Escape to Chicago: O'Hare's BEST Extended Stay Suites!
Escape to Chicago: O'Hare's BEST Extended Stay Suites? Let's Dive In (It's Messy, I Swear)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. Because I just spent a week wrestling with a review of "Escape to Chicago: O'Hare's BEST Extended Stay Suites!" and, well, it's a journey. Forget your polished perfect blog posts, this is going to be real. This is going to be… me.
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- Meta Description: Honest review of Escape to Chicago, an extended stay hotel near O'Hare. Exploring accessibility, amenities (fitness, spa, dining), cleanliness, and all the quirks. Is it really the best? Find out!
The Elevator Pitch (Spoiler Alert: I'm Still Deciding)
So, I needed a place near O'Hare. Long story short (and trust me, there are many long stories attached to this), I ended up at "Escape to Chicago." They promised… everything! Extended stay bliss, close to the airport, and a whole raft of amenities to keep you distracted from the fact you’re basically living out of a suitcase. Let’s just say their marketing team deserves a medal. My expectations? Somewhere between "decent airport hotel" and "shiny, utopian getaway." Reality? Well, let's unpack it, shall we?
Accessibility: The Real Deal (or the Lack Thereof)
First things first, because I'm a human being with actual needs: Accessibility. Their advertising did mention it. The website seemed promising. And… well, it was a mixed bag.
- Wheelchair Accessible: They claimed to be. I asked for specifics to verify, and… crickets. So that's concerning. This is my first big red flag.
- Elevator: Yes, thank goodness. My knees are not what they used to be.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: Again, the website mentioned it, but detailed explanations or photo evidence? Thin on the ground. More research needed here.
- Rooms and specific accommodations: Couldn't seem to find how exactly it would be in a room. Big issue.
Getting Around: The Airport Shuffle & More
- Airport Transfer: Yes! And surprisingly, they were on time both ways. This is a MAJOR win after a brutal flight, especially when you're already running on fumes. Huge relief.
- Car Park [Free of Charge]: Score! A free parking spot in the city? That's like finding a unicorn riding a rainbow. No complaints here.
- Taxi Service: Available, but didn't use it.
- Car power charging station: Sadly, not available. Still, pretty standard.
Rooms: The Good, the Bad, and the "Where Did I Leave My Pants?"
So, on to the actual room. After all, that’s where you’re going to live for an extended stay.
Available in All Rooms: Okay, let's run down the room-by-room breakdown:
- Air conditioning: Check. Necessary, because Chicago summers can be… intense.
- Alarm clock: Standard.
- Bathrobes: Nice touch. Especially if you’re a bathrobe person. (I am.)
- Bathroom phone: Oddly nostalgic. Remember landlines?
- Bathtub: Again, excellent for a long soak after a long day.
- Blackout curtains: Thank goodness. Sleep is precious.
- Carpeting: Ugh. I am generally not a fan of Carpeting, but it was clean.
- Closet: Necessary. Where else are you going to hide your… ahem… "essentials"?
- Coffee/tea maker: Crucial. Lifesaver first thing in the morning.
- Complimentary tea: Yay!
- Daily housekeeping: Yes, but like, really daily? See, that’s where the issues began. I asked for daily housekeeping. Sometimes I got it… other times, not so much. Odd.
- Desk: Essential for work.
- Extra long bed: Thank goodness for the extra length, because I’m (ahem) tall.
- Free bottled water: Nice! Hydration is key to surviving airport hotels.
- Hair dryer: Check.
- High floor: I asked for a view (and a quiet room). Got neither, unfortunately.
- In-room safe box: Useful for passports, jewelry, and anything you don’t want to lose.
- Internet access – LAN: Didn't try.
- Internet access – wireless (Wi-Fi): YES! Free Wi-Fi! And thank goodness it was reasonably reliable. (See below for the rant on internet)
- Ironing facilities: A must for the business traveler.
- Laptop workspace: Check.
- Linens: Fine. Clean.
- Mini bar: Not much in it, but who cares?
- Mirror: Check.
- Non-smoking: Yes.
- On-demand movies: Didn’t use them. I was too exhausted.
- Private bathroom: Of course.
- Reading light: Needed.
- Refrigerator: Useful.
- Safety/security feature: Check.
