The Willows

08/13/09

Wanted to like it

by twincities4life at Citysearch

Most of the staff is friendly but the balding guy working on 08/09/09 was not suppose to work in hospitality business. Another employee was swearing on his phone. The hotel had very small rooms and a motel 6 feeling. I was expecting a cozy, nice hotel but this place wasn't it. We can get much better rooms for this price

• Pros: Good location
• Cons: Lacks hospitality

11/02/06

Enjoy the quieter, slower pace of Chicago's neighborhoods at a charming historic inn.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Just beyond the bustle of Chicago's Loop, this establishment is located where Lincoln Park meets Lake View. It is two blocks from Lake Michigan in an exclusive residential neighborhood and within walking distance of Lincoln Park Zoo and Wrigley Field.

The Details
The smallish property has only 55 rooms on four floors. The boutique decor is a notch above standard hotel fare, with pastel florals and French-style furnishings. Suites are simply oversized rooms; don't expect separate sitting and sleeping areas. Tea and coffee are available round the clock in the lobby. Cookies are served to guests in the afternoon. Children may stay free in their parents' room. Pets are not permitted.

09/04/05

I just don't get what the excitement is about.

by joegraif at Citysearch

We stayed at this hotel on a very hot weekend in July. The air conditioner was completely inadequate. The room was miniscule and had nothing to recommend it. The staff was polite and helpful, but overall, this hotel is highly over-rated. We paid a pretty reasonable rate the time we stayed, but we're back in town for Labor Day and the lowest rate was $385 -- incredibly overpriced!!

• Pros: Friendly staff, Location
• Cons: Ventilation, Room size, Poor value

01/05/05

So helpful during a stressful time

by seattle_java at Citysearch

My husband and I were in Chicago for a pretty stressful surgery (at St. Joseph's) so based upon the hospital's recommendation we chose to stay at the Willows. I have to say; it was probably the most relaxing thing about the entire visit to Chicago. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed, not to mention that the room was beautiful! We will definitely stay at the Willows again.

• Pros: Location, Quiet, Helpful staff

09/15/03

squeeze in

by woodrowban at Citysearch

Room tiny. Very tiny! Walking around the bed at night dangerous. Bed OK. Bathroom laid out by a lunatic. New computer system takes 10 minutes to check you out. Room air conditioner in the window, behind the room darkening drapes, which means that the air between the window and the drapes hits minus 40 degrees, but the room itself swelters...unless you want to open the room darkening drapes and be able to read by the street lighting filtering through the venetian blinds. Lobby nice but small.

• Pros: lobby, location, european style elevat
• Cons: room size, air conditioning, bathroom

07/22/03

Very nice but...

by pef70 at Citysearch

This was a beautiful hotel, a nice departure from the chain hotels. The staff was very friendly and helpful, rooms were quaint and comfortable, but the air conditioning was not sufficient for the room size. I stayed over a weekend in June and had to go across the street to buy a fan to sleep comfortably. I would absolutely stay here again and recommend it to friends, but just not during the summer months.

• Pros: Great location, Excellent staff, Nice rooms
• Cons: Air conditioning

07/08/02

OK experience

by dstar at Citysearch

The area was perfect, walking distance to everything however incorrect information was given. Being our 1st night out since the birth of our son , we went out for theatre and dinner and a night out, however dinner reservations made by the hotel were not what we wanted, we had to take a cab from theatre to dinner (per hotel) to find that we were only a block away - so there was confusion, not getting the dinner we wanted. THe hotel did, in their defense credit us on our bill for the confusion, but it still didn't change our one night out was a little messed up. No lounge but our room was beautiful, although the air conditioning wasn't great. All in all, a night out is a night out, but it could have been better. No - I wouldn't stay there again or recommend to friends.

• Pros: location, quiet
• Cons: no lounge, service vs cost

06/08/02

Beautiful Hotel

by leedlelinda at Citysearch

I stayed at the Willows and was just blown away. I don't think very many people know about this location and that these type of hotels even exist anymore. The feel of the Hotel is a very HOMElike feeling. More relaxing and enjoyable than a chain hotel. The staff was wonderful, especially the young gentleman who checked me in, Gregg. He was always willing to help me with anything I needed including reservations at restaurants. He even helped me get tickets to the Oprah show (when I tried they said it was sold out, he got me the tickets somehow!!THANKS again) The rooms were very clean and affordable. Overall a lovely place to stay.

• Pros: Charming location, Wonderful Staff
• Cons: Parking