Stay Report: Ibis Styles Amsterdam Amstel (February 2017)

Stay Report: Ibis Styles Amsterdam Amstel
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I was going to meet my friend in Amsterdam, but I was arriving at night and they weren't arriving until the next morning so I needed to find a hotel near the Marriott.  Hotels are generally expensive in Amsterdam so I was looking for one that was not that expensive but still pretty decent.  I decided to try the Ibis Styles Amsterdam Amstel.  The hotel is located in Amstel area which is south of the city center and is located near a tram stop and near restaurants and services.  The hotel’s outside fits nicely with the neighborhood décor – it does not look like a hotel from the outside.  You walk up a couple of steps and enter into the lobby.  The hotel fits into the ‘Amsterdam’ décor so it is very narrow.  Given the limited space, the lobby was not that big.

Check-in was pretty quick and I was given an overview of the hotel, as well as additional perks being a LeClub member.  All Ibis Styles include free breakfast, and this was served in the basement level.  Free wifi was also included.  Additional perks included a free drink and 10% off my meal at the bar in the hotel located across the canal from the hotel.  The hotel did not seem to have a bar, so it had partnered with the hotel across the canal to allow its patrons to use their bar.  This was a very nice gesture, but as I was only here for the night I did not take advantage of it.

The layout of the hotel was very unique.   To get to the elevators, there was a door next to the check-in desk that led to the 1^st floor rooms.  You walked passed those rooms into a square pattern to get to the elevator.  The elevators are next to the stairs, which divide the house in the middle.  The interesting thing about the elevators is that there is no connection between the two sides except through the elevator.

The elevator itself is extremely tiny and narrow, and barely fit me and my stuff.  I was told my room was on the 4^th floor, and that I would take the elevator to the 3^rd floor and then walk up steps to get to my room.  When I got to the 3^rd floor I realized that the 4^th floor was basically the attic and the steps to get up there were extremely small, narrow, and winding.  It was very difficult to get both myself and my stuff up the stairs.

As the room was the entire attic, it was big.  It had three single beds, all right next to each other, so I am assuming it was a family room.  As you opened the door, on left hand side was a nook where the desk was.  Straight ahead were the three single beds.  Two of the single beds were pushed next to each other and the third bed was next to them.   On both sides of the combined single beds were nightstands and each bed had a tiny lamp above it.   The beds themselves were not very comfortable as the padding was light and the comforter small.  It was decent for one night, but would not be comfortable for a longer stay.

To the right of the entrance was the bathroom.  The bathroom contained a sink, a toilet, and a stand-up shower.  The shower was very tiny and compact and was difficult to move around without hitting the shower.  Towels were provided along with bathroom amenities, including soap, shampoo, and shower gel.  I had brought my own toiletries so was not able to try the ones provided.  Right next to the bathroom was another nook which housed the closet and a mirror.  It was very dark on that side and it seemed like wasted space.

Amenities of the hotel which I tried included the free wifi and the free breakfast.  The nice thing about Accorhotels is the free and fast wifi.  You can connect as many devices as you want, and the speed is fast enough to stream videos.   The free breakfast was also very convenient as it provided enough food for a decent meal.  Overall, it was an average stay at the Ibis Styles.  It was my second time staying at the Ibis Styles, and the first experience was much better.  The room layout and location was not customer friendly, but the additional services – including the free wifi, the free breakfast, and the free welcome drink – were nice touches.

A Stay Report: Doubletree Lisbon - Fontana Park (February 2017)

A Stay Report: Doubletree Lisbon - Fontana Park
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I tend to stay at different hotels depending on whom I am traveling with.  If I am traveling by myself orIn choosing a hotel, I tend to look for proximity to areas and price versus comfort or style.  Normally I would only go to the hotel for sleeping so all the bells and whistles are not useful to me.  However, if I am traveling with family then I tend to choose hotels that are close to areas but also have all the bells and whistles as my family tends to use the hotel more as a relaxing and recharging place.  As I was traveling to Lisbon by myself, I was looking at proximity and price.  Hilton was having a sale on their rooms and I found a really good deal at the Doubletree Lisbon - Fontana Park.  