- Satellite/cable channels: Good selection.
- Scale: Sigh.
- Seating area: Good for chilling after a long day.
- Separate shower/bathtub: If you’re into that.
- Shower: Check.
- Slippers: Nice touch.
- Smoke detector: Good.
- Socket near the bed: Crucial for charging.
- Sofa: Comfy for collapsing.
- Soundproofing: Okay. I could still hear the airplanes taking off, but it was manageable.
- Telephone: See "Bathroom phone" above.
- Toiletries: Adequate.
- Towels: Clean.
- Umbrella: Necessary in Chicago!
- Visual alarm: No.
- Wake-up service: Available.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Glorious Wi-Fi.
- Window that opens: Yes, thankfully. Fresh air is essential.
- Additional toilet: No.
- Alarm clock: Yep.
- Alarm clock: There was another one!
The Awkward Moments: One day, I got back to my room, and the bed hadn’t been made. Or the towels replaced. Seriously? Extended stay! So, I called the front desk, and… well, let's just say the communication was… a challenge (more on that later).
Room decorations: Basic. Nothing to write home about, but not actively offensive.
Soundproofing: Okay, but did not work as effectively as I'd hoped.
Internet: The Bane of My Extended Stay Existence
- Internet Access: Free Wi-Fi, praise be! But the connection… oh, the connection.
- Internet: It was mostly reliable. But I did have to run down to the lobby more on the first day. I almost had a breakdown when I needed to do a video call. Seriously, connectivity is everything. It’s the modern-day oxygen.
Cleanliness & Safety: The Worry Factor
- Cleanliness and safety: These matter. Especially in the post-pandemic world.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: They claimed to use them. I did not see them in action.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Seemed to be the case.
- Hand sanitizer: Available, but not everywhere.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: They said so.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed to be, though some staff were definitely more enthusiastic than others.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: They said so. I can't tell.
Dining, Drinking, & Snacking: Fueling the Extended Stay
- Breakfast [buffet]: They had a breakfast buffet! Breakfast is KEY.
- Restaurants: There were restaurants.
- Snack bar: Available.
- Poolside bar: There wasn't one. It was winter, fair enough, but still.
- Room service [24-hour]: Yes! Life-saver, especially when jet
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to get a real taste of my Chicago-O'Hare Extended Stay adventure. This isn't your sanitized, Instagram-perfect itinerary. This is the raw, the messy, the "did I just eat that deep dish pizza at 3 AM?" experience, unfiltered.
Day 1: O'Hare Arrival… and Immediate Regret (Mostly Kidding!)
- 1:00 PM: Touchdown at O'Hare. Ugh, the airport. It's like a concrete jungle where everyone is perpetually stressed. Seriously, did I just see someone physically shove a crying baby into a stroller? That, my friends, is the Chicago welcome I suspect. Grab a clunky luggage. Feel bad because I did not even travel light. Try to find the shuttle to Extended Stay.
- 2:00 PM: Successfully locate the Extended Stay shuttle. The driver, bless his soul, looks like he's seen things. He actually looks a lot like my Uncle Jerry, right down to the slight squint from years of squinting at the sun. He's probably praying I’m not a serial killer. Good sign, I have a good feeling.
- 2:30 PM: Arrive at Extended Stay America Select Suites. The outside? Meh. The inside? Okay, not the Ritz, but I can work with this. The elevator, though? That is questionable. It looks like it's seen a few too many road trips. I am trying to find my room.
- 3:00 PM: Room check-in. I am just a little bit sad because I was not hoping for anything more than a bed. Now I need to settle down. Unpack. This is where my mood starts to plummet slightly. I am tired.
- 4:00 PM: Try to sleep. Fail miserably. Jet Lag. The enemy of all travelers. I'm tossing, turning, and wondering if the air conditioning is intentionally set at "arctic blast." Maybe I will go for a little walk.
- 5:00 PM: Walk around the hotel. There is a tiny gym. It looks sad. Not inspiring.
- 6:00 PM: A quick dinner, microwave meal and the hotel is a supermarket. Still no sleep, just a feeling of general discombobulation.
Day 2: The Deep Dish Dive…and a Minor Pizza Crisis
- 9:00 AM: Wake up. Still tired! Coffee. Now. The hotel coffee is, as expected, a puddle of brown disappointment. I need caffeine. I venture out.
