TRIP REPORT: Surprise, Surprise! The Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont

The Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont
Surprise, Surprise!

Time for the second hotel for this trip, this time looking at a property that should be familiar to a lot of you if you’ve been around this blog – The Hyatt Regency O’Hare.

What changes are there? 

In this surprise-laden adventure

• We all know the drill by now… don’t we?
• The early morning road to nowhere (and Heathrow Terminal 3 first thing in the morning, with an equipment change shock)
• Morning Lounging at the Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounges
• AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare – Main Cabin Extra
• Into the USA and The Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Airplane Art Special from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Various nibbles around Chicago
• An Instagram Trap? Coffee at Brü
• Chicago Classics: Giordano’s Deep Dish Pizza
• Enjoying a Chicago River tour… in the rain
• Back to O’Hare and the British Airways lounge
• BA296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow – Club World (Club Suites)
• Racing across Heathrow… but where’s the coach?
• To onward surprises

Normally, I do make the physical walk between the Crowne Plaza and the Hyatt Regency O’Hare – it’s a block and a bit’s distance – normally doable, even with a suitcase, ski bag and all the other crap I travel with.

It’s good for a bit of risk-based cardo (and depending on the pavement and North River Road, it is a risk indeed)

Except as I’ve noted, the suitcase’s handle was making less than positive sounds when I wheeled it into the hotel.

I could have risked it – but to be honest, risking it was not on the cards – the case needed to get back to the United Kingdom (no I am not throwing a suitcase in the bin down route on a trip)

I therefore cheated and caught an Uber for the short distance.

$6 versus the stress of a suitcase handle that was well on the way out? I’ll take the $6 fee every day of the week.

Hyatt Regency O’Hare

Group Rate: Not disclosed.

It was evening when these were shot. Close enough to a night hotel photo. 

I arrived at the Hyatt after midday, so there was quite a queue to check into the hotel – that’s fine – I was struggling to keep things stable with the suitcase even during this point.

Hello, Glass tentacle thing. 

I eventually made it to the head of the check-in queue and was processed. Given the trouble that I had with the lifts last time, I aimed for a lower floor. Again, not perfect, but it would do in case I had to be pushed to use the stairs again.

Hmmm.

Reception (From the lifts) 

A holding charge of $50/Day ($200) was made. With a key card issued for the 4th floor, I was on my way. Whilst not the greatest angle for aviation photos, it would be fine.

Hopefully.

I headed to the lifts and worked my way around – finding that the room was a little bit of a walk around.

Pushing Hyatt loyalty hard in reception – especially when you dedicate a whole screen to it. 

These passageways always get me from a design perspective. 

Going into the room, if you’ve read in my trip reports for years, this is the same old Hyatt Reagency O’Hare Room in the main block (because going to the ambassador wing/international wing isn’t a great idea – as the main block has balconies.

If you’re one who enjoys vaping or other nicotine products, it’s a chance to close the balcony windows and enjoy a comfortable break without having to go downstairs to the lobby (and dress for the occasion).

Or you could watch airplanes if you’re into that sort of thing.

You get a view of the Expressway to the airport as well as the Rosemont L Station if you play your cards right. 

The hotel seemed quieter than usual, with only a couple of events ongoing. With this hotel so dependent on convention traffic (as well as Airport traffic), there have been further cuts, with the sofa glass table removed.

I know it’s a small thing, but they all add up in the end.

At least there was an iron and ironing board in the room, along with a new fridge – that’s good to see (even if was marked for keeping drinks in only).

German hotels could only dream of this. 

Cool. 

Heading to the bathroom, again, it’s a typical one – a reasonable size, but definitely, one where it’s one-person occupancy, rather than two.

Amenities continue to be bulk-style here, with all bar a bar of soap being bulk-packed, which is what I expect these days.

There were a few issues with the water in the hotel, with water pressure being wild to the point the shower went from scalding hot to freezing cold in seconds, requiring the maintenance team.

As for the double beds, they were the usual Hyatt levels of comfort – firm enough so you know it’s there, but soft enough to provide support and mould into the back. For me, that’s good enough. Even if it was impossible to predict when they would service the room.

If you’re an AVGeek, this is a chance for you to watch aircraft depart and arrive.

What FlightRadar24 looks like.

Or just watch this sign. O’Hair Hairport. Give. Me. Strength. 

The TV was still the massive thing that would look out of place in most homes – let alone this bedroom. I guess it’s to provide an immersive experience, but it does dominate the space – to put it mildly.

Tea and coffee-making facilities were provided, with another Keruig-style machine doing the work. Whilst not perfect (compared to a kettle), it did the job of warming water and keeping me caffeinated. During the first thing in the morning – that’s important.

The glass-topped table had a phone there, as well as space to work – which I promptly filled. The RGB Keyboard is a thing. Don’t ask at this point – it leads to answers, as well as Apple’s wonderfully designed keyboards.

No, I’ll not take questions on the RGB Inland Keyboard I brought. Unicorn vomit on a keyboard is what everyone wants these days, isn’t it? 

The hotel’s cafe continues to do good trade, with it now offering QR Code ordering. The pricing remains… what’s the nicest way I can put it… hotel pricing.

For those who depend on coffee from there, it’s important to remember that they brew Starbucks coffee… they’re not a proper Starbucks.

Something to remember if you’re a Starbucks rewards member.

In terms of vending machines, The Best Buy machine is long gone (although there’s a full-fat Best Buy in Norridge 15 minutes away from the hotel). However, the CVS machine is still there.

As for the bar, it seemed to be the one plc that was hoping most nights. That has pulses and a minus. On the plus side it was easy to get a drink (but minimal gin on the menu).

I stuck to cola. 

The bad thing? The noise carried up into the room some nights – especially when you’re trying to think, the noise just bled through when on the lower floors.

Check-out was the usual affair. With the opportunity to stow my luggage until it was needed – I took it. Although I would need to watch my timing on departure – it seems there was a shortage of bus drivers.

Overall

A perfectly serviceable stay at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare – with a lot of the post-pandemic wobbles out of the way thankfully. Those little cuts in service seem to be visible though – with older furniture not being renewed and the hotel being a lot quieter than I would expect towards the Easter Weekend.

At least the addition of a drinks fridge is a welcome thing to see.

There were a couple of service quibbles – with the temperature of the water being either boiling hot or cold (which was fixed) as well as the constrained shuttle bus service, but otherwise, a lot more stable than previous visits.

Convention traffic, being a major driver of the hotel is quieting down. That could impact the hotel in the longer term. We’ll have to see in October how it improves.

Or not.

Next:

We’re going to combine the trip report with our usual Sunday Airplane Art -with an Airplane Art Special!

It’s almost as if I time when these posts go out or something…

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