Chicago's Hidden Gem: Courtyard Deerfield's Unbelievable Perks!
Hotel Review: A Messy, Honest, and Possibly Over-Enthusiastic Dive
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm back from a recent stay and ready to spill the tea – or, you know, the lukewarm chamomile – on this hotel. Buckle up, because this is gonna be a long one. Seriously, grab a coffee. Or a stiff drink. You'll need it. I'm aiming for transparency, the kind that leaves you feeling less like you’ve read a brochure and more like you’ve eavesdropped on a particularly caffeinated rant in the hotel lobby.
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First, let's be real. I'm not a travel blogger with a filter and a penchant for beige. I'm just a person who stayed somewhere. And let me tell you, the sheer volume of stuff this place claims to offer is enough to give anyone decision fatigue. Let's break it down, shall we?
Accessibility – A Mixed Bag & a Steep Ramp
Okay, so accessibility. I'm not in a wheelchair myself, but I'm super conscious of it. And, well, it's a bit of a mixed bag. The website boasted about wheelchair accessibility, but the journey from the…um…parking area to the lobby had a ramp that looked less like a friendly slope and more like a black diamond ski run. I swear, I saw a squirrel almost lose its marbles trying to negotiate it. Inside, things felt more accessible, with an elevator and wider hallways. But I’m going to need more info. So, if you need it, call them and ask for specifics, and don't trust the website completely.
On-site Restaurants & Lounges – Food Glorious Food (Mostly)
Oh, the food scene. I spent a good chunk of my stay eating. There's a lot to choose from. They have everything:
- Asian Breakfast: Which, for the record, was a beautiful and delicious disaster. I opted for the congee, which, despite my best efforts, somehow ended up down my shirt. The waiter was mortified. I was just mortified I didn't bring a bib.
- International Cuisine: I tried the burger. It was…fine. Like, perfectly acceptable. But not the burger I'd write home about.
- Vegetarian Restaurant: (I didn't make it to this one, I'm only including it for the sake of being comprehensive)
- Poolside Bar: Ah, the pool. And the bar. This is where the magic happens. Cocktails were strong, the scenery was stunning (pool with view, people!), and the staff were actually really good, and friendly.
Wheelchair Accessible - Again, as stated, there may have been a discrepancy with the ramp. Check with the front desk if needed.
Internet – Free Wi-Fi! (Yay!)
Hallelujah! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! They're not lying. It actually works. And it’s fast. Seriously, I could stream movies in my room without wanting to throw my laptop out the window. That's a win in my book. Even the Internet [LAN] and Internet services (which I didn't use, because, you know, wireless reigns supreme) are there.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Spa Days & Gym Days
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff -- relaxation.
- Spa: A proper spa experience is what I live for. And this place delivers. The Pool with view is breathtaking. They have Sauna, Steamroom, oh, and the Massage was… well, let’s just say I woke up feeling like a freshly ironed sheet. Absolute bliss.
- Fitness Center: Let me just say, I tried the gym. I really did. It was Gym/fitness, with all the usual suspects, and there for anyone wanting to work out.
Cleanliness & Safety – COVID-19 Considerations (The Important Stuff)
This is where things get really interesting and honestly, I'm pretty picky when it comes to that.
- Hand sanitizer everywhere, and not the watered-down stuff.
- They seem to do Daily disinfection in common areas, which is reassuring.
- Rooms sanitized between stays. Okay, good to know, but I felt a little bad for the guy who had to come in and tidy up after me. Sorry, dude.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. I saw them doing this, which made me feel a lot better ordering room service (and lets be honest, who doesn't love room service?).
- Staff trained in safety protocol.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter. They did make a good effort, but there were times in the busy buffets when it was a bit more challenging.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – A Culinary Adventure
As mentioned before, food is a huge part of my hotel experience.
- The 24-hour Room service saves lives, especially after a long day.
- A la carte in restaurant.
- Breakfast [buffet]. There's a lot on offer, sometimes a little too on offer. I got overwhelmed.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant. You can't go wrong.
