Crowne Plaza Avenue Magnificent Mile, Chicago

This was our second time back to Chicago's Avenue Hotel. It was just as great as the first visit. Benjamin at the front desk was great. Checked us in quickly and offered a lot of helpful advice about Chicago. The rooms were very nice too. Modern, clean and obviously well cared for. Beds were really comfortable and we didn't hear any noise that kept us from enjoying our stay at The Avenue Hotel Crowne Plaza.

I go to Chicago quite often due to business and honestly, I’m not always inspired to write a review. Sometimes the hotels are just beds and showers and a place to stay for a night or two..nothing outstanding. But this trip was different. Based on a recommendation from one of my co-workers I stayed at The Avenue Hotel, which is a Crowne Plaza for all those people that care about points (my company keeps mine so I generally don’t care brand or not brand..points or not points). This hotel was a welcome surprise to say the least. Granted based on the reviews, a lot of people feel the same way so perhaps I’m just here to support it! In summary: Parking: Don’t drive in Chicago…come on. But if you do, expect to pay the going rate is usually around $40-$50 in downtown. (I was just in Washington DC and paid $60!) Check in/Front Desk: I asked for an early check in and fortunately I was able to be accommodated. The front desk agents were very nice and took the time to answer my questions and never once did I feel “rushed along”. Room: I was in the tech room with a great view of the city. The internet connection was really fast, never dropped like so many do. The room was large, I could easily spread my work out and not feel cramped. Ipod docking station, flat screen tv all there. Bathroom: The shower was awesome with one of those large rain showerheads, felt like I was at a spa! Nicely updated with granite and you could use the products without smelling like a perfumed flower (can’t stand that). Room Service: This was my only opportunity to eat at the hotel due to my schedule. Ordered breakfast and it arrived within 25 minutes as they promised me. The coffee, eggs and toast were hot (I didn’t have an elaborate breakfast even though it was available). The food was good and I felt value in the price I paid. Overall the hotel team really made me feel like I was a welcomed guest, always smiling and saying hello. They weren’t burying their face and avoiding eye contact of guests. I felt comfortable there and it wasn’t a stale hotel environment where you are purely just a dollar sign. Thank you for that, I’ll be back.

What a great stay at the Avenue Hotel in Chicago. I was there a week and the whole trip couldn't have gone smoother. I attended a business seminar that lasted most of the time and then had my wife and kids come in to spend the weekend with me. The meeting rooms were very comfortable, no wierd temperature issues that you always seem to have in hotel meeting rooms. The chairs were kind to your backside if you know what I mean. Only thing that would have been better is if we could have had those cool zebra chairs in the meeting room! The banquet food was really good, all fresh - I didn't feel like I was eating something that was poured out of a can. Our banquet manager checked in with us often and was very accomdating with all of our last minute requests. It was almost like they new I'd forget about a bunch of stuff. The check in at the front desk was flawless, my billing was perfect. All of my team was happy when they left, no complaints and if you knew my team you'd know how weird that is! When the family arrived, the conceirges gave us a list and directions of everything we could do in the area and they were spot on with every suggestion. I was booked in one of the one bedroom condo rooms, very nice. Updated, equipped with everything you would need for a comfortable stay. I had heard about the themed rooms, but I didn't book one. Will have to next time! Avenue Hotel is a great location, no need to drive as you can walk or take a taxi to anything you need. Those silly people that come to this city and think they need a car...why??? Thank you to all of the wonderful staff at Crowne Plaza Avenue Hotel for making my business and family trip a real positive experience.

I’m a priority club member so always trying to stay someplace that I can collect points. Downtown Chicago has several options so I researched many of them on the web, and found time and time again the Avenue Crowne Plaza was coming up with positive feedback. Sure I saw the reviews about noise, but come on people it’s downtown Chicago what do you expect? I can attest that the staff was incredibly friendly from check in to check out. The front desk was accommodating with my special requests and didn’t make me feel like I was inconveniencing them at all. My room was huge, which is so nice while traveling on business. You have a place to relax…a place to work…and a place to sleep. You don’t have to do it all while propped up in your bed like most other hotels. The room was spotless and I’m big on that! I don’t keep my home messy so I certainly don’t want to pay money and stay in a place that’s messy. Everyone I passed in the hall smiled and said hello, wishing me a good day continuously. I really felt like my business was appreciated and with so many options that is important. The restaurant was good, lots of variety and the hotel is in easy walking distance to all of the hot spots in Chicago. I’ll tell ya, some of those other hotels in Chicago could take some lessons in friendliness and customer service from the Crowne Plaza Avenue Hotel. Thank you for making my time away from home incredibly enjoyable.

Chicago’s Crowne Plaza Avenue Hotel Downtown (formerly Avenue Hotel) is probably my favorite hotel in the city. Not only is the hotel beautiful and chic, but the guest rooms are a good size, definitely the largest I have had the pleasure of staying in and the service is top notch. A girlfriend of mine was visiting from out of town, and I went for a visit. I absolutely love the hospitality world, and the Crowne Plaza did not disappoint. The decor is charming, especially the zebra chair – LOVE IT!!! Their beds are incredibly comfortable and in my opinion can’t be beat. Best of all, breakfast on the 40th floor overlooking the city – just amazing! If you are traveling to Chicago and need a luxurious place to rest your head, this is it!

