08

To much for a Drake

by janillcarl

I was expecting so high class hotel, but it did have a funky old smell to it. Maybe they need to seal the brick walls from the rooms. I dont know, all i know is it was creapy. I rather have stayed at The W.

• Pros: Historic
• Cons: To old and smelly

12/10/08

Such a Beautiful Place

by GoldenAsh

The Drake Hotel has been around for a very long time, and is actually a place where I enjoyed my Senior Prom. It is a very historical in its architecture, in its longevity, and all that it offers. It is very spacious, being a venue for alot of special occasions in their ballrooms. It is located close by Lake Michigan so it offers nice views.

01/05/07

Floating on it's reputation

by kjdeds

My partner and I enjoy fine hotels, and often when we need a break we'll spend a weekend or an overnight at a fine hotel. Who doesn't want to feel luxury once in a while? We had high expectations for the Drake b/c of it's princess Diana reputation. We were EXTREMELY let down. The greeting staff was messy and rude, they make you stand in a line then call you up like cattle. The lobby is tacky, looked and smelled old. Once we got into the room, the carpet had stains on it, and the bathroom was NOT clean. The room smelled like there was mildew growing somewhere. We wanted to run away screaming, but chose to stay positive and look at another room. After our complaints and an unnecessary amount of convincing the front desk upgraded our room. We thought for sure we'd like it. But again, yuck yuck yuck. It was matted down, stained carpet, smelly old linens and a dirty bathroom. The room looked like it hadn't been touched since the early 80's. Or like a set to a 70's adult film. There was even a murphey bed in the wall...gross and creepy. We just coudn't stay. While checking out there was a prom exiting, with wild, loud, tackily dressed teenagers dominating the lobby. And they were rude to us when we requested our money back and kept saying, "Well, we know it's not a new hotel...and if you're looking for newer and more modern this isn't it." Nothing about this place is refined or even classically old. It's just gross. Like they stopped caring once Princess Diana stayed there. I suggest saving your money and staying somewhere else.

• Pros: Historic Facade.
• Cons: The inside does not match the outside.