- Poolside bar. Ah, the perfect spot for a cocktail or mocktail.
- Happy hour.
- Snack bar
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
This is where the hotel really shines.
- Daily housekeeping. My room always sparkled, even after I'd made a mess.
- Concierge: These guys are amazing. Seriously, they can get you anything, it's a bit scary, but also very convenient.
- Laundry service. Thank god, because I packed way too many shirts.
- Valet parking. This feels like a luxury.
For the Kids – Family-Friendly or Overrated?
They claim to be Family/child friendly. Some of the amenities like a Babysitting service are definitely appreciated. I don't have kids. Not my department. But I could see how it'd be amazing for families.
Rooms – The Nitty Gritty
Alright, let's talk about the rooms.
- Air conditioning: Phew, thank god. Especially in the common areas!
- Free bottled water This is a lifesaver.
- The bed was Extra long. I'm 6ft 2in, and fit in perfectly!
- Wi-Fi [free].
- Blackout curtains. Crucial for sleeping off those cocktails.
- Bathrobes. Always a treat, though mine was a little… worn.
- Coffee/tea maker. Crucial. Absolutely crucial.
- Mirror.
- Shower.
- Slippers.
- Smoke detector.
- Wake-up service.
- Separate shower/bathtub
- Window that opens.
Getting Around – The Essential Stuff
The hotel offers:
- Car park [free of charge] and Car park [on-site]
- Taxi service.
Final Verdict – The Good, the Bad, and the Unforgettable
Look, this hotel has its flaws. It's not perfect. The ramp is terrifying, the congee incident was regrettable, and sometimes you get the feeling you're on a set for a movie with a lot of extras. But, overall? I had a pretty fantastic time. The staff are amazing, the spa is heavenly, and the free Wi-Fi keeps you online.
Would I recommend it? Yeah, probably. Just be prepared. Bring a bib. And maybe some comfy shoes for that ramp. And most importantly, lower your expectations a bit, and you'll be fine!
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars (minus one star for the congee and the ramp of doom).
(Further Keywords for SEO: Hotel Review, Luxury Hotel, Vacation, Travel, Holiday, Getaway, Spa, Fitness, Family Hotel, Restaurant Review, Accessibility, Cleanliness, Safety, Amenities) This is the end. I am exhausted. Time for a nap.
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Alright, hold on to your hats, because we're about to plunge headfirst into the gloriously messy reality of a trip to the Courtyard Chicago Deerfield. And yes, I’m writing this from a place of… well, let’s just call it optimistic exhaustion. Buckle up, buttercups.
Day 1: Arrival & the Eternal Struggle of Hotel Parking
- 3:00 PM: Arrive at O'Hare. Okay, so maybe arrive is a strong word. More like emerge blinking and slightly traumatized after the airport scrum. Seriously, did anyone else feel like they were running a gauntlet of crying babies and aggressive luggage carts? Anyway, finally snagged an Uber (after a minor panic that my phone was dead – crucial for navigation, people!).
- 4:00 PM: Check in. The Deerfield Courtyard. It's… a Courtyard. You know the drill. The lobby is all beige and vaguely corporate-feeling, and the air conditioning is cranked up to "Arctic Blast." I swear, I saw a polar bear in the corner. Found my room, it's perfectly fine. Clean, two beds (excellent for spreading out), and blessedly quiet.
- 4:30 PM: The Parking Lot Saga Begins. Ugh. Hotel parking. My eternal nemesis. The lot looked deceptively empty, then BAM, a minivan parked sideways and took three spaces. Found a spot that was… well, technically a spot. Fingers crossed I don’t get towed. Seriously, it’s these little things that chip away at your sanity.
- 5:00 PM: Unpack and attempt to make myself presentable. The lighting in hotel bathrooms is always… unforgiving. Took a deep breath, put on some lipstick, and told myself, "You got this."
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at a local place. It was a chain, but surprisingly good. Ate entirely too much fried chicken. No regrets. None. Absolutely zero. The waitress was incredibly nice! Reminded me of my Grandma.