My husband was in town to see doctors at Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, across the street from the Avenue Hotel. We stayed at the Avenue Hotel for the first time and we will never stay anywhere else when we are in Chicago, for any reason. We had a wonderful experience in every way I can think of. The room was really lovely, immaculate and completely soundproof. We had a Saints versus Vikings football game party in our room and our guest were also very impressed with the comfort of the room and the fab view of the city. We arrived very early on a Sunday morning - 9 AM - but no one blinked at the early hour and immediately checked us into our room with great friendliness and courtesy. We stayed two nights and on the day we were to check out, my husband was offered a chance to see an additional rehab doctor, but at a time that had us looking for later check-out time than normal. We were given until 4 PM, which was remarkable and very much appreciated. And we were told if we were unable to get back by then, and if they needed to use the room, they would hold our luggage for us until we could return. Amazing service! Everyone was wonderful and friendly to us, from the desk clerks behind the check-in counters to the bellmen and the doormen. They were always cheerful and helpful! I highly recommend the Avenue Hotel to everyone. The cost of the room was extremely reasonable and the service was outstanding. I have traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe. I have always stayed at first class hotels. Some might have been fancier, but nowhere else were we treated so well. Maureen New Orleans, LA

When in Chicago, I spent two nights at the Avenue Hotel, and enjoyed it. I got a room on the 20th floor looking over the Magnificent Mile. Very quiet hotel considering the prime location, and I am sensitive to noise. The room was big for a downtown city hotel and plenty of space for 2 people, even in the bathroom! The room was clean, obviously newly refurbished, and of high standard – love the Zebra chair, what a cool touch! The staff all around the hotel especially at the entrance were extremely helpful with baggage, ordering taxis, and giving advice on sites to see and restaurants to try. I found the staff refreshing and polite. The Avenue is situated just steps from the Magnificent Mile and definitely within walking distance (weather pending) from some of downtown Chicago’s hot spots. If the shopping is your first priority, exclusive shops are just around the corner. If I am to visit Chicago again, I would stay at this hotel again

We found Avenue hotel on a bargain hotel website for a spur-of-the moment trip to Chicago. We found it to be within walking distance of the Magnificent Mile and a very good rate, so we decided to go for it. Normally we can't afford a decent hotel within the city, but I guess we got lucky. When we arrived at the Avenue hotel we loved the sophisticated but not stuffy decor and we were warmly greeted with a smile and a warm welcome from the doorman, who quickly assisted us with our luggage. Our room was very clean and well-kept. My husband thought it was a bit small, but in the city, that's to be expected. I found it to be comfortable and pleasant. I was excited to try the bed since it seemed that is what every other review mentioned and we were not disappointed at all! The best darn night of sleep ever. When staying at the Avenue Hotel you are in walking distance of some really great restaurants and shopping, no need to have a car while staying here. The hotel overall was very impressive, especially for the bargain we got it for. All in all, I would definitely stay at the Avenue Hotel when visiting Chicago, bargain or no bargain

My boyfriend and I stayed at this hotel for one night and had a great experience. We live in Chicago and occasionally enjoy getting away for a night or two in a hotel downtown. I would consider the Avenue Hotel a chique boutique hotel. It was modern, and yet extremely comfortable not to mention in an excellent location that is walking distance to everything important like shopping, restaurants, bars etc. The staff was very friendly and gave us an incredible room with a view of the city. No matter how long you live here you never get tired of the skyline at night. I would definitely recommend coming here!

I have stayed in many, many topnotch hotels throughout the United States and none had a more accommodating, friendly and professional staff as what I found at the Avenue Hotel in Downtown Chicago. I just cannot give the management enough credit for how trained their staff is and how effortlessly they handled our business meeting. I was part of a group of over 50+ attendees and the Avenue Hotel downtown Chicago was well suited and prepared to handle our needs as a group as well as individually. The staff never missed an opportunity to greet me and seemed genuine when asking if I was enjoying my stay. I feel if my answer would have been no, they would have taken immediate action to see how they could make it better. As for the meeting accommodations they were exceptional with all the high tech gadgets you could ask for to make the meeting flawless. I can’t forget to mention that the food served during our meetings was delicious! Believe me when I say you can actually eat the food during a business meeting in Chicago’s Avenue Hotel. I spent 3 days here and couldn’t think of a more wonderful place to be on business. My room was phenomenal; I actually stayed in one of their tech rooms. You need to see it to believe it, complimentary high speed wireless, iMac computer, color printer and even a convenient docking station for my iPod. The room was clean; bed was out of this world, pillows were just right, plenty of towels and a roomy bathroom as well. I would absolutely rate the Chicago Avenue Hotel one of the best I have visited in terms of service, staff and accommodations. When my business brings me back to Chicago, Avenue Hotel is where I’ll stay.