The Chicago Hotel Collection Magnificent Mile Hotel & Suites

The room stayed clean and comfortable throughout the month I was there, and the hotel felt welcoming from day one. The staff made me feel at home, and I’m grateful for how well everyone looked after me. I’d absolutely return and recommend the hotel. Raymond and Corey were especially kind, friendly, and helpful. The whole housekeeping team, both the men and women, did a wonderful job and treated me with care. Breakfast staff were great every day, too. And a special thank you to Michael, the manager, who was incredibly nice and helped whenever I needed something. His support made a real difference.

Absolutely a scam. DO NOT STAY HERE. The advertised rate is usually under $50 a day, but they use that low price to get you to book. At the front desk, you’re told the stay will cost around $150. That charge includes drinks and breakfast, though downtown Chicago has plenty of options that are much better than what they provide. Ask yourself if it sounds too good to be true.

The hotel itself was decent, but I won’t stay there again. There’s a surcharge buried in the reservation agreement, and it changes depending on the day. They give you an estimate, but you don’t find out the actual amount until check-in. Mine ended up costing more than the rest of the stay. They should be upfront about their prices.

DO NOT COME HERE. I paid for the room with travel points, and at checkout my balance was $0. The receipt confirmed that. Then, when I arrived, I was charged $200 in hidden fees. They said those fees weren’t shown in my online third-party points booking because it was supposed to cover a “full package” of extras. That meant six plastic water bottles and a couple of meal vouchers, nowhere near worth $200 or more. The booking never made clear I was buying that package, and I would have been fine with just the room. When I raised it with the front desk, they pointed to the receipt’s fine print saying the third party was responsible for telling us. They never did. If I’m being charged $200 extra on the basis that a third party should have contacted me, the hotel should make sure that actually happened. I had no idea what I was purchasing. This has clearly been an issue for a while, judging by the reviews, and they’re choosing not to fix it. It feels like predatory pricing and financial scamming, and it has to be illegal. Consumers have a right to know what they’re buying. Once you get there, you’re left feeling you have no choice but to pay. What else can I do? It was an awful experience. They take advantage of people with fine print and poor communication, then dodge responsibility by blaming the third party.