I chose Chicago as my final stop of The Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico. I’ve only been to Chicago three times but immediately fell in love with its food scene, the Chicago River, and the Midwestern hospitality. This time I had the chance to stay at Swissôtel Chicago, a hotel that has made its guests’ wellness a priority. All about our stay…
Location
Location! Location! Location! The hotel is located walking distance to most major attractions in downtown Chicago: Navy Pier, Millenium Park, Chicago Theater, among others. Catch one of the famous architectural boat tour from the Riverwalk across the street from Swissôtel Chicago. The best way to get to the city from Chicago O’Hare Airport is by train, especially during rush hour. That’s what we did. We took the Blue Line to Forest Park stop and walked less than 15 minutes to the hotel.
Wellness
The Swissôtel brand has launched a Vitality campaign to focus on wellness and how it ties into the guest experience. Their fitness center, located on the top floor of the building has impressive 360 views of the city along with top-notch fitness equipment to get your workout in before a busy day or work or sightseeing. If you love running outside as much as I do, head to the Riverwalk for a refreshing run along the river. Given that I am training for a marathon, I appreciated the high-quality fitness equipment and having a running trail so close to the hotel.
Vitality Rooms
Swissôtel has launched a series of “Vitality Rooms” across its properties to recharge the traveler. Swissôtel Chicago has a stunning vitality suite with workout equipment, turndown service, which includes tea and healthy snacks, and Pürovel bath amenities. What I enjoyed the most was having a tea in the evening and taking in the dazzling view of the skyscrapers that surround the area.
The Food
With our busy schedules, we did not have the opportunity to dine at Swissôtel Chicago. However, the property includes the well-regarded The Palm Steakhouse and a more casual Amuse restaurant.
The Service
From check-in to check-out, the hotel service was fantastic. The staff was hospitable at every level. Want to give a special shoutout to the bellmen which handled all my heavy suitcases filled with books and the front desk who texted me when my room was ready.
Swissôtel Chicago: The Verdict
If you are looking for a hotel with a great location, comfortable rooms, and friendly service, Swissôtel Chicago is the place for you. Also, this is the only Swissôtel property in North America which makes for a unique hotel experience in the United States.
Swissôtel Chicago, 323 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL; Website
Disclaimer: I was graciously hosted by Swissôtel Chicago but all of my opinions are my own.