- 10:00 AM: Deep Dish Pizza Mission: Implemented! I make a very important decision about deep dish pizza. "Lou Malnati's" is the place to start. (Okay, fine, I did some online research. Sue me!) On my way, an Uber driver gave me the inside scoop on the best Chicago hot dogs.
- 11:00 AM: Lou Malnati's. The line is long. But, oh, the smell! It's a symphony of garlic, cheese, and the promise of carb-laden bliss. I wait. I am really hungry.
- 12:00 PM: PIZZA! This is it. The cheesy, saucy, glorious behemoth arrives. I take a bite. My eyes roll. This is heaven. I eat an entire personal pizza. I am in a food coma.
- 1:00 PM: The aftermath. I'm a bloated, happy mess. I waddle back to the Extended Stay and collapse on the bed. I am going to sleep.
- 3:00 PM: Sleep.
- 6:00 PM: Back to the internet to find more things to eat. This is what I am supposed to do, right? This is what Chicago is made of?
Day 3: City Exploration… and Questionable Decisions
- 8:00 AM: Finally, a decent night's sleep! Maybe the pizza coma helped. I force myself up, determined to be a cultured tourist.
- 9:00 AM: Head to the famous Bean. (Officially called "Cloud Gate," but everyone calls it the Bean). Okay, it's cool. People are taking a lot of pictures around the mirror-like thing. It's shiny.
- 10:00 AM: I find a food truck. I am going to grab a hot dog, a real Chicago hot dog. It's amazing, a party in my mouth, then the vendor does a magic trick.
- 11:00 AM: Navy pier. I am now having a panic attack. Too many people. Too many smells. I am leaving.
- 12:00 PM: Back to the room. I'm tired, I'm overwhelmed, and I'm starting to miss my own bed.
- 1:00 PM: Nap.
- 3:00 PM: I decide some retail therapy is in order. I find a mall.
- 5:00 PM: Back at the hotel. I am tired, and decide to order food so I do not have to leave.
- 6:00 PM: Exhausted. I look for my next steps, what am I going to eat tomorrow?
Day 4: Departure - A Mixed Bag of Feelings
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. It's over. I am happy to leave. I kind of do not want to leave.
- 9:00 AM: Pack.
- 10:00 AM: Check out from the hotel. The front desk person is actually nice.
- 11:00 AM: Waiting for the Shuttle.
- 12:00 PM: O'Hare Airport.
- 1:00 PM: Goodbye Chicago.
- 2:00 PM: Going Home.
Final Thoughts:
Extended Stay America in Chicago…it's a place. It's practical. It's not fancy. But hey, I survived. I ate pizza. I saw the Bean. I learned that Chicagoans are tough but kind. And I'm pretty sure my digestive system will never be quite the same again. Would I go back? Absolutely. Maybe I'll skip the Navy Pier next time, though. And definitely pack some earplugs for the elevator… and maybe a therapist. They'll be fine.
Murfreesboro Getaway: Unbeatable Deals at Super 8!
Okay, so, "Extended Stay Suites"... Sounds... boring. What's REALLY the vibe at Escape to Chicago near O'Hare? Spill the tea, people!
Alright, look, I've stayed in my *fair* share of soulless hotel rooms, the kind that smell faintly of sadness and stale air. This place? Not *entirely* like that. It's… better. Think of it as the slightly less pretentious cousin of a nice hotel. You're not gonna get a Michelin-star chef in the lobby, but you *might* find a free waffle maker at breakfast (score!). The vibe is… functional. Cleanish. I'd call it "airport-adjacent chic, with a hint of 'survived a two-day layover.'" You're not here to be pampered. You're here to escape the chaos. And it mostly delivers on that promise. Honestly? I was kind of expecting the worst, but I was pleasantly surprised. The room was… spacious. Huge, actually, compared to some shoeboxes I've endured. And the kitchenette? Okay, so it's not exactly gourmet central, but you can make a decent bowl of cereal. Crucial, believe me.
