Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile — Hotel in Chicago

Must Do's: if you can, get the corner king suite, ask for a lower floor such as level 6 (this is so you have some nice city views and do not have to see the tops of other buildings) and you must, must, request a view that faces the front of the hotel.

Now, when I booked I reserved a suite with living room. The travel day was long and I was excited to get to the hotel and unwind. Much to my dismay the suite was awful. Walked in and the room was freezing, the only light connected to the light switch was so dim and caused the room to look eire. After turning on more lights I open the window curtains and I am greeted with this horrid alley view. Dark, dingy, yuck. I check the bathroom and the toilet, sink, and shower are so close to one another, I was shocked at how small it was for a suite????! Plus, it's a suite with living room, so why is the coffee maker, ice bucket, and cups in the bathroom on the counter??? That doesn't even make sense when there is a nice sized desk/counter space in the living room. I immediately called down to the front desk and switched rooms. I checked in on a Wednesday so the switch was easy enough and I got a corner king room with the hotel front facing view on floor 14. So much better, however, still not amazing.

I hated the bathroom at this hotel. Their tile floor is so dated. They should really consider somthing nicer. The shower plug kept going in so the water couldn't drain. Hardwood floors were okay...bring slippers. Room was clean, bed was comfortable, and I wasn't disturbed by traffic noise (their windows are pretty sound proof). Location, of course was great! HOWEVER, when walking to/from the hotel you do have to pass this trashy dark vacant lot which I didn't care for. (nothing the hotel can do about that, but just note).

Free breakfast was really nice. Nothing special, but nice. Gym was clean and basic. Lobby was nice, and the front of the hotel is nice! (Def where most of the reno money went to). Doorman was the BEST!!!!! Other staff was fine.

I dont think I'd stay here again...the rate was good but I think there are better quality hotels...

This wasn't our first choice, but ended up staying here as it was one of the only 18+ hotels in the area that didn't mandate 21+ checkin. There were a few things that were really pleasant surprises and a few that were a bit of a letdown.

Policies + Staff: Super surprised by the friendliness and flexibility of many policies. Early checkout with no penalty, 18+ check in, everything just felt super low stress which was great. Front desk staff was no-nonsense but quick, efficient, and friendly. Bonvoy gold status was not recognized upon check in but we were granted complimentary late checkout upon request.

Room: We booked the 1br executive suite and were a bit underwhelmed. The rooms definitely show their age despite a 2015 remodel. Furniture was pretty beaten up and even the sheets + linens had lingering stains and were quite dingy. We requested new sheets and they were promptly provided, but surprisingly all had stains as well. The main issue was with the pullout couch which was borderline unusable. I'm not sure if ours was broken, but sharp metal springs poked into your back, constant metal creaking noises, questionable stains. Bathroom was great though, super high water pressure in the shower and very good temperature as well.

Amenities: Free breakfast was excellent, great spread, always replenished, there seemed to be something for everyone. Gym was quite small, no pool or anything like that. Business center consisted of two computers in the lobby with a printer - worked fine.

Final Verdict: Given the many other options in the area that are priced comparably (Aloft and W in the Mariott Family to name a few), I'm not sure I would choose this property again. With that being said, our stay was by no means terrible and the staff and breakfast were genuine...

The hotel is beautiful; it is a recent remodel and it shows. The cleaning crew works hard to keep it neat and clean. The staff is friendly and helpful. The price is reasonable and there is virtually no noise from the halls or other rooms.

It is right by Northwestern Memorial Hospital and is close to all kinds of shops and restaurants. The free breakfast is expansive with lots of choices including fruits, eggs, waffles, oatmeal, juice, and breads.

The doormen are very helpful (especially Charles) and the front desk staff (especially Katie) are wonderful.

However, and this was a big problem for us, is that this hotel is not wheelchair friendly. The room with the double beds is what we needed and there is absolutely no space to maneuver even a narrow wheelchair in it. There are a lot of grab bars in the tub and a shower seat was provided, but there is no way for someone in a wheelchair to reach the tub controls because they are located next to and underneath the sink.

I had to push all of the furniture and lamps off into a corner in order to get the wheelchair to the bed. The halls outside of the rooms are narrow and there isn't a lot of space to work with. Suites are available, but they only have suites with king-sized beds--there are no 2 bed options--and if you have to pay for a suite, you might as well spend more at a hotel with bigger rooms.

This hotel is optimal for people who are physically mobile and don't wish to spend a lot of time in...