Review Thompson Chicago

This is post seven of a ten part series of Chicago hotels reviews. During lockdown from November 2020-February 2021 I took some staycations. At the time hotels were offering insanely low rates plus I had some accumulated free nights.

Pretty much everything in all hotels were closed at that time so I won’t be reviewing too many amenities. You can check the link to the hotel for more details. I also don’t discuss decor because I don’t care about that. When I travel I care about location, price and cleanliness. That is I want a clean room close to transit and all the things I want to do at a reasonable price.

Review Thompson Chicago

Thompson Chicago, 21 East Bellevue Place, Chicago, Illinois, 60611 312-266-2100. Hotel tax in Chicago is 17.4%. This hotel charges a $20 daily “Destination Fee” (including tax) which includes wifi, gym access bottles of water (I picked up from the desk) and a couple other things no one will use. If you are a member of World of Hyatt (free) you get wifi anyway. However, they waived the fee due to Covid. I stayed for three nights at the beginning of February 2021.

Thompson Hotel Lobby

Summary

This hotel is located along Rush Street in the Gold Coast. It’s an okay location to be based at when visiting Chicago. It’s located two blocks west of Michigan Avenue but it’s a little father north so in order to catch all the buses south to attractions you have to walk to Michigan and Delaware about 4-5 blocks. It does have excellent restaurants nearby including Gibson’s, Hugo’s Frog Bar, Lux Bar and The original Pancake House all across the street. Plus more nearby.

Hotel rooms

The hotel is a 23 story building built in 1987. It was the Sutton Place Hotel until around 2013. In 2019 Hyatt purchased some Thompson hotels including this one. I’m not sure when the rooms were last remodeled but my room was very nice with a ginormous bathroom. I booked a standard room and because of my mid-tier Hyatt status I was upgraded to a King Bed Corner.

King Bed Corner room

Nice view of Gibson’s.

Hotel amenities

Everything in the hotel was closed except the fitness center. This hotel does not offer any way to contact them via text. Every time I needed something I had to call the lobby. The Hyatt app allows digital check in and digital keys at some properties. I’ve used it and it was hit or miss so I always get keys also. The hotel is pet friendly. Call for pet fees. There is a business center but I forgot to go look at it.

Dining and room service

The hotel restaurant Nico Osteria was closed. I’ve been to it before and it is excellent. Not cheap. There is no room service.

Room amenities

All rooms offer empty tiny mini-bar fridges.

Review Thompson Chicago

This hotel is located along Rush Street with access to good restaurants but a 4-5 block walk to catch buses south down Michigan Avenue.

To get to all the major attractions walk to Michigan and Oak to catch all the buses going down Michigan Avenue. Head south (CTA bus 151) to Grant and Millennium Parks, the Art Institute, the Museum Campus and Soldier Field (CTA bus 146). Walk to Michigan Avenue and walk south to 900 N. Michigan and Water Tower Place,

To get to Lincoln Park Zoo, The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and Lincoln Park walk to Delaware and Michigan and take the (CTA bus 151) north.

To get to Navy Pier walk to Chicago and Michigan and catch the Chicago Avenue bus (CTA bus 66) heading east and it stops at the pier. To get to Wrigley Field walk four blocks north to Clark and Division the Red Line Station. To get to Guaranteed Rate Field walk four blocks to Chicago and State to the Red Line Station. Be careful both of these stations. Do not go into these stations at night. These stations have problems with beatings, muggings etc.

To get to the Lakefront Trail and Oak Street Beach walk four blocks east to Oak Street and Lake Shore Drive to the underpass under Lake Shore Drive. Do not go along the Lakefront, Beach or Lakefront Trail at night. Ohio Street Beach is one block west of Navy Pier.

Booking hotels

I always recommend signing up for hotel loyalty programs. They’re free and they usually offer a member discount plus you’ll get emails alerting you to sales. Always click on the Offers, Deals, Specials, etc. tab on every hotel website to find current deals. Log in to your account when you’re searching. Read all the terms and conditions before booking including the terms for changing and cancelling. Some hotels offer prepaid rates. I never book those. Regardless of how attractive the “no cancellations” rate is don’t do it! There are too many uncertainties, especially now, and you don’t want to lose your money.

Check your rates after booking

Whenever I plan a trip I continually check my room rates up until I can no longer cancel. You’d be surprised how many times the rates go down. In normal times you can just call the 800 number and get them to change the rate. If your reservation allows changes call. 99% of the time I make a new reservation online and then cancel the old one online.

Hyatt website and app

The Hyatt app and website do not have a “flexible stay” search option like Marriott and Hilton. For example online flexible stay options allow you to search for a two night stay on any days in a particular month so you can find the cheapest rate. With Hyatt you have to search day-by-day. Generally weekends are more expensive than weekdays.