In terms of location, the hotel is located about a 5-10 minute walking distance from two metro stations.  From these stations it’s a 5-10 minute metro to the main attractions.  The hotel is located off the main road, so its close to many restaurants and services but they are not next to the hotel.  While the hotel is not as centrally located as I normally would like, the lower cost justified choosing the hotel.  Also, you get free cookies at Doubletree and they are very nice so that was an added bonus.  

The hotel itself looks very modern with sleek designs and black and white décor.  On the main level is the lobby, the restaurant, the bar, and the computer to access the internet.  Meeting rooms plus the gym are located on the basement level.

I was arriving early in the morning so I had contacted the hotel to request an early arrival and thankfully it was honored.  Check-in took a bit as there was only one person handling both checkin and checkout (and some groups were checking out that morning).  I checked in, was given my cookie, and headed to my room.  The elevator to the room was extremely small – it barely fit me and my stuff.  I took the elevator to the 4^th floor which was dubbed the HiltonHHonors floor.  The modern layout extended to the hallway as the room numbers are on the floor, like a doormat.  The room is also decorated in the modern décor.

As you entered into the room, on your left was the closet with hangers, a safe, and shelves.  On your right was the bathroom which was divided into three parts: a sink in the middle and a toilet on one side and the shower on the other.  The odd design about the shower was that between the shower and the sink was a partial black screen (which did nothing to keep the water inside) yet between the shower and the room was a clear window which meant that you could see directly into the shower from the room.  Another odd thing about the bathroom was the shower – it was very difficult to operate (apparently the hotel staff had to answer a lot of questions on how to operate the shower).  The bathroom amenities Doubletree provides are really nice with nice smells and were consistent with the amenities available in Doubletree worldwide.

Continuing into the room, on the left hand side was a wall length shelf which allowed a place to hold your luggage and other belongings.  Above the shelf was a TV.  Against the other wall was the double size bed.  Between the bed and the bathroom was another shelf which acted as the nightstand as it held the lamp as well as the two complimentary waters (complimentary for each day of stay).  The complimentary water was a nice gesture.  On the other side of the bed, between the bed and the window was a desk.  The bed itself was comfortable enough for a decent sleep.

Amenities that I took advantage of included the free WiFi, which was pretty decent for emails and video, and the gym.  The gym was open 24/7 and while it was small, it had the basic equipment for a decent workout.  They also had a water dispenser available to refill your bottle of water

Overall it was a decent night stay at the Doubletree.  The plus points included the free cookies, the good service, and decent size room.  Negatives included odd design of the bathroom and distance from hotel to metro/downtown.

Stay Report: Ibis Styles Barcelona Centre (February 2017)

Stay Report: Ibis Styles Barcelona Centre
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I was going to be spending 3 days in Barcelona so I wanted something that was central to the landmarks and places I wanted to visit.  I also wanted to keep costs down so keeping all this in mind, I decided to try the Ibis Styles Barcelona Centre. 

According to AccorHotels, ibis Styles "offers an all-inclusive package, with room rates including breakfast and internet access. Situated in the heart of cities and in other major centres of activity, each establishment has its own distinct personality and reflects a colourful, bright and energetic brand spirit with a hint of humour."  While travelling in Switzerland I had seen the ibis Styles and they looked fresh and interesting so I wanted to try out the hotel.  As the information states, another unique feature is that all rooms include free breakfast.   

The hotel is centrally located, near many shops and restaurants, and about a 2-3 minute walk from the metro station.  The hotel is also about a 10-20 minute walk, on the same street, to the main plaza or a 10-15 minute, in the other direction, to the Sangrada Familia.  From the outside, the hotel itself does not look like much – it has a grey exterior that blends in with the surrounding building.   

