My sister booked this hotel based on TripAdvisor reviews and price. She and her husband wanted me to join them on their trip to Chicago, but were driving from the west and would arrive very late. I was flying from the southeast and was unwilling to wait hours in the airport and didn't want the hassle of trying to get from the airport to a hotel on my own. The Carlton Inn Midway is very close to the Midway airport and has a free shuttle so when they booked this hotel, I decided to join them.
When I arrived, I went to a bank of phones close to the baggage terminal and dialed the number listed for the hotel (free) and was told where to go to be picked up (out door 2 and the center median) and that I would be picked up shortly. Rowena called me by name and sounded very nice. The Carlton has their own van and during the short drive to the hotel, the driver provided a lot of useful information--best way to get to some places the following day, where I might get something to eat later, the safety of the area, etc.
When I checked in, Rowena had a packet of papers with directions to all the places my sister had asked about. The van driver, Gary, and Rowena had a discussion about the best way to get to one of the places we were going early the next morning and decided that the driver's directions were better. Gary insisted on carrying my bag to my room and said if I needed anything or had any other questions to let them know, that was what they were there for. A third set of towels was on the bed. Rowena called shortly with parking information about the place we were going the next day. A few minutes later she called again saying that she was going to bring me a printed copy of the revised driving directions. The individual rooms don't have irons or boards, but she said that she would have someone deliver them.
The hotel is a two-story building with outside entrances-see picture. Our room was a pretty standard hotel room with two queen beds, satelite tv, fridge, and microwave. There was a small table/desk in an alcove with two kitchen type chairs.The heat/air blew on you when sitting there. The room was clean, but had no overhead lighting so was a little dark. The bed and pillows were comfortable.The following day when the maid had only left two towel sets, more arrived within minutes of my notifying the office. They were certainly not luxurious, but I was offered as many as I wanted. No tolietries are in the room. Liquid soap is in a dispenser that drips onto the plug of the hair dryer, and the soap and shampoo in the shower dispenser look very much the same.
A continental breakfast is included and is set up in the small lobby. There are three couches and a free internet computer in the lobby, as well as one small table that seats three. Trays are provided so that you can take your breakfast back to your room. The breakfast included bananas, apples, oranges, yougart, bagels and cream cheese, a variety of fancy donuts, and large Dunkin Donuts sausage, egg, and cheese bagels. Orange juice and coffee were the available drinks.
The hotel staff offered to take/pick us up at the El/subway station, but it is a very short walk from the hotel and the neighborhood felt safe even late at night. There is a bank parking lot on one side of the hotel and a high school across the street. Archer is a busy street, but we were not bothered by any plane or car noise at night. There is a small restaurant (Pindos)on the corner with good very reasonably priced food and nice people. There are several pizza places also close by.
The Carlton is a reasonably priced and adequate hotel with outstanding service and staff. I would definitely stay there again.
