Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Illinois

The Congress Plaza Hotel & convention center is perfect for the value driven guest looking for a convenient downtown location with spectacular views of Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain and Lake Michigan. It is just short walk to the New Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago, Museum Campus, Symphony Center, and the Sears Tower. The city business districts, shopping and restaurants, as well as downtown theaters and universities are also just minutes away. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (15 miles) and Midway Airport (11 miles) are easily accessible.

The Congress Plaza Hotel & convention center was originally designed and built in 1893 to accommodate visitors to the Columbian World's Exposition. There are a total of 840 guest rooms, including 50 deluxe suites, many of which overlook the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan.

Travel Advisory: The Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union Local 1 is currently conducting a strike against The Congress Plaza Hotel. Guests may encounter picketers outside the hotel.Starting September 15 2006 , overnite valet parking will be $32.00 and self will be $27.00.

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During your Chicago vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:

Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
Chicago is home to an active community of collectors of so-called "outsider art," a term attached to a group of unknown, unconventional artists who do their artwork without any formal training or connection to the mainstream art world. Often called folk or self-taught artists, their work is highly personal and idiosyncratic, and they work in a range of media, from bottle caps to immense canvases. Intuit was founded in 1991 to bring attention to these artists through exhibitions and educational lectures. Housed in the warehouse district northwest of the Loop, with two galleries and a performance area, the museum offers a regular lecture series, and if you time your visit right, you might be here for one of the center's tours of a private local art collection. Allow 1 hour.

Unity Temple
After fire destroyed its church around 1900, a Unitarian/Universalist congregation asked one of its members, Frank Lloyd Wright, to design an affordable replacement. Using poured concrete with metal reinforcements -- a necessity, owing to the small budget of $40,000 allocated for the project -- Wright created a building that on the outside seems as forbidding as a mausoleum but inside contains all the elements of the Prairie School that has made Wright's name immortal. Following the example of H. H. Richardson, Wright placed the building's main entrance on the side, behind an enclosure -- a feature often employed in his houses as well -- to create a sense of privacy and intimacy. Wright complained, furthermore, that the conventions of church architecture -- such as the nave in the Gothic-style cathedral across the street -- were overpowering. Of that particular church, he commented that he didn't feel a part of it.Yet his own vision in this regard was somewhat confused and contradictory. He wanted Unity Temple to be "democratic." But perhaps Wright was unable to subdue his own personal hubris and hauteur in the creative process, for the ultimate effect of his chapel, and much of the building's interior, is very grand and imperial. This is no simple meetinghouse; instead, its principal chapel looks like the chamber of the Roman Senate. Even so, the interior, with its unpredictable geometric arrangements and its decor reminiscent of Native American art, is no less beautiful.Wright was a true hands-on, can-do person; he knew the materials he chose to use as intimately as the artisans who carried out his plans. He added pigment to the plaster (rather than the paint) to achieve a pale, natural effect. His use of wood for trim and other decorative touches is still exciting to behold; his sensitivity to grain and tone and placement was akin to that of an exceptionally gifted woodworker. And his stunning, almost-minimalist use of form is what still sets him apart as a relevant and brilliant artist. Unity Temple still feels groundbreaking 100 years later -- which Wright might consider the ultimate compliment. Allow a half-hour.

Chicago Cultural Center
Built in 1897 as the city's public library, and transformed into a showplace for visual and performing arts in 1991, the Chicago Cultural Center is an overlooked civic treasure. Its basic Beaux Arts exterior conceals a sumptuous interior of rare marble, fine hardwood, stained glass, polished brass, and mosaics of Favrile glass, colored stone, and mother-of-pearl inlaid in white marble. The crowning centerpiece is Preston Bradley Hall's majestic Tiffany dome, said to be the largest of its kind in the world.The building also houses one of the Chicago Office of Tourism's visitor centers, which makes it an ideal place to kick-start your visit. If you stop in to pick up tourist information and take a quick look around, your visit won't take longer than half an hour. But the Cultural Center also hosts an array of art exhibitions, concerts, films, lectures, and other special events (many free), which might convince you to extend your time here. A long-standing tradition is the 12:15pm Dame Myra Hess Memorial classical concert every Wednesday in the Preston Bradley Hall. Other ongoing programs include a monthly cultural festival -- which highlights a different city or country over a weekend with art, theater, and film.Guided architectural tours of the Cultural Center are offered Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 1:15pm. For information, call tel. 312/744-8032.Allow a half-hour.