The main entrance is on the street level, and then you enter the automatic doors and can either go straight or take a left.  Both lead into the lobby, but to different parts of the lobby.  Going straight leads to the breakfast area and sitting area, while going to the left leads to the check-in desk , the computer access, and the elevators (its all connected so does not matter which entrance you pick).  Even though the outside of the building is grey, the inside is very light and warm with light green colors and writing.   The color and brightness make the hotel look inviting and refreshing.

Check-in was quick and I received my key as well as the details of the free breakfast.  The breakfast took place in the sitting area from 7a to 10:30a on weekdays and from 7a to 10a on weekends.  Free wifi was also included, and I could log in as many devices as I wanted. 

After check-in, I took the elevator to the 7^th floor.  The elevator was a pain – you connected your key to activate the elevator and then used touched screen to press your number; however, it almost never worked because it was too sensitive.  On the last day, a hotel employee told me the trick was that you had to touch the screen with your wrist – she said guests had a lot of complaints about the elevators.  The hallways were narrow and dark, which made them look more narrow, and the lights were motion sensored so only activated when you were there (making the other parts of the hallway look dark).  The room itself was a decent size and pretty bright

As you opened the door, there was a mini-hallway as you stepped into the room.  On the left had side was a long desk/table with the TV mounted on the wall.  Next to the desk was the open closet with shelves underneath.  The closet was very small comparable to the room.  The closet did have a safe. 

On the other side was the bed with two night stands on each side.  The bed was big in terms of size and was comfortable enough – it provided a decent nights sleep; not great, but decent.   Next to the bed was the bathroom, and given Ibis’s general size the bathroom was a decent size.  As you entered into the bathroom, on left was the sink and underneath were shelves which held the towels and hairdryers.  Next to the sink was some empty space which served no purpose.  On the other side was the toilet and next to the toilet was the stand-up shower.   The amenities provided included a hand wash/body wash/shampoo/soap bottle connected to the wall next to both the sink and inside the shower.  Overall, the room was more spacious than other Ibis hotels, and was generally comfortable.  The floor was very loud and this combined with thinner walls meant you could hear your neighbor sometimes.

Amenities of the hotel included the free wifi and free breakfast.  The wifi was very fast and I could connect as many devices as I wanted.  It was fast enough to stream videos and do emails.  The free breakfast was more substantial than I had expected.  They had a nice bread selection, with fresh breads you could cut yourself as well as sliced bread.  Croissants were also available along with Nutella and jam packets.  There was also a selection of yogurts and fruits, with a variety of toppings and fillings for your yogurt.  On the plated selection were meats, cheeses, and Spanish tortilla (slices of egg and potatoes).  There was a coffee machine available for espressos, coffee, teas and hot chocolates.  Orange juice, apple juice, and water were also available. 

Another nice perk of the hotel was that the left over croissants and donuts were placed next to the check-in desk, along with coffee and water, so anyone could take what they wanted when they wanted.  This was a nice perk.  As a LeClub member, I also got a card for a free drink which meant that I could have access to a free soft drink from the bar.  The bar also included beer and wine which could be paid for.

Overall it was a nice and pleasant stay at the Ibis Styles.  Good points including nice location, free wifi, free breakfast, decent size room, and overall pleasant staff.  Negatives included thin construction of rooms and touch-sensitive elevator.

Stay Report: Ibis Brussels Centre, St. Catherine (February 2017)

Stay Report: Ibis Brussels Centre, St. Catherine
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I was going to be in Brussels for one day so I wanted a hotel that was close to the city center.  I was originally going to stay at the Hilton Brussels - Hilton was having a sale so I got a very good rate - but I when I talked to someone who was from Brussels they said that the Hilton was on the border between a nice and not nice area.  Based on their recommendations, I decided to move hotels and they said the St. Catherine area was very good. 

I was going to be in Brussels for one night, but I was not going to arrive until midnight so I needed a place that was going to be open late and allow me to store luggage the next day (this ruled out many AirBnB's, which was another option I was considering).  Based on my criteria, I decided to stay at the Ibis Brussels Centre. 

