Chicago Lakeshore Hotel

Hotel

Maybe I could and would recommend this hotel if I was able to stay there. I booked weeks in advance through Priceline, checked the hotels website for accuracy to make sure all the facts were correct and upon arriving after driving half the day I'm greeting not with friendly staff and the Friday night Jazz music they portryed but a note on locked doors saying the hotel is closed, sorry for the inconvenience, go next door to the best Western. While they are both rated the same star hotels, I feel we were downgraded drastically for what I spent. I chose Chicago Lakeshore Hotel for many reasons, the biggest being the onsite restaurant that has Jazz on the River every Friday night. Guess what? It's Friday night and the Lakeshore Cafe, part of the Lakeshore Hotel is also closed, and has been for months. Why not just say that on the site? I promised my daughter the Friday night Jazz, seafood buffet, etc. Instead we had to order from 1 of 3 restaurants still delivering at 9 pm and wait over 2 hours for dinner. No I wouldn't recommend based on this experience. If it reopens and I can actually confirm that ahead of time, 100%, perhaps I will change my mind then. It sounded awesome until we arrived.

Nice atmosphere.
Service good.
The food was good.
I always enjoy going there.
It was the first lunch date with my wife before we we married.
That was in 1989

The staff is very nice. I wish there was a mini fridge for longer stays.

Affordable hotel on Lake Michigan. Nice staff and comfy beds. Quiet at night. We'll stay here next time we are in Chicago.

Great visit, the receptionist
MShell was great, made us feel so welcome and was very helpful in every area. Very good!

Pretty average hotel. Be warned they keep your deposit for over 3 weeks and dont respond to emails to calls in regards to returning it!
they still have not returned mine and refuse to respond to me about it! Also the shuttle you get into downtown and back is never on time and he leaves early and doesnt bother to check with the hotel if anyone is waiting to be picked up. Timetable said 7:30 we got to the stop at 7:20 and waited 40 minutes before we decided to walk for about an hour and then got a cab! of course out complaint was met with a “ yea we know” if you know what he is like then maybe change drivers?! just a suggestion!

Excellent room for the price. About half the cost of nearby competitors, while still being close to all of the attractions we were visiting. Room was clean and tidy, staff was friendly. The kids loved the pool. Definitely recommend this place.

Room was clean and quiet, staff was friendly, pool was clean and relaxing. A nice stay for our 2 nights in Chicago. We took advantage of the free shuttle service to go downtown our first day and we were near the University of Chicago to visit the second day. Would definitely stay again.

Spent my honeymoon here. There was no fridge in our room but that's ok with me because Chicago has the best RESTAURANT'S and many different types of foods to choose from. The best thing about this place is that it's right by the lake. If your looking for luxury then you might want to keep looking. I loved the price.

This place is not as pictured. I stayed here August 2nd and the first room we were put in smelled and the paint was peeling off the ceiling. I complained to staff and they moved us. The second room was bigger and cleaner but it stunk worse than the first room. The furniture and mattresses were very old. The toilet is the kind that doesn't have a tank and the toilet paper is mounted on the wall about a foot out of reach. The staff were nice enough guys but definitely not professionals in any way. This place is definitely not worth the money.

They only has smoking rooms available, and it definitely smelled like it. From the other people we we're staying with all the rooms smelled like smoke, even the non smoking ones. Room was clean, staff was friendly, but not there when we arrived late, came back 15 minutes later and they were there. I would say with this hotel you get what you pay for.

It isn’t like staying at a high-end hotel in the Loop. But then, you’re not paying Loop prices for either the room or parking — indeed, the latter is free. In a nutshell, it’s a decent choice if what you really need is a place to crash for the night while spending the day exploring nearby attractions. (We stayed here while attending a music festival at nearby Oakwood Beach. ) The hotel appears to be a former Ramada. Significant renovations have been done, although a few things… — such as the bathroom and some scuffs on the furniture — give away its age. Still, our room, while on the small side, was clean, with everything in working order. The hotel lacks traditional interior corridors, but your electronic key card is required to open an outer door before accessing your room. While the South Side of Chicago doesn’t have the greatest reputation, the immediate area (Hyde Park) seemed perfectly safe by urban standards, as did the hotel itself. The pool wasn’t open yet during our stay in late June, but we weren’t planning on using it anyway, so that wasn’t the end of the world. ProTip: Check out the Lake Shore Cafe restaurant next door, especially their Sunday brunch buffet. It doesn’t look like much from the outside — indeed, we went there just because of the location. It turned out to be a great value with an amazing food selection.

