Stayed at the Ritz for one night while in Chicago on business. Hadn't even realized that Conde Nast rated it the best US hotel, although every room has an excerpt so they are good about reminding you. It was absolutely fantastic, especially at the "Experience More - Hotel Credit " rate you can get on their web site that gives you $150 off 1 night's stay, $325 off 2+ nights. I ended up paying an incredibly low $210, which you really can't beat.
* Location - on Michigan Ave. and next to the Hancock tower and the Water Tower , you are within walking distance of everything worth walking to in Chicago. AN upscale mall is on floors 2-11, and the hotel is above it.
* Service - Not sure if it is the Ritz signature service or the Four Seasons signature service, but everyone was great, bending over backwards to help you.
* Room - it was incredibly cozy. I am typically not much of a Louis XIV style, but my room (the cheapest, most basic "moderate" room they have, was just incredibly cozy. I especially liked the plush carpet - it made me feel at home so I immediately took my shoes off and started walking around barefoot. Had a nice TV and CD player. Great views of Navy Pier and the city to the South. Marble bathroom with upscale bathroom products.
* In room breakfast was very tasty, although it should not cost $46 (which is what overnight parking is as well, BTW)
* Lobby is very nice, has a huge skylight and you can see the Hancock Tower through it

Overall I loved the place and will be coming back for sure. They also have a bunch of very cool-looking package deals on their web site, lot of them tailored towards kids (I almost brought mine along for a 1 day trip, but in the end sanity prevail).

Splurged on a stay at the Ritz when attending a performance at the Lookingglass Theater. It is literally a stones throw away. January through March is a time of low occupancy and all hotels discount heavily. The Ritz gave us a $150 credit per night making this a deal I couldn't pass up. Absolutely flawless service from the valet to check in to check out. Great restaurant for breakfast. The lounge for drinks is one of the best in the city. Come here for a cocktail after shopping at water tower place. They placed us on the 28th floor with the best view to the north down the lakefront, several stories higher than the Hilton Suites. The cleanliness of the room was spectacular and we especially liked the abundant countertop in the bathroom.

My husband and I just returned from a long weekend at the Ritz and it was truly incredible. If you have the option of using AMEX Platinum travel services to book this hotel, it is absolutely worth every penny. There were many perks, ie, when we arrived we were able to check in around noon, daily breakfast, 4pm check out and we were upgraded to a premium suite on the 30th floor which was the most beautiful room we've ever stayed in. The lobby is quite posh; I don't think there's anything dated about the hotel at all, it's just truly a classic, regal elegance that no one is accustomed to anymore. The service was impeccable, the breakfasts delicious, the bedroom and bathrooms were truly luxurious. We can't think of a single negative trait of this hotel. It was my first trip to Chicago and after traveling all over, this hotel helped cement it as one of my favorite cities.

My wife and I are locals who stayed at the Ritz Carlton to have a fun weekend in the city to celebrate her birthday. Chicago is such a great city to be a tourist in, we decided that it would be neat to see and do some of the things we never get around to doing in our regular life. That being the case, there are a lot of hotels to choose from. We looked at the James as it appears to be hip and fun. We looked at the Peninsula and the Four Seasons as they are in the same price range as the Ritz. We then thought, “what would be more special than the nation’s top ranked hotel?” We couldn’t have made a better choice. Period. The hotel is so traditional, and yet so elegant. The rooms were furnished in a classic fashion, but the bathrooms were modern and luxurious. And the service was the best I have ever seen. Melissa at the concierge table was the most helpful concierge ever. I honestly believe she wanted us to have the perfect dinner at the perfect restaurant. It was more than a job for her. And when we got back after a great night out, there was a full size cake decorated for my wife waiting in our room. Above and beyond. I would heartily recommend this hotel. We just had the perfect time.