I have stayed at Ibis's before so I know they are basic, budget-friendly hotels with average

facilities and free, decent wifi.  This set-up was perfect for what I needed - a decent place to stay the night as I was not planning on spending a long time in the hotel.  The ibis Brussels St Catherine is centrally located to many points within Brussels.  The hotel is located across from the Novotel and right next to the St Catherine church.  The hotel is about a 5 minute walk from the main center and is conveniently located to many services and attractions. 

As you enter the hotel, on the left is the check-in desk, elevators to the rooms, as well as the breakfast area.  To the right is the bar plus a computer area to access the internet.  I had arrived late at night and when I arrived at the hotel, the attendant at the checkin desk was on the phone (clearly not a work call) and did not bother to get off the phone to greet me or welcome.  It was a bit rude but I checked in and got the key to my room.  Again, the elevator was very small and could barely fit me and my stuff.  The small size continued to the room because it was tiny.

When you open the door you literally hit the bed.  The room has one straight wall and one angled wall making the room very small.  The bed was against the angled wall and the edge of the bed was literally right next to the door.  Across front the bed was the TV on the wall.  Next to the TV was the entrance to the bathroom.  Across from the bathroom, and next to the bed, was desk.  There was also a shelf/bench underneath the window in which you could either sit or place your luggage

The bathroom was equally small as it was located on the angled wall.  As you entered the bathroom, you literally hit the sink in front of you.  To the left was the shower, which was tiny and not suited for a tall or thick person.  On the other side of the sink was the toilet, again on the angled wall so your knees hit the wall if you sat straight on the toilet.  Ibis does not provide any toiletries, but does have a shampoo/body wash/soap all in one bottle connected next to the sink and a dispenser in the shower.  Its not the best but basic

Ibis are known to be budget and to provide the basic items.  They have basic room with a decent bed and free WiFi.  The WiFi was free and fast (you could connect as many devices as you wanted).  Everything else needs to be paid for.  I knew this going on and I was only going to be here for one night and the hotel was centrally located, so given all that it was fine.  However, I am not sure I would choose this hotel if I would be here for many days. 

Another negative note was the hotel's policy in keeping bags.  In most hotels, after you checkout you can leave your bags there while you roam the city; this done as a courtesy for the guests.  When I asked at the Ibis, they had a room with lockers and I either had to pay for the lockers or leave my stuff in the room next to the lockers.  This is the first time I had experienced this and it was not very customer-friendly.

Trip Report: United Airlines, New Orleans to Punta Cana via Houston (Caribbean - Dec 2016)

Trip Report: United Airlines, 
New Orleans to Punta Cana via Houston (Caribbean)

comment below and let me know your thoughts :)

I have not flown a mainline US carrier international in over 10 years.  The reason is that their on-board products do not compare as highly as their international competitors.  For most international carriers, personal TV screens, USB ports, free luggage, and basic meals in economy are standard on most international flights.  This has not been the case for US carriers so I had avoided them.  Recently, US carriers had been upgrading their products so I recently decided to give United a try on an international destination – from New Orleans to Punta Cana via Houston.  Navigating United’s website and mobile app were very easy.  I was able to book the flights, manage the booking, select seats, pay for bags and seats, and check-in seamlessly. 

The first flight was from New Orleans to Houston.  United operates many flights a day on this route and uses a variety of aircraft – Airbus, Boeing, or Embraer.  Our flight was scheduled to depart at 7:25am and arrive into Houston at 8:46am, even though the flight time is 45 minutes.  This flight was operated by a Boeing 737-800.  United does not charge for seat allocation, so you can choose your own seat in Main Economy; United does charge for Economy Plus seating which includes extra legroom.  The layout of the 737-800 is 3-3 and usually the seat pitch is decent, but this was an older plane so the seat pitch was tight.  The seat is basic with no USB ports nor PTV’s.  In the seat-back pocket is the airline magazine, the safety card, and a brochure on how to access the wifi and the free entertainment.  On planes with no PTV, United offers free, limited entertainment through the United app; you can purchase additional options, including movies, at a cost.  Once we reached cruising altitude, the attendants came by to offer drinks and pretzels.  By the time the attendants had concluded their drink service, it was time to collect the trash as we were descending into Houston.  It was an average flight given the short distance.

