Springing to Chicago – Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Here we go… again (in more ways than one)
- Off to Heathrow
- Terminal 3 Oneworld Lounges (Cathay Pacific and American Airlines)
- AA87 London Heathrow T3 to Chicago O’Hare International
- The joy of US immigration
- Intercontinental Chicago – Magnificent Mile
- Travel Tech: Life with a Canon 50mm f1.2 (yes, it’s another walk around Chicago)
- Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Travel Tech: SkullCandy Ink’d Wireless Headphones
- Airplane Art Special: From the Balcony of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare ** BONUS **
- Back to O’Hare, The British Airways Business Class lounge
- BA296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow
- Delayed Arrivals and Homeward
- Short and Sweet
With my luggage out of the Uber, I was at my other hotel this visit – The Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Regular readers will know that once again – I’m back here.
Why? You spend till 2am in the morning partying with friends – and then having to traspe to another hotel. It doesn’t work.
I was welcomed to the hotel, and headed up to reception.
I headed up to reception and checked in. As usual, I got two keys – primarily for me – but also with the trouble we had the last trip with Hyatt’s inability to manage a hotel bill correctly (and put hold charges on in the wrong place), I wanted to minimise the risks.
I was welcomed, and granted a room in my preferred position – High floor, City facing. Why? I’ll come onto that in a bit.
With all the check-in pleasantries completed, I headed upstairs.
I never get tired of this weird statue thing.
I’ve always liked this atrium design. However to minimise the walking distance, I should pick odd-numbered floors…
So onto the room, and the first thing I noted – a new carpet. It seems the hotel has been refreshing its rooms.
Towards the balcony. Note the desk chairs have been cut by one – namely as the older wheely chairs were getting rather long in the tooth, and leather was falling off them
Still a masive TV in the room. Good for lazing and watching Cartoon Network on. Coffee and tea making facilities in the left.
Bedside amenities – A noise-maker, bedside charging..
And a radio with a classic 30 pin dock connector. Seriously… 30 pin connectors are still a thing?
Thankfully, they haven’t removed the old BAe146 images from the room. Where? Have a look next time you’re in the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.
BAe146 flying for United Express. Classic.
The bathroom is pretty much the same, with the Kentt MD amenities
You’ll notice the World of Hyatt sign in the bathroom. And yes, they’re everywhere in the room…
Whilst I can appreciate they’re trying to drive loyalty – they have you in the room already. Do they need to ram it down your throat to sign up?
As for the room views – I love being this high at an Airport hotel. Not only do you get a great view of the city…
…. depending on the winds, you either get departing or arriving traffic into O’Hare International Airport
… in fact… I could make a whole airplane art post out of this.
With a busy weekend, eating out was going to be a limited activity – so I utilised the Perks Coffee shop once to many times (although $6 for a large “We proudly brew Starbucks” filter coffee is taking the peanut).
But after a hard weekend of catching up with friends, sometimes – you just want something from the hotel bar. I went to the Red bar…
Going through the menu, I paged and it… and in the end I chose my old standby at this hotel…
… that’s right. Fried Calamari. It’s done nicely at this bar, with it being very crisp, and not overly chewy.
Especially if you’re still working on some photos at the time.
Check-out was handled quickly and efficiently, with a part cash/part card payment taken successfully.
With plenty of time before I had to catch my flight to London, I left my luggage behind and wandered downtown for a while.
Overall: It seems the hotel is coming back “on-point” after some dips and dives. The attention to detail is back again – and it’s welcome to see. The room refurbishments are welcome too (some of the carpets in the rooms were getting very threadbare), and it’s good to see the hotel investing in the property.
But please cut back on the “World of Hyatt” advertising in the room please…
NEXT: Some more Travel Technology – this time focusing on headphones… and some budget ones to consider when travelling.
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