La Quinta Inn Chicago Oakbrook Terrace

I liked having a filtered water bottle station. As a travel nurse, I don't always want to carry water around, so free filtered water was a welcome touch. There was also a lobby room with slot machines and a few fireplaces. We didn't try breakfast. We were here overnight while getting last-minute plumbing work done at home. Renovations were going on, but that didn't bother us since we were in and out. The doors are thin, though, so hallway noise carries, and the heater was extremely loud all night. It was mid-November, around 40 degrees outside, and the thermostat was set to 60, so the room felt freezing when we arrived. The beds were hard and only somewhat comfortable. There was an iron but no ironing board.

My room was 219, and after checking it myself I found the mattress, sheets, furniture, and heat were all fine. I actually had to turn the heat down right after coming in. Someone at the front desk warned me about bed bugs and cold rooms as I was checking in, but I decided to see for myself. The location is perfect, and they're rebuilding; it looks like it could be a really cool place when it's finished. I did find facial hair on the shower wall, which should have been easy for housekeeping to spot. The bathroom sliding doors only move to one side, as if they aren't level. Also, the shower soap shelf is way too low. I understand someone might want to rest a leg there to shave, but there should be another shelf at shoulder height for people who don't. That's a major design flaw. Other than those minor issues, it was a good stay and I'd recommend it. My rating is more like 4.7.

We changed our booking from two nights to one because we didn't feel welcome. The new room still had hair in the shower, sink, and bed, so we bought cleaning supplies, pillowcases, and a sheet ourselves. The walls are thin too, and you can hear everything. Please save your money and don't stay here. The hospitality was terrible from the start. No hello or anything, and the receptionist had her dog right there. The shower in our first room was dirty and smelled of a cheap air freshener that made me dizzy and uneasy. The manager came up and said there was nothing wrong. She eventually offered to move us and told us to return the key, but we were ready to go somewhere our money deserved. At the desk, when I asked about a refund, the receptionist got hostile and called the manager on her cell. They made slick remarks about us getting a good discount and how rooms went for 110, as if to make me feel bad for asking for my money back.

Staff were friendly, professional, and quick to help whenever I needed anything. The room was clean, comfortable, well kept, and everything worked as it should. It was also a good spot near Chicago, in a quiet, safe area with restaurants and shops easy to reach. I thought the hotel offered great value and would definitely stay again.