Horrible horrible. Booked two queen beds and got double beds instead. Manager did nothing to accommodate us and basically said tough luck and would not let us cancel for free. Rooms smelled like an ash tray. Morning staff was nice but guy at the front desk at night was a real jerk and walked in on our room unannounced. They have no customer service skills at this place and really don't care because people are going to stay here regardless because it's a good price for Chicago. This hotel posts inaccurate info online. Avoid like the plague!

Pretty basic room, but serves it's purpose. Comfy bed, nice tv. Loved that our room had a fridge and microwave. It was only about a 5 to 7 minute walk to public transportation. Front desk staff was super friendly.

Attended a 90th birthday celebration at this hotel and although the furniture could use some updating, the place was clean and the food was delicious. I returned the next day for Sunday champagne brunch for an even more elaborate array of delicious food.

Very good location.

We were just there for 10 days. Staff is always friendly since this is our second stay here. I have a lot of doctor appointments and even had surgery at The University of Chicago. The beds are a lot more comfortable than Laquinta next door. Last time we were there had to change to Lake Shore. Next time we may have to be there up to two weeks. Hopefully will get good enough pricing to stay here again. Restaurant is a little expensive but they went above and beyond to accommodate me for that I am grateful. And since we stayed so long we got coupons for breakfast. Great little place to stay will stay again.

Staff was nice; Cheap hotel for our needs. However, when I went to give my children a bath, the water came out yellow, and the temperature was either scalding hot or freezing cold no matter how I adjusted the knob; The knob on the bathroom door is poorly installed and the large gap that it created let you see right in. The air conditioning is also an issue: like the water temperature, there doesn't seem to be a middleground. Other than that, I still give it 3 stars. It's clean, and a decent price for being so close to the city. I wouldn't openly recommend it, but I wouldn't push you away because it is a realistic expectation for the price.

The staff were very friendly and helpful at check-in. The rooms are a little run down but still pretty nice. The plumbing on the other hand is lacking. The pressure was weak and the temperature of the water fluctuates pretty wildly. Over all the stay was pleasant though.

You park and your room is directly next to your car and two rooms per section which is nice and you avoid the long hallways. You get a security door as well before you enter your room. Room is nice and cozy and was very clean. Couple lamps didn’t work but no big deal. Bed is pretty comfy. Tv was kinda static and comes with HBO and Starz and few other basic channels. But wasn’t in room much. So no big deal. Other then that everything was perfect. Will def be back.

Clean, no signs bed bugs (I stripped the bedding) or mold, some moderately loud neighbors, but staff quickly quieted them. Easy check in and out, friendly staff. Big room. Safe neighborhood. Free parking. Comfy beds. Noon check out. Good price. I don't know why any one would complain about this place, older decor?

The people who work there, the omlette, the hash browns, the view just lovely. It's an older building, but who cares its clean and right on the lake front. I would definately revisit this place. Easy free parking also.

Shabby but clean and affordable. I stay a couple of times a year. A bargain in a great neighborhood.

Only come here once a year for agency Christmas party but they're always very polite and accommodating. Food has been good too. Parking can be a little ambiguous.

The hotel has certainly seen better times. The rooms are gloomy, the furnishings are old and worn out. However, the hotel also has a few advantages. The prices are low and the hotel has a free shuttle service to the city centre. Also the public bus connection is good. A nearby bridge crosses Lake Shore Drive and is situated in Lake Shore Park. This park is very popular with joggers and cyclists. There are also many possibilities for a picnic.

Clean, inexpensive rooms. Shuttle service to downtown. Free parking for guests. Love it.

Desk staff was helpful … they didn't go the "extra mile" but they did the first mile just fine. Room was clean and acceptable… plain no frills room. The restaurant was good. We were in town for a conference at McCormick place… we had our own car, the drive was easy enough… took about 10 minutes.

Good service. Good next door restaurant and free coupons. Make time to enjoy the beautiful walk along lake shoreline.

Rooms were clean, tidy and comfortable. The lake view is really nice and walking distance from the lakeside park. Free parking is nice and they give coupons to the restaurant next door for breakfast.

