DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago - Oak Brook

The hotel itself was only alright. The rooms felt old, with paint peeling in the toilets, and the elevators shuddered in a way that felt dangerous. What really soured the stay, though, was how unfriendly and hostile the staff were, from reception to the shuttle driver, who was probably the rudest person I've come across, to the breakfast restaurant staff, who were hard to find even for basic requests. Hospitality and politeness were nowhere to be seen. People acted like doing their jobs was a favor and couldn't be bothered to make extra effort.

I spent 1800 dollars for 9 night and would never come back. The front desk staff were nice and helpful when I needed them, but the noise and atmosphere made this a bad stay. There was construction in the hallways in the mornings, the facility smelled like marijuana, and people smoked it just outside the doors. Guests were loud and didn't seem to care about anyone else. At 3am, people had parties in the lobby with their own speakers blasting. Police had to get involved over noise complaints. Maybe they need more staff to keep things under control or clearer rules for guests and parties. I wouldn't bring my family here.

The ballroom was beautiful for the wedding, and the gym had stairmasters, ellipticals, treadmills, one stationery bike, one peloton bike, and some weights. Our room was nice and clean, and the beds were comfortable. Staff were generally very service minded. Breakfast was the weak point, with little variety and not much taste, especially compared to European hotels. Refills on coffee, tea, and juice were hard to get.

The staff were wonderful, even with rude wedding guests and room problems to deal with, and they did their best to sort things out. The lobby looks modern and appealing, but once you reach the elevators, if they're working, the place starts to lose its shine. The rooms feel like a different hotel: tired, beat-up, mismatched furniture and one band-aid fix after another. We booked a room with a balcony as a slight upgrade, but there was no refrigerator or microwave. The paint was peeling, the toilet cracked, the floor uneven, and the temperature stifling hot. There was also a strange chirping from the hallway, like a smoke alarm with a dying battery. I know they're in the middle of a rehab, but this isn't the hotel I remember and I won't be back anytime soon. I wish them luck, though I feel their destiny may be sealed.