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Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Chicago Downtown
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Chinatown Hotel SRO Ltd.
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Most recent user reviews

Score

4 out of 5

Great Location

Megan, 2007-03-14

This is Chicago- if you want to visit- you're staying either in this hotel or one of the high dollar ones just down the street.

The Congress Plaza was at a great location, right in the middle of everything. The lobby is a bit decieving in its glory when compared to the rooms which were not in as good of a condition. Our room wsa loud, as it was near the elavator. The bathroom electrical outlet was broken upon our arrival. Maintenance did fix it once notified. The light also flickered on/off! It was overall a quaint and generally nice hotel for a great price considering its location.

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1 out of 5

Poor

Anonymous, Newark, NJ, 2007-03-13

The hotel charges everything highly from parking, web-service, breakfast, ... Noisy at night with old electricity facilities indoor and police sirems outside. Not comfortable at all.

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Score

5 out of 5

Great people working there Very Very Helpful!!!

Angela, 2007-03-12

The Congress is close to everything and I seriously mean that. Dining, shopping, entertainment, a park, a museam. Asboslutly everything!!!

The Congress in Chicago was great. The people that they have working there are wonderful. I couldnt have asked for more friendly people. When I go to Chicago again in the future my place to stay is the Congress!! The place always smelled so wonderfull and was always clean

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1 out of 5

Congress Plaza needs help

John, Oakland, CA, 2007-03-11

Grant Park and Millenium Park are across the street. The Chicago Art Instituts us just a short walk. It is a great location.

The shower had no hot water. After adjustment by two maintenance men, it was either hot or just a dribble. Apparently the cold water pressure overwhelms the hot and it cannot be mixed properly. The room was tiny. It is in a great location but maybe the very prolonged strike of staff is taking its toll. I would recommend you stay away from this one.

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5 out of 5

Review

LIJIE, 2007-02-28

No review provided by user

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2 out of 5

a run-down hotel in a great location

Dennis, Madison, WI, 2007-02-25

Chicago Art Institute, Millinium Park

My stay at the Congrass Plaza Hotel was okay. It was in a great location, and it looks like it was a very nice hotel about 50 years ago. I was put in a wing of the hotel that was supposed to be under renovation. Everything seemed clean enought but the paint, wall paper, and furniture were in poor shape.

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2 out of 5

Review

Anonymous, Minneapolis, MN, 2007-02-25

The only upside was that the Chicago Institute of Arts was within walking distance.

When we checked in, we had broken doors on the main entrance, Led Zepplin blasting into the lobby from the bar where a frat party ensued. We arrived in our room to find towels used, candy wrappers in the garbage and hotel housekeeping walked in on us within 15 minutes of checking in. The next morning when we were showering to leave, the drain was plugged. It was only a two-star, but I guess I expect more in the middle of nowhere. There was only one decent eating establishment in walking distance. We ordered delivery since we didn't know our way around and didn't feel safe walking around the area as most buildings where dark or empty...

Score

5 out of 5

Great location

Anonymous, Atlantic City, NJ, 2007-02-20

The Orange restaurant is great!

Location was great. I was visiting my daughter at college and we were able to visit many popular sites very easily. The hotel was clean and the staff was friendly. The only thing I didn't like was the pillows on the bed, they were a little hard, but I am very picky about pillows. But for the price, it was a great hotel and again, the location was excellent!

Score

5 out of 5

Decent in Pricerange

Anonymous, 2007-02-18

Cafe nextdoor, and in the middle of many Chicago sightseeing attractions-theres a tour/attractions desk, in the lobby.

Decent in PriceRange, Good staff, outstanding area for Chicago sightseeing, Very nice lakefront view. Decor needed some upgrading, but basically clean and sound. Overall the people were fine..

Score

4 out of 5

Great Location

Anonymous, 2007-02-11

Parks across the street, museums ranged from a short-long walk. Go in the summer time, the walks will be much more enjoyable!

The Congress Plaza Hotel was located right on michigan ave across from millenium park. Everything we needed to get to was either within walking distance or a short taxi ride ($5-10). The hotel was great for this reason being that i was there on a touristy vacation and i didn't have to spend excessive time traveling into and around the city since i was centrally located.

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