We initially had 1-hour in Houston until our next flight departed to Punta Cana.  Unfortunately, due to ground traffic congestion at Houston we sat in the plane for most of that time so that by the time we landed, it was already time to board our next flight.  Luckily, our next gate was right next door but this did mean that we had limited time to purchase any food or beverage in Houston.

Boarding was extremely chaotic and disorganized on this flight.  When I had checked-in online, I had selected seats for myself and my family.  When we arrive into Houston, our seats had been reassigned so I had to go to the gate agent to get our seats back (they said it was because of an equipment change).  Because of the delay, we were not able to board until Group 5 which is the last group. When they started to board this group, they made everyone gate-check their carryon bag stating there was no longer any room on board the aircraft; no-one had a choice as the gate-check was ‘mandatory’.  When we went on board and went to our seat, there were actually plenty of empty spaces in the overhead compartments so there was no need to gate check any bags.

The plane that flew from Houston to Punta Cana was the exact same plane that we just flew from New Orleans to Houston – an older Boeing 737-800.  The seat pitch was really tight, the plane looked really old, and the only difference was each seat had PTV in them.  As boarding was chaotic, and the flight attendants just told people to ‘sit anywhere’ we departed late.  The on-board service was terrible as the flight attendants only did the basic duties.  The flight time was 4hr30 minutes and on this flight, there was food for purchase and drinks were served twice; once at the beginning and then once in the

middle of the flight.  Each time, only a small glass was provided (not even a can, even when asked).  The PTVs had live TV and movies available, but this needed to be paid for at a cost of $5.99 per screen (which was outrageous).  About 1 hour prior to landing, the flight attendant came by to distribute immigration forms, but it took so long that by the time she finished handing out the cards it was time to land and she said “you have to stow your tray tables; I know everyone is still completing their forms but you can do that later”.  The entire flight was poor service, poor management, and a bad international flight on United.  We finally landed in Punta Cana and we deplaned via stairs.  As soon as most of the passengers had deplaned from the front of the plane, the rear door was opened for passengers to deplane via the rear (again, an example of poor management).

Given this, I was not looking forward to my return flight on United.  We were better prepared as this time we had downloaded movies and other shows to pass around the time.  Given the seat discomfort and tight pitch, and the length of the flight, we had chosen to pay for Economy Plus seats with extra legroom.  The flight from Punta Cana to Houston was 4hr45min and was operated by a 737-800, but this time it was a ‘Next-Gen’ plane which meant it was newer.  On the newer plane, the seat pitch and seat comfort in Main Economy was better.  Each seat had a PTV, which needed to be paid to access, and there were no USB ports.  Service on-board was similar, with free drinks and pretzels and buy on-board food, but the crew on this leg was a lot friendlier and nicer.  It was definitely a better experience on the return.

We had 2 hours to transit in Houston until our next flight to New Orleans, but most of this time was spent in clearing security at the airport.  The flight from Houston to New Orleans was operated by an Airbus A320/321 which had a decent seat pitch and decent seat comfort.  The seat was slimline and had not PTVs, instead the back of the seat had a pocket with the airline magazine, sick bag, and wifi information.  You could access the limited, free entertainment through the United app.  Service on-board for the short 50-minute flight was drinks and pretzels.  Overall, it was a decent short flight.

It was my first time experiencing United internationally, and given everything I experienced I am hesitant to try them on a long-haul flight.  The lack of amenities they provide to passengers, the difference in service depending on airplane and crew, and overall lack of comfort does not make me want to choose United.  If I compare United to their international competitors, they provide better service, more amenities, and newer planes at the same or reduced costs – so I do not see the incentive in flying with United.   

