A Last Star Alliance Fling? To Chicago with United Airlines and Air Canada
LHR-IAD-ORD, ORD-YYZ-LHR
The InterContinental North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Index:
- An Apology and The Introduction
- To London Heathrow, BMI Lounge, Star Alliance Lounge
- United UA923 London Heathrow – Washington Dulles International
- TSA Shenanigans, United UA221 Washington Dulles to Chicago O’Hare
- InterContinental Chicago, North Michigan Avenue (this entry)
- One Time Exception: Chicago Water Taxi
- Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- United UA474, Chicago O’Hare to Toronto Pearson International in United First
- Maple Leaf Lounge, Air Canada AC856 Toronto Pearson International to London Heathrow
- Homeward bound
- No more Star Alliance?
After exiting the plane, I wandered aimlessly for the exit and picked up my luggage that had just about to be delivered to the belt normal luggage belt and the oversized. I then headed for a cab (without considering a Shuttle. Next time), to be fleeced the $50 to catch a metered cab downtown (so yes, defiantly a shuttle next time).
If I was travelling lighter, yes – I would had taken the L – but you try travelling with some of the stuff I travel with…
Anyhoo, the cab made its way down the I-94, and into the heart of Chicago to North Michigan Avenue – and my hotel for two nights – The Intercontinental
Hotel: InterContinental Chicago – Magnificent Mile – North Michigan Avenue.
Room booked: Double, Upgraded to a Suite (Ambassador Upgrade)
Yes, A shot of the Hotel in the daytime. Happy now?
The Photos:
My luggage was taken off me and I was given tickets for it as I went to check-in. All the lines were of a length, so I picked the smallest one and got seen to after a few minutes. I was welcomed as an Ambassador, and my room was upgraded to a Suite in the main tower.
Now, that’s a nice upgrade.
I was also reminded of the benefits I had on the rate I was booked on (always helpful) and directed to the right elevators. It was then off to the 14th floor of the main tower.
Elevators on 14th
Corridor
After finding my way to the room (a challenge I sometimes have), I found a very nicely appointed suite waiting, split into a living area, bedroom and bathroom – not as large as the IC Toronto Yorkville, but then who needs 2 toilets in a suite?
My luggage arrived after a few minutes and I made myself comfortable
Minibar area – The Intercontinental “Intimacy” kit is out of sight for the protection of my dear readers 😉
Comfortable seating
Seating with extra towels out…
Living room TV
Bedroom and Web-console
The living room and bedroom were reasonably well appointed – whilst not new, it was comfortable and suitable – better than just a room.
Moving on to the bathroom, it was a proper bathroom, shower and toilet combo.
Coffee machine and water in the bathroom
Soapy.
Amenities
Art in a bathroom
The bathroom delivered hot water when I needed it (although it has those wonderfully annoying showers they have in the hotels, where you have to turn water on, pull a plunger and hope the shower works – annoying, but is life)
Meanwhile, there was a welcome amenity. Those who enjoy comedy will like this:
Yes it is exactly:
- Three Satsuma’s/Tangerines
- 1 Bottle of relaxing water
- 1 voucher for the Starbucks shop in the lobby, valued at $1.65
Do I even need to go further?
Still, it was a great hotel to relax in, and base myself before the ongoing madness that is the stuff I do when I get to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.
Admittedly, I utilised the late check-out at the InterContinental (as I had to repack some stuff), to the dismay of the house staff. Well if you give me a 4pm checkout, I’ll use it sometimes! I made my way out of the room just before 4pm, and checked out at the front desk… and sat and waited for a shuttle van.
Which I realised I accidentally had booked for the next day.
Oops. Reluctantly, I grabbed a cab for another ride up to O’Hare.
Overall: It was a nice hotel, with great service and a nice environment. The location on North Michigan Avenue just can’t be beaten at all – two buildings from the Wrigley Building, John Hancock to the north, and the Loop to the south. Just the two little things of the house staff wanting to know when I was going to go (even though a 4pm checkout had been posted on the account), and the woeful excuse of a welcome amenity are the standout points here…
Next: One Time Exception: Chicago Water Taxi!
that would be I-94. The Kennedy.
Thanks. Corrected.
We stayed in this hotel for a wedding a year and a half ago and as a platinum we were upgraded to a full suit in the historic tower, which it appears you were in also. Our suite had a living roon, sitting room, bedroom and massive bathroom with huge tub, shower, 2 sinks toilet and bidet room and large dressing area with a table etc. maybe 1,500 sq feet total.
Being from Chicago my enitre life, I am aware that the historic tower was at onetime one of the most luxurious hotels in the US.
Much of the furniture in the tower consists of older very expensive furniture from the past and I believe that the hotel is required by law to maintain the style as it is my recollection that it is an historic landmark.
BTW, since the thread is discussing the route, it is really I-190 to I-90. After about 7 miles I-90 and I-94 merge( I -94 comes from northern suburbs, as opposed to I-90 which comes from NW suburbs and ORD) and become one highway for the remainder of the expressway route which is also about 7 miles. While the entire route, not counting I-190 is the Kennedy, only a portion of the Kennedy Expressway is I-94.
One additional comment, if you were in the new tower as opposed to the historic tower you were not in the best part of the hotel.