Holiday Inn Express & Suites Chicago West - O'Hare Arpt Area by IHG

There are several places to eat next door, including IHOP and Panda Express, and the hotel sits in a large shopping mall. My room faced the traffic, so it was noisy during sleeping hours. Still, I’d recommend it for a clean and convenient stay with amenities at a reasonable rate. Bring your own soap bars. The hotel looks new, with clean, practical design and decor. A king room is adequate for two, and the mattress is excellent; the pillows are large and firm. There’s a K-cup machine, mini fridge, microwave, desk, dresser, lounge chair, large smart TV, and several digital charging ports. Breakfast is free and has a wide selection of hot and cold items. I didn’t use the pool or exercise room. The bathroom has no fan, so the mirror is useless after showering. The shower head is fixed at ceiling height, and the stall floor is slippery, which could be dangerous for someone with balance problems. There is one safety bar.

The road beside the hotel was busy, and I did hear some traffic noise. There’s a walkable Panda Express and IHOP nearby if you want to eat out. The area and hotel itself weren’t fancy, but the bed and pillows were the most comfortable I’ve had at a hotel. I even took off the sheets and mattress cover to look up the mattress, but it was zipped inside a mattress bag and too heavy for me to lift and open. The pillows were fantastic, too: two labeled firm and two soft, and they felt exactly as marked. Breakfast was quite good, with a machine that makes fresh pancakes.

I did find the hot breakfast on my last day here. Before that, I was wishing there were one, since I’m not keen on continental breakfast. I’m here for work, and the location is pretty central. The room is comfortable, though I’d personally like firmer pillows. There’s a Super Target and plenty of places to eat within walking distance.

After spending $550 for three nights, I’m pretty disappointed. On the last morning, before we headed to the aquarium, I asked a housekeeper in the hallway for a few face towels and was told no. Maybe it was a language barrier, but I’d think housekeepers would understand that request. The TV apps don’t work, and the front desk said they couldn’t fix them, so we had to watch cable. In 2026? The hot water never got very hot and turned cold quickly. The free hot breakfast was laughable, and I had to reclean the bathroom when we arrived. Check-in felt bland. I’m usually thanked for staying and for being a member. The first night was okay, though after a six-hour drive we were tired and went straight to bed. On the second night I walked in on an argument between a male front desk worker and another guest. From what I could hear, the guest’s room had flooded, and the worker offered a stack of towels, a bucket, and a mop. The guest also appeared to have some kind of foot cast. I’m a housekeeping manager myself, and that’s not how I would have handled it, but to each their own. By night two, I was longing to be home.