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:
Chicago Public Library/Harold Washington Library Center
A massive, hulking building that looks like an Italian Renaissance fortress, the main public library for the city of Chicago is the largest public library in the world. Named for the city's first and only African-American mayor, who died of a heart attack in 1987 at the beginning of his second term in office, the building fills an entire city block at State Street and Congress Parkway. The interior design has been criticized for feeling cold (you have to go up a few floors before you even see any books), but the stunning 52-foot glass-domed winter garden on the top floor is worth a visit. On the second floor is another treasure: the vast Thomas Hughes Children's Library, which makes an excellent resting spot for families traveling with kids. The library also offers an interesting array of events and art exhibitions worth checking out. A 385-seat auditorium is the setting for a unique mix of dance and music performances, author talks, and children's programs. Allow a half-hour.
Wendella Sightseeing Boats
Wendella is the granddaddy of all sightseeing operators in Chicago. Started in 1935, it's run by the original owner's son, Bob Borgstrom, whose own two sons serve as captains. You won't find a more authoritative source on the Chicago River than Borgstrom.Wendella operates a 1-hour tour along the Chicago River, and a 1 1/2-tour along the river and out onto Lake Michigan. (One of the most dramatic events during the boat tours is passing through the locks that separate the river from the lake.) Boats run from late April to early October. The 2-hour sunset tour runs Memorial Day to Labor Day starting at 7:45pm. Scheduling for cruises depends on the season and the weather, but cruises usually leave every hour during the summer.
Field Museum of Natural History
Is it any wonder that Steven Spielberg thought the Field Museum of Natural History suitable home turf for the intrepid archaeologist and adventurer hero of his Indiana Jones movies? Spread over the museum's 9 acres of floor space are scores of permanent and temporary exhibitions -- some interactive, but most requiring the old-fashioned skills of observation and imagination. But navigating all the disparate exhibits can be daunting.You'll start out in the grand Stanley Field Hall, which you enter from either the north or south end. Standing proudly at the north side is the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever unearthed. Named Sue for the paleontologist who found the dinosaur in 1990 in South Dakota, the specimen was acquired by the museum for a cool $8.4 million following a high-stakes bidding war. The real skull is so heavy that a lighter copy had to be mounted on the skeleton; the actual one is displayed nearby.Families should head downstairs for two of the most popular kid-friendly exhibits. The pieces on display in Inside Ancient Egypt were brought to the museum in the early 1900s, after researchers in Saqqara, Egypt, excavated two of the original chambers from the tomb of Unis-ankh, son of the Fifth Dynasty ruler Pharaoh Unis. This mastaba (tomb) of Unis-ankh now forms the core of a spellbinding exhibit that realistically depicts scenes from Egyptian funeral, religious, and other social practices. Visitors can explore aspects of the day-to-day world of ancient Egypt, viewing 23 actual mummies and realistic burial scenes, a living marsh environment and canal works, the ancient royal barge, a religious shrine, and a reproduction of a typical marketplace of the period. Many of the exhibits allow hands-on interaction, and there are special activities for kids, such as making parchment from living papyrus plants.Next to the Egypt exhibit, you'll find Underground Adventure, a "total immersion environment" populated by giant robotic earwigs, centipedes, wolf spiders, and other subterranean critters. The Disneyesque exhibit is a big hit with kids, but -- annoyingly -- requires an extra admission charge ($7 on top of regular admission for adults, $3 for kids).You might be tempted to skip the "peoples of the world" exhibits, but, trust me -- some are not only mind-opening, but they're also great fun. Traveling the Pacific is hidden up on the second floor, but it's definitely worth a stop. Hundreds of artifacts from the museum's oceanic collection re-create scenes of island life in the South Pacific (there's even a full-scale model of a Maori meeting house). Africa, an assemblage of African artifacts and provocative, interactive multimedia presentations, takes viewers to Senegal, to a Cameroon palace, to the savanna and its wildlife, and on a "virtual" journey aboard a slave ship to the Americas. Native Chicagoans will quickly name two more signature highlights: the taxidermies of Bushman (a legendary lowland gorilla who made international headlines while at the city's Lincoln Park Zoo) and the Man-Eating Lions of Tsavo (the pair of male lions who munched nearly 140 British railway workers constructing a bridge in East Africa in 1898; their story is featured in the film The Ghost and the Darkness).The museum hosts special traveling exhibits (recent blockbusters included shows on Cleopatra and the jewels of Russia), as well as numerous lectures, book signings, multi-ethnic musical and dance performances, storytelling events, and family activity days throughout the year. The Corner Bakery cafe, located just off the main hall, is a cut above the usual museum victuals (to avoid the lunchtime lines, pick up one of the premade salads or sandwiches and head for the cash register). Families also flock to the McDonald's on the lower level. Allow 3 hours.
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Most recent user reviews
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.
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.
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
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.
Review
LIJIE, 2007-02-28
No review provided by user
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.
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...
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!
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..
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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