Days Inn by Wyndham Elk Grove Village O'Hare Airport West

We looked at three rooms, and each one was worse than the one before. One smelled strongly of cat or dog urine, another had no handles on any of the drawers, and another had stains everywhere. The covers on both beds and the pillows were stained too, so we bought our own sheets. Someone in the next room was using heroin, which made for a very unsettling stay. The staff were terrible, and although the place allows pets, there was nowhere for them to go to the bathroom. It’s cheap, but not worth it even if you’re trying to save money. This was the worst motel or hotel experience of my life, and it partly ruined our vacation.

After a late flight, I needed a hotel with an airport shuttle. Three other places rudely told me their shuttles stopped at 10 or 11, but the Days Inn manager said I could be picked up until midnight. When I called, the staff went out of their way to make sure I got to the hotel safely. The rooms are nicely maintained and the bed was well made. Breakfast was adequate, and I appreciated having cream cheese for the bagels.

There’s no elevator, which was especially hard for my mother. She’s had a knee replacement, her hip is now giving her trouble, and using the stairs hurts her a lot. We couldn’t stand being in the building for even five minutes. It was the dirtiest, most unclean place I’ve been in, and despite the no smoking rule, all we could smell was cigarettes and weed. The room was dated, with ceiling molding falling off. I can’t believe it was listed for 62 bucks. It’s worth 20 at most. Please don’t bring children here.

Free airport shuttle at 4 am was a great bonus, and we’re looking forward to coming back. As value travelers, we were happy with the comfortable beds and friendly service. The room’s decor looked thoughtfully put together, and it’s clear the family is making upgrades, including the laminate bathroom floor. Everything was clean, and breakfast had protein choices.