We were here for a professional development. Overall the hot breakfast was a nice touch. Everyone received the same meal which was average. The room itself was somewhat dark unless you were sitting by the window. Free and easily accessible parking was great! The environment was quiet and the servers cleaned up quickly. I would return… For work purposes only.

This hotel has horrible customer service! The manager (Earl Adams) would not even come out to hear my complaints. The front desk manager (Gabby) asked me did I ask for my trash to be emptied. Where do they do that? Is that not part of housekeeping/cleaning the room? They have all the pictures of a beautiful pool on every site. No pool. When questioned they say their website indicates it is closed. Nobody was able to find that info. No wait! We changed website a week ago it was in the old one… This place needs a complete overhaul… starting with management!

Pretty stripped down for the price. Just basic amenities. No fridge or microwave. Pool shut down. Good location though. On the lake in Hyde Park. Hotel has free parking and $8 breakfast buffet.

So I can only speak from my experience so I'll do just that regardless of all the negative reviews here. The staff was polite and friendly. They answered all of my questions. The rooms were quite clean. It looked somewhat updated. No complaints on anything other than two things. First off pull off the photo and description of the pool, because one that had been sitting empty for years does not really exist. I think people won't necessarily think to ask if the pull has water or not. Second thing, the one brown fuzzy blanket made me itch, so I didn't use it. And the snack machine needs more options. Other than that no complaints. Also the ice machine in the lobby was convenient.

We were just there for 10 days. Staff is always friendly since this is our second stay here. I have a lot of doctor appointments and even had surgery at The University of Chicago. The beds are a lot more comfortable than Laquinta next door. Last time we were there had to change to Lake Shore. Next time we may have to be there up to two weeks. Hopefully will get good enough pricing to stay here again. Restaurant is a little expensive but they went above and beyond to accommodate me for that I am grateful. And since we stayed so long we got coupons for breakfast. Great little please to stay will stay again.

Beautiful place especially with the pool.

I travel a lot for my job, and I must say this is the worst hotel I have ever had the displeasure of staying. First off its a motel not a hotel. It reminds me of family trips taken during the 70s with its outdated exterior and furniture. The beds and linens are well worn, and it smells like an old person. Theres only one ice machine and the internet sucks. Oh yeah did I forget to mention the senior citizens they call security? They look like the place smells. Maybe if they weren't taking geezer naps all the time they would have been more alert when thieves broke into 3 cars (including mine) DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL (MOTEL)

The lady working front desk did not smile and was very unfriendly. The room was outdated and rundown. There were some stains and rips on the carpet. There was something on the wall next to the sink that looked like it could have been a booger. Also I was woken up at 4 am bc the Fire alarms batteries went out and it kept chirping. My husband and I stayed one night. Skip out on this one.

We stayed at this hotel in late May for 4 nights, during our month long tour of the USA. We had such a wonderful time here, the staff were awesome from management down. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and quiet. Great value for Chicago. Nice restaurant next door with affordable prices too. They also have a free shuttle bus service to downtown. If you are going to Chicago, stay here. Roger and Rosetta Major Cape Town.

After some consideration and a certificate for one free night at any LaQuinta (some restrictions may apply), I wasn’t going to put a review anymore reviews up on Chicago Lake Shore Hotel’s. My attitude changed when Mr. Eugene Baldwin, Manager at Chicago Lake Shore Hotel responded to my review at TripAdvisor. I believe it borders on belittling and aggressive tactics; it appears as though management at Chicago Lake Shore Hotel may be guilty of gender discrimination. Consider yourselves warned ladies; this may not be a good location for a girl’s weekend. I did contact LaQuinta before writing my reviews. LaQuinta asked management at Chicago Lake Shore Hotel to contact me, twice now they chosen not to. 214gene, Manager at Chicago Lake Shore Hotel, responded to this review, yesterday (7/3/15) “Thank you for your review. There are plenty of non-seafood options at the so-called seafood buffet. From beef and chicken dishes to salads and desserts. Bars are loud. What can we say? The rooms are being renovated — not soon enough for you. ” The menu at Chicago Lake Shore Café does not specify there are more choices on the buffet than seafood. It is billed as the Seafood Buffet, not the “So-called Seafood Buffet”. That’s the Friday night offering in the café, patrons cannot order off the menu. It is painfully obvious that Mr. Baldwin’s forte is not food service; otherwise he would understand dietary restrictions and cross condemnation concerns. “As to bars are loud. What can we say?

