I was booked here via United Airlines due to my international flight arriving to ORD late and missing my US connection.
This was due to weather conditions and flights grounded or rerouted, so there was not much hotel inventory available closer to ORD.
I acknowledge this stay was focused on practicality, and obviously I wasnt expecting the experience to be a luxury stay on an airlines expense, but at least clean, safe feeling hotel.
The location is inconvenient, about a 20 min cab ride, not accessible by public transport, and it's basically a cheap motel with nothing around it open in evening hours. Poorly lit exterior.
Upon receiving my vouchers at ORD, as I was tired I didnt wait for the 'Shuttle' I just took a taxi at my expense, which I found out the next day was the right decision, as other passengers I met the next morning waited 45 to 60 mins to be picked up.
Upon check in, it was obvious by the worn down decor , grim lighting this was not going to be a pleasant experience.
However, One of the staff was quite kind, he offered free bottled water and bags of chips since they have no restaurant. It was not much but he at least tried to be hospitable with what he could offer.
Walking to the elevator the carpet in the hall felt slimy, and the whole place reeked of cigarettes. The room was dirty, and banged up looking, damaged furniture, wallpaper peeling, carpet coming up and stained, curtains were ripped. .
Had I known how awful the room condition would be , I would have just taken the taxi further into the city and stayed there on my own expense. I wouldnt expect an airline to put stranded passengers in the Ritz or Four Season, but I certainly did not expect this.
As I mentioned, it is located in a desolate industrial area so the only place you can walk to is a gas station with a convenience store in it for food in evening hours. . This was around midnight when stranded passengers arrived, so the airline should have made the effort to locate us where we could eat,at least fast food or something avail, as we arrived from international long haul flights. That isnt the hotels fault the restaurant and bar were not open when we arrived to be fair.
I went back down to the check in desk after showering (despite the condition of the bathroom, I put towels down all over the floor it was so grimy ). There was different person there and quite unpleasant. I was informed there is no airport shuttle to get back to the airport in the morning . He was quite rude to other passengers who were just arriving from international destinations, tired , hungry and frustrated. He could have at least been a bit sympathetic, and instead was acting like we were all a huge inconvenience.
You would think that the hotel would at least offer to book a few taxis for guests or some effort, with so many guests at the desks asking for the hotel shuttle (not sure if one actually exists or its just a staff person driving a van) , courtesy doesnโt cost anything. Due to location I could not book a car with the usual on line apps, and so a few passengers and I called a local service.
It was so awful I tried to find something else but all the hotels closer to ORD were sold out and by this time it was only going to be a 5 hour stay, so I just dealt with it. I would recommend if you are told this is the hotel your voucher is good for, demand another.
There was supposedly a breakfast but I gave that a pass, I cannot imagine eating food prepared in this establishment.
The photos on line are outdated, trust the ones recent guests have posted. I wish I had looked on line before going here, I was tired from the flight and just wanted to rest. That was impossible here as it was so run down.
It appears from other posts it is not really a Holiday Inn, but that is what the voucher and all the signage on the building indicated, so IHG should distance themselves if that is the case.
