My husband and I really enjoyed our stay at the Buckingham Athletic Club 6/23-6/27/08. The El is directly outside (LaSalle Station on blue line or Van Buren Station on the orange/purple line), the beds comfortable, the rooms spacious and nice, the athletic club was fabulous (great hot tub, lap pool, and service), and the view is spectacular.

We could see the Sears Tower and city looking left and the lake on the right from our room. We kept the curtains opened the entire time.

I absolutely adored the bathtub and utilized it every evening. The tub is incredibly long, which was fantastic for a tall girl like me, and I was able to get the temperature very hot.

The hotel is also within walking distance of a lot of attractions and restaurants. If you like odd little eateries, try Wow Bao for a little local flavor. Quite good, affordable, and right near hotel.

We had a wonderful stay at the Buckingham. Room was very spacious and clean, we loved the use of the Athletic Club and did not find the transfer of elevators to be a problem. Everyone at the Athletic Club was very friendly and willing to make us feel comfortable. The free continental breakfast at the hotel was just enough for us to get started in the morning before we took off for the day. The hotel is close to a train station so we were able to hop on and get just about anywhere within minutes. We would definitely stay there again.

This really was a cracking find.

I travelled to Chicago on business from London and for a single girl in her twenties this place couldn't have been better. It's bang in the middle of Chicago's financial district. Don't expect the area to be rocking at the weekend ('though it will be during the week) - it's akin to The City - but the view from the rooms is utterly spectacular. I had a city lake in one direction, and a lake view in the other.

It's on the 40th floor, so you feel totally safe. You're also given full access to the Athletic Club downstairs, where the service and facilities couldn't be better. The pool/spa are lovely and there's a full towel/everything service down there. They also had a Wii in the foyer while I was there, but I'm not sure that's a regular fixture!

A continental breakfast is served in the lounge every morning. You can take it back to your room if you want to - I took it back to the sofa in my room where I could eat and admire the view! I had a bar area and tea/coffee facilities in my room, as well as a TV and wireless internet and a big work desk (important!). The bathroom was very big, and the loo separate... basically I had everything I needed, and if I needed anything else, the staff were very helpful.

I should point out that it's not brand spanking new, but if cool, boutique hotels are more your style than generic chains, this place may well be for you. Ring them directly for the best value deal. Considering all the available facilities, it really is great value.

The location is in the financial district. The blue line train is a 30 second walk from the hotel and that goes straight to O'Hare airport (40 mins and costs $2). It took 25 mins and cost $50 in a taxi. Also, I walked to Millenium Park and the Art Institute (12 mins) and up to the Magnificent Mile (30 mins) - it's a very nice city to walk around (if a little cold at times!).

I agree with all the previous positive reviews on this site - though not sure about the one that moaned about the access to the health club being awkward. You access the hotel and the Athletic Club from the ground floor. One lift goes to the hotel (40th floor) and a different one to the health club on the 5th floor - It's really not difficult or awkward and I think having a full 25m pool on the 40th floor of a building might be a little implausible!!

We stayed at the Buckingham Athletic Club Hotel the weekend of June 8-11, 2007. It was a great experience. Located on the 40th floor of One Financial Place, an office building at LaSalle and Van Buren, the hotel was clean, quiet, and a perfect backdrop to a 30th anniversary trip. Although located in the financial district, the Buckingham is serviced by both elevated and subway lines located just north and south of One Financial Place.

The Sears Tower, the Harold Washington Library, and Printer's Row are just a few blocks away. Going west on Van Buren are several restaurants, bars, and eateries, although many close over the weekend. Just west on Congress is Tutto Italiano, an Italian restaurant we enjoyed located in part in an old railway car. A listing of area restaurants can seen at http://www.urbanspoon.com/ps/2/212/Chicago/Hotels/Buckingham-Athletic-Club.html

Staff were on the whole friendly and helpful. The elevator transfer on the 39th floor was no hassle. Views were fabulous from our north side room, but try to get one of the east side rooms; the views of Lake Michigan we glimpsed through open doors were fantastic. Our only concern was that a slowly draining tub was never repaired during our visit though mentioned to the front desk. But we would gladly return for a visit to the Buckingham.