Stayed here for 4 nights over the Memorial Day weekend. Only chose this hotel due to the fact that my family was attending a professional organization's yearly meeting held at this location. I was a bit concerned about staying here due to the many negative comments left by previous visitors. I have to say that overall it was not as bad as I had anticipated it would be. The location is great. The loby is very small and gets very crowded and noisy. I was able to check in early and get a decent room in the Historic tower--pay the extra money as it is definitely worth the view. All of the rooms are very small but comfortably decorated. The bed was pretty hard and the maid service was very spotty (despite tips and notes being left for them).

I learned that the hotel has quite a history and that an audio tour is available. The meeting rooms on the 2nd-4th floors were quite a surprise--I won't spoil it for you--you MUST check out these unusual and beautiful spaces. The fittness area was quite nice, as is the pool. You must check out the pool--Ron Howard's film Cacoon "pod pool" sceen was filmed here.

The meetings that I attended here were well done. The food and service were above average for such a busy and large hotel. There were many weddings, receptions, and meetings going on at the same time and the staff handeled them very well.

This is definitely not a "4-Star" hotel, so don't expect it to be. There was no service whatsoever. The concierge was a joke, as were all the restaurants in the hotel.

In short, the location and history are great. The meeting facilities were good. The room was small, clean, and comfortable. Service bad. Check-in OK. You must go eat at MK restaurant and Frontera Grill--both phenomenal and worth the price of the trip. The Sofitel and Peninsula are the primo choice for this city.

Had made reservations at another downtown hotel, based on price, but still read every Intercontinental review, wishing and hoping we could stay there. Shortly before the trip, I found an ad on Travelzoo for the IC for a price less expensive than we were paying for a hotel two blocks off Michigan, and booked it immediately.

Got in after an early flight, and the doorman met our taxi. He gave us receipts for the bags, and told us they would bring them to our room when the room was ready, so we were pleasantly surprised when we were told they had a room on the 25th floor ready for us then. We were checked in, and on our way to the room before 11am! AND, our bags beat us to the room! No upsell attempts, no glares because we had booked through a third party website, just a pleasant, quick, and courteous process.

The room was small, sure, but no surprise there. It was, however, clean, comfortable, and very well laid out. Not much drawer space, and a beautiful flat screen TV that we put on for a total of 5 minutes to check the weather report. The view was facing the other tower, so nothing great there, but, I wasn't there to sit and look out the window.

The room was quiet, even though it backed up to the elevators (didn't hear them, even once). The room was made up perfectly by the housekeeping staff...everything immaculate, everything fully stocked. Beds were extremely comfortable.

The location is the prime #1 reason to stay there. Walking distance to everything, and overall, I have to say, this was the best hotel stay I have had in a long time. Highly recommend the Corner Bakery (they are everywhere) and, before you go here, do your homework, read the reviews, and go in with an open mind. You will be glad you did.

Well here we are on the last day of our four day stay over Memorial Day weekend and we have had an overall positive experience here. We paid the extra $50 on the advice of the earlier write-up and are glad we did. The view out the window on the 36th floor is spectacular, esp. room 3603. The folks here have been friendly, much like the city itself. There is one notable exception to this friendliness and that resides at the oENOology bar in the hotel. These people act like rejects from a bad fashion show in their snootiness and indeed the males there are just hostile at the outset. Prices in ENO are high, but the cheese and location is good. Try the Hook Cheddar if must patronize the place. It is great. Otherwise, there are many other places to have that preprandial libation.
You cannot beat the location of this hotel for Chicago.
The rooms are small. My parents room was like a shoe box. I understand that in the historic tower, it is a grab bag, but given the nick for the room rates, overall I would go another location down the street (Trump, Peninsula...if your wallet can stand the meltdown of your credit cards). If you do stay here, wander the meeting rooms on floors 3-5. They are amazing (the place was built by the Shriners and is quite historic.) Get a view room to be happy.

I've stayed at the Intercontental Chicago about 9 times. Most of the items I was booked at the hotel through Priceline, however, I have booked it direct with the hotel on several occassions.

Here's how to have a great stay at the Intercontental. BE POLITE TO THE STAFF. They process hundreds of people each day and you'd be surprised how wonderful they are when you walk up with a smile and a hearty hello.

I stay at the ICH Chicago a few times a year and I had always paid to upgrade to the historic tower. Always. It's a $50 upgrade, but well worth it, especially if you paid only $100 or so on priceline. When you buy the upgrade, try to get to the hotel right at check-in time and ask to pay for the upgrade. Don't ask for it for free... they never do it. Be very polite and ask for a corner room with a view of the river.

However, if you go to chicago more than a twice a year, ask about the Intercontinent Ambassador program. I never join hotel programs, but one of the phone clerks told me it seemed to be a good fit for me. It's $150, but you get the following:

1. Automatically get all your rooms upgraded to the historic tower. I used to pay $50 a night for this

2. Early check-in. Usually they get me in at noon.

3. Fruit, chocolate truffles, and Evian waiting in your room.

4. Late check-out 4pm. Automatically. I love this.

5. You get a FREE weekend night with the purchase of a FRI or SAT night stay.

Let me explain how this worked on my first trip when i used it.

I bought the program for $150. I booked Memorial Day weekend in Chicago. The city was booked solid, so my cheap room was $229 at the ICH Chicago. But I get upgraded to a $280 room and I got a second night free. Not to mention all the added perks, I saved $330 on my first trip for the $150 program. Plus I'll use it for upgrades throughout the year. Such a good deal if you visit even once or twice a year.

Valet Parking is expensive ($50 per day) but the service is impeccable. Internet is also expensive ($15 per day if i remember right)... I wish it was free or maybe a one-time fee regardless of length of stay.

Otherwise it's a great hotel with a great staff.

Avoid eating at Zest. It's very disappointing.