Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Carol Stream (Wheaton) by IHG

I stayed for two nights to take a short break and recover from work. It was calm, and the room lighting felt comfortable. Room service brought meals within the time they estimated, and the staff kept their service consistent.

We spent our three-day stay taking turns leaving the room so one of us could let the other back in. My elderly mother and I had been given keys that didn’t work on four separate occasions by the desk attendant, Chris. On our final night, neither key worked when we returned. I went down for replacements after already trying two keys in that episode. Chris gave me a condescending, “oh, I’m so sorry,” then sent me back upstairs. I asked him to send someone in case the new key failed. After 15 minutes, someone finally came up with our key and the all-access key. Ours didn’t work. The maintenance guy said he’d return with another, but by 9:30pm he still hadn’t. I called the desk, and Chris apologized again and sent him back. That key failed too. When I called once more to ask what could be done, since the bad key kept us from getting in and out, he said he’d put in a maintenance request because it was after 10pm and nobody was on site. By 10 AM on our final morning, no one had brought us a working key. We had to take turns going down to the restaurant for breakfast. This was my first trip using my IGH membership and booking through Delta Travel, and it was awful. Having access to your room is essential when traveling. My elderly mother had to stand for 30 to 45 minutes while we went back and forth trying to get a key that worked. Between the poor service, maintenance, and room access, I won’t stay here again.

The front desk service was excellent, and I had a great experience overall. I’d stay here again. I just wish breakfast were complimentary.

I expected a Holiday Inn to feel stuck in the 1960s, but this one was beautiful and really modern. It had the best power outlets I’ve seen, with plugs on both sides of the king bed.