Ramada Plaza Chicago North Shore

The room was so bad we cancelled our second night. The walls were paper thin, and loud people in the hotel kept us from getting much sleep. Our bed sheets had marker, makeup, or some other stains, there were dead bug shells in the bed, and the chair had gross stains too. The bathroom was filthy. We asked the front desk to send someone to clean it, but nobody came, so we had to use it as it was. Later they blamed the stains on hard water, though I could scratch them off with my fingernail. It was dirt, and the toilet was clearly not being cleaned thoroughly. At check-in, three or four front desk workers stood around talking while we waited. They looked at us, and we tried to get their attention, but they didn't check us in until they'd finished their conversation. I stayed a year ago, and while looking at hotels in the area for an upcoming trip, I'm surprised the health department hasn't shut this place down. The whole stay was laughably bad, from the staff to the disgusting rooms.

The smoke was everywhere, even though the hotel is supposed to be smoke-free. We spent four days here, and it was a very disappointing stay. Our first room smelled horrible. That night I asked for air freshener or a room change, but they told me to come back the next day. Around 2 p.m. the next day, the manager, a Spanish woman who wouldn't give me her name, rudely said I had to return the following morning. I told her the smell was awful and we needed to move right away. She simply told me to check out. I was there with my wife and our two-year-old son, and her response shocked me. She eventually gave us another room, but I never expected that treatment from a manager. This place should be shut down. I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy.

The day-shift manager was disrespectful and rude every time I had to deal with her. She's the main reason I'll look elsewhere next time. Luckily, I could avoid her and speak with the early-morning staff most days, and the rest of the team was nice and helpful. The room was reasonable and the bed was comfortable, with a newer mattress, which was the important thing. The carpet was darkened and stained from years of use, but clean, as were the older-style furnishings. My stay was fairly pleasant aside from the manager.

My landlord paid for a hotel stay for my family from January 12 to 17 because the heating system in my rental condo had broken. The hotel was only 10-15 minutes from home. I enjoyed the stay despite the amenities on the website not being available, which didn't matter to me in an emergency. When the heat still wasn't fixed, my landlord booked an extra night. I went to the front desk to confirm it while I was still within my original reservation. The Spanish woman working there was rude and disrespectful, interrupted me, and demanded my landlord's card again even though it was already on file and paying for the room. My landlord had texted me the confirmation for the extra day. When I asked her name, she refused. Reviews show she hasn't given her name to other guests either. She seemed to be trying to provoke an argument, but I didn't engage. I asked for the corporate number and she said she didn't have it. I asked for her manager, and she said she was the general manager, then walked away. My landlord cancelled the booking and we went elsewhere. After reading other reviews about the nameless Spanish woman at the desk, I wonder why she still works here. She's costing the hotel money and customers.