- 7:30 PM: Back at the hotel. Attempted to hit the gym (which, of course, was small and felt like it was also a walk-in freezer). Giving up on the idea of running the treadmill, decided to just read my book. That lasted about 15 minutes. Hotel beds are like quicksand.
Day 2: Deerfield Delights… or Mostly Just Shopping, Honestly
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. The hotel pillows are… adequate. Not good, not bad, just…there. Managed a sad cup of hotel coffee. Seriously, they should make a law against that stuff.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. The usual continental fare: underripe fruit, stale pastries, and yogurt that tastes suspiciously like wallpaper paste. Found a bagel, though!
- 10:00 AM: DRIVE! To the mall is the goal. Gotta get a gift, a few essentials and… well, I don't need to tell you the rest, do I?
- 12:00 PM: Lunch! Found a really good restaurant there, with a surprisingly decent view. Did some serious people-watching; couples bickering, stressed-out families, the usual.
- 2:00 PM: Back to The Hotel. A nap! Definitely needed a nap. Woke up feeling slightly less like a zombie.
- 4:00 PM: The pool!. Oh, the pool was AMAZING and surprisingly empty! The water was a perfect temperature, and I was able to put my phone away.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner near the hotel. Tried a highly-rated Italian place. The pasta was good, but the service… let’s just say the waiter seemed to have forgotten his training. Still, the bread was warm and crusty, so it was okay.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the room, collapsed into bed, and promptly fell asleep.
Day 3: Saying Goodbye (and Possibly Needing Another Vacation)
- 8:00 AM: Forced myself out of bed. The light through the curtains felt harsh this morning.
- 9:00 AM: More hotel coffee. Sigh.
- 10:00 AM: Check-out. The obligatory "Did you enjoy your stay?" question. Truthfully? It was… a hotel experience. Nothing more, nothing less. But hey, I survived.
- 11:00 AM: Headed back to the airport. Oh boy, the airport.
Final Thoughts:
The Courtyard Chicago Deerfield was… a hotel. Did exactly what it needed to do. Could have been a LITTLE better, especially the coffee. But really, the things that made this trip special were the little moments. The kind waitress, the perfect view from a restaurant, the swim in the pool. And even the less-than-perfect stuff – the parking, the bad coffee, the slightly grumpy waiter – well, those are the details that make life interesting.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I need another vacation to recover from this one.
Radisson Duluth Harborview: Your Dream Duluth Getaway Awaits!
Alright, Let's Talk About [Whatever Your Topic Is]... And Trust Me, I Have Opinions.
So, you wanna know about [Your Topic]? Fine, I'll tell you. But fair warning, I'm not pulling any punches. We're going to get REAL. Prepare for some rambling, some outright yelling (probably internally, because I'm trying to keep cool), and maybe a tear or two. Let's do this.
1. Okay, So, Like, What IS [Your Topic] *Actually* About? Because I'm Still Confused.
Ugh, good question. Honestly, that's the first hurdle, isn't it? Trying to nail down what something *is*. For example, if we're talking about [Assume the topic is "Digital Minimalism" here], it sounds so… boring, right? Like, "Oh, just another self-help guru telling me to delete my apps." (And yes, I've rolled my eyes at THOSE before. Many, many times.)
But it’s more about… intentionality. It's about deciding *what* you want in your life, and how tech fits into that. It's like, realizing your phone is a tool, not a master. A tool! Not a tiny, glowing overlord dictating your every waking moment.
**The Reality Check Moment:** I remember when I first stumbled on the idea. I was drowning in notifications. My email was a swirling vortex. And I was CONSTANTLY reaching for my phone. It was like a nervous tic. I'd pick it up, scroll for... what? An hour? Two? And then feel… *worse*. Empty. That's when I knew something had to change. It wasn't some slick guru sales pitch; it was just the truth, staring me in the face.
