Marriott Hotel - Downtown Chicago

I spent last week at the Marriott Downtown Chicago. The hotel is located at 540 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. As a Marriott Rewards Member, I try to stay at Marriott properties whenever I travel. I have stayed at dozens of Marriott hotels over the past decade. Among those hotels, several stand out as exceptional. The Chicago Marriott is among those. The hotel combines updated rooms with a great location and spectacular views of the city.

The front of the Marriott faces Michigan Avenue, but the main entrance is off of Rush Street where there is a valet stand and an area for taxis to drop off guests. The entrance to the Marriott emits a sense of opulence once you walk through the doors into the large lobby area. There is a bar to the right, a convenience store across the lobby and check-in desk to the left. The lobby opens upward toward the second floor, where one can see a restaurant and the club lounge. Check in was quick and painless. Because of my status level, I was upgraded to a high floor (43rd floor) offering an exceptional view of the city.

The guest rooms are reached on two banks of elevators. Both banks hit the first seven floors where the hotel has meeting rooms. One bank services the lower floors while the other bank services the upper floors. This is a smart way to divide traffic to avoid excessive stops during peak hours.

My room appeared to be updated, although I don't know how recently this hotel has undergone renovations. The current trend with Marriott (and other hotel chains) is to replace the old shower/bath combination with a walk-in shower, usually with glass exterior. My hotel room had the modern configuration, causing me to believe the room was recently renovated. The room also appeared to be fairly new for a building that has been around for a while. The room had a modern feel with plenty of outlets for charging electronics and windows that stretched to the floor for exceptional views of the city. The view at night was equally spectacular.

The hotel has a large concierge suite, also known as the M Club located on the second floor. The club lounge had plenty of seating for guests. For Gold Elite members or higher, access to the club lounge is free. That means a nice, free, hot breakfast in the morning. The selections include bacon, sausage, eggs, fruit, cereal, bread, juice and coffee. The coffee was starbucks, served in machines that grind the beans fresh before brewing the coffee. It takes a minute for the cup of coffee, but it is worth the wait. The club lounge also has light dinner fare, which I seldom eat, as well as dessert and a cash bar in the evening. The cash bar prices are on par with the public bar downstairs.

The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Chicago. The hotel is near many great restaurants, to include the iconic Billy Goat Tavern just a couple of blocks away. The Billy Goat Tavern was the inspiration for an old Saturday Night Live Skit (cheeborga, cheeborga, cheeborga...no fries...chips). The hotel is also walking distance from Navy Pier and Water Tower Place. If you don't feel like walking to Navy Pier, you can even jump on the free trolley that has a stop just one block from the hotel. The dining options within walking distance of this hotel are endless. There is also an Eataly just a block away for fans of Mario Battaglia.

The going rate for the Marriott in downtown Chicago is less than two hundred dollars per night. I am looking at the price of 167 per night online right now, which is competitive for downtown Chicago. The hotel is nice, conveniently located, comfortable and has an outgoing staff. My bill was wrong when I checked out, but I was able to easily obtain a corrected bill (I was charged correctly, but the actual bill was wrong, short-changing me on what I would have claimed from my employer). The hotel has plenty to see and do nearby. I would definitely stay at this hotel again.

All photos other than the title photo are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission. The title photo is taken directly from the Marriott website in accordance with Fair Use.

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