Seeking a place to stay in the Windy City? Firstly, it gets cold. Second? The wind chill takes that cold and deposits it directly into your bones. If that isn’t enough to scare you away—well, I have just the place for you.
The Thompson is one of Hyatt’s boutique (understated) luxury brands. If you are looking for a chill vibe with lots of pizzaz, you will enjoy the Thompson. I imagine if you are between 25 and 40, this is the establishment you are looking for. If you are younger than that, they usually have the little brother brand Tommie, which is usually on the same property- albeit less expensive and a lower category. If you are a little more experienced, try looking at the Hyatt Centric, or Park Hyatt.
Location
Located in downtown Chicago, sprawling with small parks and a popping bar scene. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Chicago O’Hare airport. There are numerous places to eat around, even late at night. There is a special agreement between the hotel to a bar across the street, Luxbar- where if you present your room key you can get 10% off your total bill. The burger was fine, but the rest of their food was, as my wife put it, “mid”. Worry not, as there are other choices you can eat nearby as well.
Check in Experience
Check-in was fast and smooth. They had the room I selected ready to go and stocked with water as expected. There was no line, and they recognized my globalist status as well.
Breakfast
Here is where the story gets a bit sour. Apparently, due to their restaurant being closed for renovations, they don’t offer the traditional breakfast at this time. They do offer in room dining, as well as some grab and go bags- but only for breakfast. If you want lunch, or dinner? Go off property. I didn’t get the chance to try any of their food due to my flight leaving before their breakfast opened. But if you do try it and like it, leave a comment below and let me know.
The Room
I booked a basic king bedroom but applied an expiring suite upgrade award to get a confirmed at booking junior suite. The room was nice. It was the highlight of my stay. I enjoyed the view from the 12th floor of the city, and the bed was very, very comfortable.
There is a separate living room area, partitioned by a wall, with additional seating and another television (besides the one facing the bed). There is also a bar immediately to the left of that.
The shower was a bit short, but technically, it was a rainfall shower. I liked the warmth as well as the pressure. The soap and body cream also smelled great!
Overall Score
If I had to give this hotel a specific score, I'd give it a
4/5
Due to the dinner not being available, and the hotel being stingy with the amenities (only 2 bottles of water, no toothbrush or toothpaste). Otherwise, the staff was delightful, courteous, and I enjoyed the room, and the location.