So yeah, in a nutshell: Digital Minimalism is about being *in control* of your digital life, instead of the other way around. It's about finding the good stuff, ditching the toxic junk, and reclaiming your damn brain.
2. Is This *Really* For Me? I Like My Apps! I Love Scrolling! Don't Judge Me.
Okay, okay, put the pitchforks down. I get it. I *loved* my apps. I heart-eyed-emoji-ed them! I used to think that if I wasn't constantly online, I was missing out. That fear of missing out (FOMO) is a powerful drug.
**The Secret:** That’s the thing. The "Like" button can lie. It's designed to. It creates this artificial buzz of approval, this instant dopamine hit. That's the problem! It’s short-lived. It's hollow. And it keeps you stuck.
Here's the truth, from someone who's been there: You don't have to be some super-disciplined monk to benefit. It's about finding a balance. Maybe you love scrolling. Fine! But are you *sure* it's making you happy? Is it contributing to your goals? Or is it passively draining your energy? If it's the latter, then, yeah, maybe it's time to re-evaluate.
And hey, even if it IS making you happy, maybe you could be *even happier*? *Mind blown.*
3. Okay, Fine, I'm Listening. What are Some *Practical* Tips? Don't Just Give Me Philosophy. I Have Bills to Pay!
Alright, alright, I'm *not* a total flake who just pontificates. I understand the urge to get down to brass tacks. Here are some things that actually helped *me*:
* **Scheduled App Check-Ins:** Instead of constantly popping into Instagram, decide you'll ONLY check it at, say, noon and 6 pm. It sounds tiny, but it makes a HUGE difference. I found I could avoid an hour of scrolling by just scheduling.
* **Delete the Clutter:** Unfollow accounts that drain your energy. Unsubscribe from those endless marketing emails. Seriously, do it now. Right this second. Go! Free yourself!
* **Phone-Free Hours:** Choose a time each day – maybe breakfast, dinner, or before bed – when the phone stays out of sight. This is GOLD. Seriously. It's like a digital detox for your soul. I started turning off my phone 30 minutes before bed, and it's changed my sleep - HUGE.
* **Find Alternatives:** If you're constantly scrolling on social media, what are you *actually* craving? Connection? Entertainment? Go out with a friend! Read a book! Play a damn board game! That's what I did.
4. What About... Work? I Need My Tech For My Job! Am I Supposed to Become a Luddite?
Oh, the work/life balance conundrum! Ugh. No, you don't have to chuck your laptop in the ocean (although, sometimes, the temptation...*ahem*). This is about being *intentional*.
**The Real-Life Messiness:** My job is 100% reliant on tech. I work with a computer. It's the nature of my gig. The thing I *did* do was start being ruthless about my work hours. Once the digital screen goes off, it goes OFF. No more checking emails at 10 pm! I made a deal with myself: If I still want to work on my projects, I *must* go for a walk first, or the computer stays shut for the evening.
Think about your work apps. Which ones are essential? Which ones are distractions? Can you batch your tasks? Can you schedule specific times for email and avoid constantly checking it?
**The key:** Separate work from life. Carve out dedicated time for work, and then *leave it there*. Protect your free time with the same ferocity you protect your deadlines.
5. What's the *Worst* Part? What did You Absolutely HATE When doing this?
Honestly, the worst? The withdrawal. It was actually, seriously, *hard*. Like, actual, physical discomfort. The urge to check my phone was almost unbearable at first. I felt like I was missing out on some secret, vital piece of information, even when nothing was happening. It's a twisted kind of dependency.
I remember specifically, the *first* week that I kept my phone OFF during dinner. My hands felt… *empty*. I almost started reaching for it without even thinking. It was a weird, anxious feeling. I wasn't "bored," not really. It was this internal pressure, like a tiny, digital voice nagging at me: "*Check it, check it, NEED to check it!*"
The real struggle was that I'd built my habits up slowly over *years*. You'll have to reset.
6. My Biggest Fear is Missing Out. Help!
Ah, FOMO. The monster under theOcean By H10 Hotels
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