The good: Staff was outstanding; spa and gym are excellent; bar is very nice.

The bad: restaurant and room service menu is limited. Food is entirely average. Concierge's recommendation for restaurant outside hotel was off the mark.

The ugly: room was poorly maintained. Rickety coffee table, doorbell that went off when our neighbor's doorbell was activated, some piece of electronics hanging from a hole in the ceiling by a wire, phones didn't work properly, curtains didn't shut correctly, some lights were out, light switches were confusing, bathroom scale didn't work, hair dryer had an unpleasant sticky/gummy coating on the handle, carpet was in need of a cleaning. Fireplace gave off strange odor that kept us from running it/enjoying it much. And probably some other stuff that I forgot. Took two days of a three day stay to get room issues corrected, and of course, I had to deal with the distractions.

Not "terrible", but not world-class accommodation. I'll check out the Four Seasons or the Park Hyatt next time I'm in town and would recommend other travelers do too.

After careful consideration and numerous hours of investigative work, visa vie by phone and online, we chose to stay at the Waldorf Astoria for our family vaca last summer. Rarely does a hotel live up to the oft-times airbrushed photos one might find on the web, so I was more than a little surprised upon our arrival; with it's enchanting courtyard, albeit a tad small, incredibly generous staff, stylish yet monochromatic lobby and high-end accomodations, this hotel has few, if any, rivals in the region. Now this might not be the most family-friendly environment,(i.e. lap pool with "adult only" hours), but we, like many families, were there to see the sights, so this was certainly not a hindrance to the overall enjoyment of our stay. On a park & breakfast-type package, we were worried that a room upgrade from our confirmed suite to a larger one with a much-desired balcony would be out of the question, but this fear was quickly dispelled and an upgrade was graciously offered within a half-hour of our arrival. With a view of the Lake, multiple flat screens, a comfortable sofabed for the kids(dividing door), masssive spa-like bathroom and a friendly staff on the ready, what more could one ask for? The only blip on the radar came at the end of the stay when I realized that I had been misinformed about the extent of our package and was summarily overcharged for several items which I thought were covered by the aforementioned package; like many hotels, they offer a plethora of deals which left several members of the staff quite confused...and me with a larger than expected bill. Otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to make a return visit(with greater clarification beforehand) and/or recommend this hghly to family, friends and/or business acquaintances. Btw...ask about the somewhat "secretive" car service which they provide---great service especially considering their distance from many of Chicago's more sought after attractions.

We booked a suite for our 25th anniversary, not knowing what to expect. The service was impeccable (and included). The beds, linens, bath robes, toiletries, and soaking bath plus shower were all top notch, which created a luxurious and comfortable environment. The valet service with the car worked very well. The spa was lovely, although we did not partake of the services. The restaurant was also very nice. We enjoyed two delicious breakfasts there.

A couple of small negatives: the lighting system was hard to use and ultimately frustrating. The decor in the lobby was not that attractive and the overall design theme cold and modern. Rooms do not come with coffee and tea makers. And finally, we has a balcony ( which we did not use in February) but no view. Our room looked out on a parking garage and some retail businesses.

Stayed on the Amex Fine Hotels program. 3 for 2 nights, spa credit, breakfast and upgrade. Although a $400 a night hotel, thought it was a great value. The facilities are excellent as is the service. Walkable to many Chicago highlights. Absolutely do it again.