La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Chicago - Lake Shore

The lakeside views begin right outside the front door, and the free parking with a shuttle makes getting into the city easy. The rooms are clean and simple rather than fancy, in a quieter neighborhood that felt safe, just off Lakeshore. Check-in and checkout were quick, and the staff were kind. I’ll stay again, though I’d check whether the restaurant next door is open before counting on it.

The Lakefront Trail is easy to reach, which is handy for cyclists and runners, and the Metra Electric line is about half a mile away for trips downtown or connections elsewhere. I spent four days at Lake Shore. The area felt a little uneasy after dark, but I was out after midnight a few times without any trouble. There are ice buckets, but I never saw an ice machine, and I didn’t ask. It’s easy to get ice at the Best West next door. One tip: their breakfast is free, and I ate there all four mornings without being caught, since nobody knows what every guest looks like. Housekeeping was the big downside. If you don’t put out the Do Not Disturb sign, they will disturb you. They seemed to clean all the rooms constantly instead of finishing one at a time, going in and out from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., stomping around and slamming doors. It’s not somewhere I’d want to stay sick and trying to rest. If you’re out doing things all day, though, it’s not a bad little place.

For the price, it’s a decent option close to downtown and major attractions, with amenities a 5-10 minute drive away. I felt safe, and parking is right beside the rooms. The lobby has been updated, but the rooms look dated, with old carpet and furniture and popcorn ceilings and walls. Still, everything was clean and neat. There’s room for a mini fridge, so it would be nice if they added one. The ice machine situation isn’t convenient either.

The staff were friendly, but the office was closed. Business services and grab-and-go breakfast were through the Best Western next door, owned by the same person, and it seemed better maintained and higher quality. The motel has no fitness center, the rooms and hallways smell, outlets are hard to reach, and the stairs are steep with stained carpet, chipped paint, and dusty fire sprinklers. The room itself had dim lighting, only from a lamp, cloudy TV channels, and walls that looked gross, especially in the bathroom. A blue light check made most sheets look fairly clean. Some rooms don’t have refrigerators, and ours was scratched up. The beds were lumpy and uncomfortable, and the door didn’t close securely on its own. There were no towels when we arrived, though they quickly put two in the bathroom after we asked. A metal bracket remained on the wall beside the sink where a towel rack must have been. The tub corner had black mold or mildew, and the bath faucet pulled away from the wall when we lifted the diverter. The toilet paper was a long way from the toilet. This is a two-star roach motel, despite being presented as a three-star hotel, and not worth the price. Several glowing reviews and photos seemed to be about the Best Western next door, or were so vague about the rooms that they seemed fake. The website says they take pride in keeping the property clean, and that renovating would make them like every other hipster hotel, so guests can spend money on the city instead. That last line almost reads like a threat, as if renovating, updating, or maintaining things would mean raising prices. There’s a real difference between renovating and basic upkeep. For what they charge, they should maintain the motel and provide a mini fridge and microwave in every room.