Is the free breakfast *actually* edible? Don’t lie to me. I’ve seen some things…
Ugh, the breakfast buffet. Let's be real. Hotel breakfasts are a gamble, a roll of the dice in the greasy sausage lottery. This one… it’s a mixed bag. The coffee is, well, *coffee*. Drinkable, if you're desperate and haven't hit a gas station already. They *do* have the free waffle maker, which is a legitimate win. Make it. Load it with whatever toppings you can find (butter, syrup, the slightly questionable fruit salad). My personal strategy? Scope out the situation and make a quick decision. If the eggs look like they've been simmering in a vat of regret for several hours… avoid. Otherwise, go for it! It's free fuel, right? I once witnessed a kid *stuff* himself with those little sausage patties. I’m pretty sure he went back for seconds. Consider that a review.
Okay, okay, what about the rooms themselves? Are they… clean? I have standards. (Sort of.)
Cleanliness is… a relative term in the hotel world, isn't it? Let's just say they're *generally* clean. I wouldn't recommend licking any surfaces, but hey, that's just good travel advice in general. My room was pretty tidy. The bed was comfy enough, and the sheets, while not the luxury Egyptian cotton of my dreams, were… presentable. The bathroom? Functional. Not sparkling, mind you, but perfectly acceptable for a quick shower and a hasty brushing of teeth. I did find a stray hair in the sink once, but honestly? I couldn't be bothered to make a fuss. Airport travel robs you of all your energy. It’s the price of convenience sometimes. Let’s just say it’s better than sleeping on an airplane, which is a whole other level of gross.
Is the location actually convenient for O'Hare? Or am I going to spend an hour in a shuttle that smells faintly of desperation?
The LOCATION! This is key. It's… close. REALLY close. The shuttle service is your friend here. Now, listen, sometimes the shuttle is prompt, efficient, and gets you to your terminal feeling relatively sane. Sometimes (and this happened to me ONCE, and I'll never forget it), the shuttle driver is… let's just say, "enthusiastically chatty." He literally *recounted his entire life story* to us, from his childhood in Romania to his current collection of novelty bobbleheads. Don't get me wrong, he was nice, but I just wanted to get to the airport. I was, like, twelve minutes later than I should have been. So yeah, it is convenient, but be prepared. Maybe pack some noise-canceling headphones, just in case. Or, embrace the chaos. It's all part of the adventure, right? Right?!
Okay, let's cut to the chase. Wi-Fi. Is it… good? Because a slow Wi-Fi connection is a travel dealbreaker. I need to work! (Or, you know, stream Netflix).
Ugh, the Wi-Fi. Here's the deal. It's… adequate. It works. Most of the time. Sometimes it's blazing fast, and you can download movies and video chat without a hitch. Other times… it's a bit… temperamental. Like a moody teenager. Expect some buffering. Pray for minimal drops. If you absolutely *must* have a rock-solid connection, I'd recommend tethering your phone. Or, you could just embrace the digital detox and stare dramatically out of the window. Think of all the life you'll miss! I've got no patience for slow Wi-Fi, though. I was once in a hotel that charged extra for premium Wi-Fi that was so slow, I had to walk over to a McDonalds to email. It's really the worst!
Are there any hidden fees or gotchas I should know about? I hate surprises!
Ah, the dreaded hidden fees. Okay, so I didn't encounter any major surprise expenses, but *always* read the fine print. Double-check your reservation for things like parking fees (which, let's be honest, are a scourge upon modern society). Also, be aware of resort fees. It's usually an airport hotel, so no, there were no resort fees when I went. But always check! And, oh yeah, there's probably a vending machine, and those things always charge you ridiculous amounts for snacks. Just bring your own. Seriously, bring snacks. You'll thank me later. Also, be mindful of early check-in. They *might* charge extra. It's a game of careful planning and reading between the lines, that's all.
Would you stay there again? Be honest!
Honestly? Yeah, probably. If I needed a place near O'Hare, I'd consider it. It's decent. It's convenient. It's not going to win any awards for luxury, but it gets the job done. The free waffle maker alone is almost worth it. The shuttle, with its potential for eccentric drivers, adds a certain… zest to the experience. The Wi-Fi is annoying, yes, but you learn to live with it. You know what? I'd probably go again. I'm not *thrilled* by it, but I wouldn't run screaming in the opposite direction. And that, in the world of airport hotels, is saying something. Plus, hey, maybe the shuttle driver will have a *new* story to tell next time! You got yourself another stay, and another small adventure to be had.
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