Stay Report: Melia Caribe Tropical (Punta Cana, DR - December 2016)

Stay Report: Melia Caribe Tropical (Punta Cana, DR)
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My family and I recently traveled to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.  We were staying there for the holidays and decided to try the all-inclusive Melia Caribe Tropical.  The hotel is operated by the Melia Hotels International, based out of Spain.  They operate a variety of hotels throughout the world, mostly resorts catering to large groups and holiday-makers.  This was my first time staying at a Melia property and my first time at an all-inclusive so I was not sure what to expect.  Here are my impressions.

Overall:  Overall the property is very large and has a lot to offer with a variety of restaurants included.  The hotel has various levels - there is the main level for all guests; there is a separate level called 'The Level' which is adults-only and has its own pool, restaurant, and rooms; and then there is ClubMelia which has its own perks.  We stayed in the general area which also had its own pool, restaurants, and rooms.   

The pool was large enough that it never felt crowded and both chairs and towels were always available.  The chairs were on a first come basis, and many people got there in the morning and put their towel down to claim their chair for the entire day.  The property also included access to the beach - access to beach included beach chairs of which there were plenty.  The Level/Club guests had their own access to the beach with their own chairs.  The beach was nice, some parts had a bit too much seaweed but overall it was a nice beach with plenty of access.  The rooms are spacious and each come with a balcony, a nice perk.  The service definitely needs improvement though.  

Rooms: The rooms were spacious and comfortable enough.  We had two rooms and each room was laid out the same.  As you entered, there was a closet on your right - the closet contained shelves and hangers and it had a safe.  On the left was the full-size bathroom with a toilet, a bidet, a wide sink, a standing shower, and blow dryer.  As you came inside the room, on left were the two beds with a nightstand in the middle and on the opposite side was a stand with drawers underneath and a TV and coffee/tea maker on top.  The drawers underneath contained a fridge which was stocked with free water, soft drinks, and beer.  Further along in the room was a sitting area with two chairs on one side a lounge - this lounge was big enough for a kid or small person to sleep in.  Beyond that was the balcony with two chairs.  

The beds were comfortable but they were definitely not the double beds as advertised - I

would say they were a Twin XL and only one person could fit on them.  The only issues with the room was the service - the beds were made up but the amenities in the room nor in the bathroom were replenished.  Also, the service came at various hours, sometimes at 5p and sometimes at 8am.  It was on request that items would be restocked.

Food:  The hotel is an all-inclusive so all food and drink are included in the hotel price.  The hotel offers a range of restaurants from buffet to Mediterranean, Dominican, and Mexican.  Overall, the quality of food is average - its not gourmet but decent enough.  There is enough variety to please most palates. We ate at the Level restaurant one night and it was similar food but just presented in a better fashion.  Drinks were also complimentary including soft drinks, beer, and house wine.  Overall, the variety of food and drinks included was more than I was expecting

Entertainment:  There is a variety of entertainment available at the hotel.  They have a casino, a kids park, pools, gym, and the beach.  They also have a nightly dance show which is very interesting and got better each night.  

The hotel also offers a gym and spa.  The gym was smaller than I expected - it could fit 10-20 people max - but it had the basic equipment for a nice workout.  A lot of guests choose to run/walk around the large property as that also provided some good exercise.  The hotel did offer aerobic classes - both in the gym and the pool.    

The hotel also has free wifi throughout the property.  This is definitely a nice perk as you are connected throughout your trip.  The wifi was stronger near the longer (for picture posts) but was decent enough speed at the pool and beach area for basic email and connections.  

Service: This is an area where the hotel is definitely lacking.  There was chaos at check-in but we finally managed to check-in.  Even though I had already checked-in online, I still had to go through the process all over again so the online checkin was worthless.  We had asked for one king-size bed room and one with 2 beds, but that was not available so we asked for two rooms close to each other.  Our check-in attendant did not know the layout of the hotel and gave us rooms and opposite ends of the building so we had to go back and adjust our rooms and tell them which rooms we wanted.  The hotel operates trains to get from the main lobby to the beach/pool and room area.  There are 3 different lines and the trains are supposed to run every 10-15 minutes.  We one time waited for over 20 minutes for a train and nothing showed up.  The train system definitely needs to be worked on as it currently does not work.