We were looking forward to staying at a hotel with a nice water view. When we arrived, the hotel was under renovation, with dirty plastic covering the window, an air conditioner that was barely working, and a room that smelled like cigarettes even though we asked for a non-smoking room. At night, from the bed, the cracks around the door were so large that I was able to see the light in the hallway 'framing' the door. We were in a hurry and ate lunch at the diner next door and it was awful. Never again.

When we arrived, the hotel was in disarray. The staff told us that the hotel was under reconstruction and the front desk had been moved. Now this was our 2nd time in Chicago and I was pretty nervous about the hotel and the area. Once we checked in, all concerns were removed. The room was awesome, quiet and well appointed. My wife and I were here for 8 days and we will definitely be staying here again. Easy to get too, in a nice neighborhood and restaurants a few blocks away.

Stayed here over a long weekend due to its good price, FREE PARKING and proximity to downtown. It certainly met our needs, the room was clean and the staff was friendly. Its not a fancy luxurious but if I wanted that i'd stay downtown at one of the big places. There isn't a breakfast in the morning but when you're only paying around 100 for a hotel you can afford to go out. The nearby Hyde park area was interesting to explore with some good food options nearby. I would stay here again.

The staff was very friendly and helpful, but our room looked a little outdated and rundown. Overall the room was fine, it just needed a little updating is all. It's located on the South side (I usually prefer the North side) but it is right along Lake Shore Drive so it is easy to get downtown from here.

The staff was cheerful, the room was clean, the bed was excellent, the bathroom had good lighting, and the room was non-smoking as I had requested. My only issues were with a broken drapery cord (I had to close the draperies by hand), and the low height (about 4.5 ft. ) of the shower head holder (it was mounted to accommodate a disabled / senior guest sitting on the provided bench). Both problems were minor. The room was very large — even with a king size bed — and included a small refrigerator, microwave oven, a round table, 2 chairs, coffee pot, and hair dryer. The hotel is on Lakeshore Drive. Lake Michagan with its extensive lake-front park is just across the street — a great space for walking and getting outdoors! I will stay here again.

This is the hotel to be at if you are trying to conserve costs, yet be in a great hotel right in Chicago. We paid $87 per night for a large double bed room in June 2003. We arrived after driving all night at 7am and the hotel let us check in early which was wonderful. They have a free shuttle, a nice outside pool, a beautiful view of lake michigan, a reasonably priced restaurant, a free shuttle service and above all outstanding service. Every hotel employee excelled and went above and beyond to accommodate us. I highly recommend staying here.

Service: There was no eye contact from the desk clerk and she didn't smile once. In fact, I never saw a single staff member smile the entire three days we were there. It took way too long to check in. We were notified at check in that the breakfast package only covered breakfast for two and was only for one night. That was not explained online or when I made the reservation. It was extremely inconvenient because I had four people registered in the room. We called down to the front desk for towels (never got them), bedding (came in a trash bag), heat (never worked. Call maintenance and they did come either night), went to front desk for extra blanket because it was so cold in our room and blanket has cigarette burns in it. We tried to ask about the area (grocery store, etc. ) but the desk clerks made us feel as if we were inconveniencing THEM. I did not see a manager the entire time we stayed. Room: Room was in terrible condition. Shower rod was broken, sink had cracks, toilet handle leaked every time we flushed it. Cracks in the ceiling. Holes in the wall and on the back of the bathroom door. Closet door was broken. Living room drawers were missing a handle. Pull out couch was in extremely poor condition. Stains and tears on the couch and the pull out mattress was very old. Carpet had stains. The phone was by the bed and not on the desk. I thought that was strange. The heater/air conditioner in the bedroom did not work at all. It would not even turn on.

The Ramada Inn Lakeshore is a great place to stay if you're in the Chicago Area. Angie and the staff there make it their mission to make your stay the best. The rooms are spacious and very clean. I had an issue with my remote, and within 5 minutes I had a replacement at the door. Everyone was so nice and friendly. The restaurant, The Lakeshore Cafe, has the best breakfast buffet I have ever had. Their Friday night Seafood Buffet was good and there was a Jazz ensemble playing for those enjoying dinner. The restaurant staff was very attentive. This hotel and restaurant are the best.