Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago-Libertyville

The pool was a real highlight: plenty of room for about a dozen people, and genuinely warm, maybe in the mid-80s. I normally wear a wetsuit in an 80-degree pool, but didn’t need one here. The clean hot tub fit four or five, there were lots of towels and places to sit, and the bathrooms had showers for rinsing off. I didn’t use the small exercise room, but from the hallway it looked like it had several cardio options and perhaps a weight machine. There’s an ice maker on every floor and plenty of parking. We paid $162 total for a Saturday night on Valentine’s Day. Our volleyball tournament at Sky High was four minutes away, so the location worked perfectly. For a hotel in this class I’d give it about 4.5 stars. It costs toward the higher end of the range, but the extras made the price reasonable. We had a king suite with a pullout full-size couch, a roomy layout, bar sink, fridge, coffee and tea, and a nice walk-in shower with a separate sink area. The bed was a little firm, maybe 6.5 or 7 out of 10, but not rock hard. I sleep on my side and managed fine. Room 202’s heating and cooling unit clicked annoyingly about every minute as it cycled. It only started at bedtime, and we stayed one night, so I mentioned it at checkout. The smart TV had Netflix, Pluto, HBOMax, and a way to search for other apps. HDMI, USB, and composite inputs were accessible from the remote, so I hooked up my portable DVD player. Old school, I know. We also got two bottled waters at check-in, though I’m not sure if that was for everyone or Hilton members. Breakfast was free and had enough variety for most people. Coffee and tea choices were good, with 2% and almond milk, half-and-half, and French vanilla. There were scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, waffles with blueberry batter, yogurt, fruit, cereal, granola, oatmeal with almonds and dried fruit, and plenty of baked goods, bread, bagels, spreads, syrup, and whipped cream. Drinks included apple and orange juice and blueberry acai pomegranate water. I’d stay again without regrets. I compared five or six similar nearby hotels, and although some offered a few of the same amenities, their reviews mentioned issues like seasonal or unheated pools and limited or cold breakfast. Gurnee had decent choices at nearly the same price, but this place checked the boxes for our needs and was very close. It was an easy drive from MKE.

The shuttle driver saved the day when I misplaced my ticket during all the rushing around before my grandson’s Navy bootcamp graduation. We called the hotel to check the room, and they found it, but we had no time to go back without being late. I called again to ask when the next shuttle was coming, and it was only five minutes away. The driver brought my ticket to me. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and the staff went above and beyond. The rooms were clean and smelled nice. I’d book here again if I’m back in the area.

We were using the pullout sofa too, so it was easy to get extra towels and blankets. There were plenty of pillows in the room, breakfast had really good options and actually tasted good, and the staff were great. They even suggested some new things to try nearby while we had time to kill.

Leah at the front desk was warm, professional, and genuinely helpful, and manager Sabrina Maganan clearly sets a caring tone. Her attention to detail made me feel welcome and appreciated throughout the stay. The rooms were spotless, fresh, and well kept, and it was obvious housekeeping takes pride in the work. I’d just stayed at another Hampton Inn, which I won’t name, and the difference was night and day. Libertyville restored my confidence in the brand. This is a franchise, yet its hospitality outshines many corporate-managed properties and goes beyond what I expect from Hilton. My stay at the Hampton Inn in Libertyville, Illinois, was above my already high expectations from arrival to departure. Whether you’re traveling for work, family, leisure, or to be there for your first grandchild’s birth, I’d say stay here. I’ll absolutely return. Highly recommended.