As I said earlier, the service for the rooms also needed improvement. The attendants came a variety of hours and were good at replenishing the fridge, but only replenished the tea and bathroom amenities when requested. 

Checkout was equally as chaotic and there were some very rude attendants who were arguing with the guests.  They definitely need to fix their check-in and check-out procedures.  There was one positive aspect to the service - Alber Batista, from Guest Services, called to find out who our stay was and when I let him know of the issues, he apologized and provided extra assistance and compensation.  He also followed up the next day to ensure everything was ok, which was especially appreciated.

Conclusion:  Overall, it was an average stay.  Positives included the large-size of the property so there was plenty of room at the pool and beach; the all-inclusive covered a lot more food and drink than I expected; and there was enough to do at the property not to get bored for at least 5 days.  The negatives were the service at check-in, check-out, and room attendants

Stay Report: Courtyard Chicago O'Hare

Stay Report: Courtyard Chicago O'Hare
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I was stuck at O’Hare International Airport overnight and the next morning – so I could either sleep in the airport or find a hotel nearby.  When I have been stuck at airports before due to weather, the hotels around the airport usually have inflated prices, but I was surprised to see that the hotels around O’Hare were decent.  I looked around and the Courtyard O’Hare Airport was having a sale so I decided to stay there.  Courtyards are known to be decent hotels with good service, so I booked a king-bed room for one night.  The hotel provides complimentary airport shuttle, and luckily the shuttle was waiting when I arrived.  The shuttle provides services to and from the airport as well as to any services – restaurants, stores - that are on the to the airport.  It was a quick drive from the airport to the hotel. 

The hotel is located next to a block of hotels, and is right next door to the Hilton Garden Inn (some other drivers would get confused as both hotel entrances are right next to each other).   The hotel itself is built like a standard Courtyard.  As you enter into the hotel, there is restaurant and bar on your left hand side while the check-in counters and ‘the market’ are to your right.  In front is the business center – two computers plus a printer – as well as computer station to print out boarding passes.  There is additional seating, tables and patio that leads to the pool.  The hotel also offers a fitness center.  Check-in was easy and I proceeded to my room.  The elevator to the rooms was a bit confusing – I went past the check-in desk and towards the rooms on the 1^st floor and about a-quarter down the hallway was the elevator that took to my 5^th floor room.  It was an odd layout.   While the lobby looked updated and modern, the hallways and the room itself looked a bit dated. 

I entered my key and opened my room and first impression was that the room was smaller than other Courtyards I have been too – it was comparable to a New York City hotel room that are compact.  When you entered into the room, there was a bathroom on the left and an entry way that led to the main room.   The bathroom was divided with the sink on one side and across was a closet, with a doorway in the middle that led to the toilet and bathtub.  While everything was decent, the look and feel of the room felt dated.

On the other side of the closet was the bedroom.  As you stepped into the bedroom, on the left was the king-size bed with two nightstands on each side.  The main bed was supposed to be a king but did not feel as big as a king, felt more like a bigger queen-size bed.  The space of the room was small on the other side of the bed there was only room for the nightstand between the bed and the wall.  On the side of the wall where you entered, diagonal from the bed, was the TV stand with drawers underneath and a connected desk.   On the other side of the wall, across from the desk, was a sofa with a table in front.  This sofa pulled out into a sofabed.  Overall, the bed was comfortable enough for one night but the room felt compact. 

As I was there for one night, I did not get to try any of the hotel amenities except for the wifi.  The hotel offered free wifi which was strong and able to stream videos without disruption.  You could also sign into multiple devices without charge or disruption to the speed.  This was a very nice feature of the hotel.   

Overall positives include access to the shuttle, amenities included free wifi and fitness center, while negatives included dated hotel and compact room.