Chicago XV – Tiers and Dreams
The Hyatt Regency O’Hare with a Rucksack gate update
Contents:
- Tiers? And Dreams? Huh?
- Off to Heathrow, American Airlines FlAAgship Lounge
- American Airlines AA99 London – Chicago
- Crowne Plaza O’Hare
- Back to O’Hare, AA AAdmrials Club
- American Airlines AA1380 Chicago to St Louis, St Louis AAdmirals Club, AA1685 St Louis to Dallas Fort Worth
- DFW and AAn CEO encounter…
- American Airlines AA1180 – Dallas Fort Worth to San Juan
- The Intercontinental San Juan and #Rucksackgate
- San Juan International Airport
- American Airlines AA1591 San Juan to Dallas Forth Worth
- More messing around DFW
- American Airlines AA1618 Dallas Fort Worth to St Louis International, A quick STL Stop, American Airlines AA1186 St Louis to Chicago
- The Hyatt Regency O’Hare with a Rucksack gate update – THIS SECTION
- One Time Exception: A Chicago Photographic Interlude
- O’Hare Take 3, AA AAdmirals Club
- AA3360 Chicago O’Hare to Toronto Pearson
- Toronto Airport Omnishambles – The Long Wait, BA Toronto Lounge
- BA96 Toronto to London Heathrow featuring the British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner
- Homeward bound
- The long and winding road
After exiting the plane and heading to the luggage belt, I was in half dread – had the stitching held up? Or would I be buying a new bag when I had 5 minutes in Chicago?
Both bags spat out of the luggage belt… and the rucksack had… survived. Whilst some of the stitching was loose, it had taken the full weight for 3 flights and 4 sets of luggage handlers.
With that relief I headed out to the terminal… and straight into the taxi queue from hell. Rather than do that, I headed for the bus terminal and caught a shuttle bus to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.
With 9pm approaching, I was finally in the foyer of the hotel.
Hotel: Hyatt Regency O’Hare
The photos http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/2013/11/02/hyatt-regency-ohare.html
I got off the bus, and no welcome staff were to be found. Rather annoying, but not the end of the world. I decided to head down and drop off the kit I would be using for the next few days rather than check in immediately.
As such, I spend time setting up, and chatting to my friends who were working away in the International Level. I helped out too, and with all my initial setup complete, it was 10pm. It was late, but time to check in.
Reception
And check in a bit long… well a 15 minute wait.
Then the killer was dropped when I checked in – I would be in the International Wing. Those of you know who the Hyatt Regency O’Hare will know it’s a bit of a hike to the International Wing (to put it blunt) from the main block – where I needed to be over the weekend.
I had put a request in my booking for a high floor, in the main atrium (as I always do) with a Double-Double bed.
So the request for the main block was ignored in my booking with a Double Double.
Wonderful.
Eventually, I was found a room in the main block as I was on my own now (and no second guest with me), so I was issued my keys. I enquired about internet and informed it was charged for… except I’m a Platinum. A quick check of my profile, and the agent said the Internet would be free.
Finally I was sent on my way to the 10th floor.
Except as I was going around the hotel, I looked up and saw the number I was in… and saw I was in one of the turret rooms in a King Room.
The words I had were not too polite at this moment in time.
Allow me to explain: The Turret rooms are small in comparison to the double doubles, no balcony access and on top of that.. no bath in the bathroom, only a shower.
I was too exhausted to argue, but lets say I wasn’t exactly happy with the room… to the point I was considering of cutting my losses by a day and retreating back to the Crowne Plaza on the Sunday (I didn’t in the end.. but it was very close)
Bed
TV and work area
Earplugs, remote and phone
At that point, I gave up and went downstairs to get some food at the bar – where my friends were. I hung around, had some expensive fried calamari with some cola and caught up with people.
With that, I headed upstairs to collapse in peace and quiet. Thankfully, Hyatt hasn’t changed the beds here – which was important, as the beds are actually very comfortable at this hotel.
What I needed was a bath after a long day of travel… and a shower doesn’t cut it here people as you can’t lie down in one and soak your back.
The morning came, and it was time to be sociable for the weekend. I gave up on getting a room change because the hotel was packed out for the weekend. That would had involved serious shifting around… and by this point, I had unpacked and didn’t want any heartache.
I had to head up to the room every now and again, during the Friday (as I needed to head to BestBuy to get another CD Drive), and I popped up to my room to get my wallet. To find the room hadn’t been serviced.
So, wrong room, wrong type of room assigned, poorly timed housekeeping. I’m running out of positive things to say here Hyatt… (and I caught a few poor comments about the hotels from other friends too… with mold found in one room too. Not good at all)
On later visits during the weekend, they had spruced their ideas up, and were cleaning before midday (always a bonus).
The only positive I could find was that the conference staff – which were as good as usual. Which helps during a weekend event when you need to concentrate on things.
The weekend itself was a positive one, with lots of friends made, connections caught up with and skills learned. A sort of weekend I like.
By 4pm Sunday it was all over, and I was in my room collapsed, and really needing to chill. With the evening coming – and the joy of repacking, it was time to survey the bag.
Not bad, but not brilliant. Thankfully I had some sewing kits left over front the Intercontinental San Juan, so it was time to sew again.
With the sewing done, I begun to pack and checked the bar downstairs for food. The bar was loud and packed… and that wasn’t doing it for me – I needed some quiet. I therefore raided the shop on the lower lobby (as I really didn’t fancy a walk over to McDonald’s or a Pizza delivered), and headed up to watch bad television and back up the hard disk.
Oh and pack… testing the stitching was would hold…
Morning came, and I wanted to spend some time downtown. I therefore checked out, and expressed my concerns to the front desk staff – which knocked of the food bill of $17.
Hmm. Not making it up to me… much
I dumped my luggage at the held luggage area, and headed off to Paulina to get some things and then to head downtown.
Overall: What a let down. It seems Hyatt were more interested in the electronic sign by the hotel than actually delivering good service. Everything seemed way too abrupt, service was slow and not a good reflection on previous stays at this hotel. I think you can tell how annoyed I was when I was planning to cancel the final night at the hotel and head back over the road to the Crowne Plaza.
Yes, I was that annoyed
I did the feedback on the stay and got an email from the front desk manager with an apology… and I’ll probably be back at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Put it like this: There had better be an improvement when I’m back next.
Next: A Chicago Photographic Special
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