Congress Plaza Hotel

This is an old building, so I’m not sure why people expect everything to be modern and updated. It’s decent and interesting. The room had a slight smell, more like cleaner in a room that wasn’t well ventilated. We booked directly with the hotel and had a great stay in a king room. The bathroom was clean and normal, with a door you could close for privacy. Elevators worked quickly. I checked the mattress carefully for bugs and didn’t find any. I’ve been a community home based social worker for 10 years and know what to look for. You should check any hotel for bed bugs, even five-star places can have them, so stay cautious. It took us a minute to spot the mini fridge tucked under the TVs inside the stands. We had a newer TV and a neat tablet with services and suggestions for places to visit. I can’t comment on the AC because it’s winter and the room is fine. The door numbers were clear, and our newer bed was on the firmer side but fine. The only possible concerns I saw were security and safety.

The lobby is beautiful, and there are a few restaurants in the building. It’s super convenient for walking, too. The place has old-fashioned charm, like stepping back a few decades into a fancy hotel. The appliances are a bit dated, but the beds are huge. At the back of the building you can hear trains passing, though they aren’t loud.

The room was clean and very simple, with coffee and bottled water. There was also a tablet with a little tourist information about Chicago, which was a nice idea. I couldn’t connect my phone to the TV to play music or watch anything, though, since it wasn’t a smart TV. The basic service was the worst I’ve experienced. The hair dryer didn’t work, and no one answered when I called the front desk. I tried another number, got transferred, and waited a long time with no response before giving up. Very disappointing. In a major city like Chicago, and with so many recommendations for this historic hotel, that made it even more frustrating. Everyone deserves the same care regardless of what they pay for a room. Hospitality is about the guest experience. The location is good, especially in summer, but I don’t recommend the hotel. Honestly, I think even a hostel would make guests feel more appreciated. For the NYE party, check-in was quick and smooth, with no line, right after I checked into the hotel. The drinks were acceptable. There were two rooms with different music, electronic in one and pop/hip-hop in the other, so there was a choice. The DJs played good songs, and the countdown was fun. Balloons dropped after midnight. I only found out later there was a photo booth, as I didn’t see it. I didn’t notice any snacks for General Admission, though I wasn’t looking hard for them and thought they might be by the drinks. The email said the party ended at 2:00 a.m., but it seemed to finish earlier, around 1:30-1:40 a.m. I booked a Standard Double room.

The bed was comfortable and the view was nice, I could even see the track. Everything else left me disappointed, and I probably won’t come back even if someone paid me. I was there in 2024 for the NASCAR race and expected top-level service after hearing decent things about the hotel and that Presidents had stayed there. Before arriving, I called to ask where to park. Douglas was rude, yelling, interrupting me, and hanging up while I was asking a simple question. Once we arrived, check-in took longer than usual and finding the room was a nightmare. We spent about 30 minutes walking in circles. The hallway was icky, smelled like old raisins, and had peeling paint everywhere. The number on our room door was almost invisible, just a slight indent blending into the door. Inside, the room was mediocre, with more peeling paint and low-quality doors.