I booked the W hotel City Center because the hotel was close to amtrak and had an aarp discount. My senior citizen husband and I had a comfortable quite room. Staying at the W is like staying in a piece of art. Design is everywhere (even in the business center). A stunning lobby and swank elevator.

When we arrived the lobby was full of 20/30ish stylishly dressed people enjoying drinks, food and conversation. Check in was quick and the staff was very helpful.

Location, location. This hotel is 4 blocks or so from the Chicago Union Station and about 3 blocks from the Art Institute of Chicago.

If you stay here, ask for a room on the upper floors. Why? Because you can't hear the L as much, and because the rooms haven't been renovated yet. The renovated rooms look like a page out of an Ikea catalog. White, cheap furniture. I was reminded of the super-small rooms you get in European hotels where all the furniture is attached to the walls. Other than the noise and the decor, the rooms are fine. Love the Bliss toiletries, room service was prompt and accurate, wake-up calls came on time, and the facilities were clean. The A/C was broken in the workout room, but it was the first hot day of the year so they probably weren't prepared. Overall, my stay was average. If you plan to stay here, pack your earplugs and get a room on the 18th floor.

I stayed on NYE 08. Management was rude. As a gold card SPG, I was not upgraded, only given late check out. The rooms need massive updates. Also, the former hotel, I forgot the name, was raped with cheap comforters and ugly furniture. Had no view. Got mooned.

This is a typical W with over the top styling. The lobby is nice, and had a nice bar scene at night. Room service is a disaster, don't bother using it. Also, there is a tie-in with Acura where the hotel will drive you to a destination for free in an Acura MDX.

As for the rooms, I was traveling with a colleague and we both booked the same type of room. Apparently, I was given a newly renovated room that was just put back online that week, which was verified by the fresh paint smell in the room. The room was very clean, and was what you would expect at a W. It was nice, and there was plenty of workspace. Though, it was quite possibly the smallest bathroom I've ever seen. My colleague, however, compared his room to an old Holiday Inn room that had been redone in the W style.

Room service was a disaster. I ordered a bowl of cereal and banana for breakfast. Over an hour later, I was brought a meal that was completely wrong. After calling to get the correct meal, I was promised it would be brought up, but it never happened. Though, to their credit, I was not billed for the meal.

They gym is nice, with several elliptical machines, treadmills, and weight machines.