Your stay — The Willows
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The Property — The Willows
The Willows is a solid, no-frills three-star in Chicago's Gold Coast, all dark wood and worn leather in the lobby. It's the kind of place that prioritises clean sheets, working wifi and a decent coffee machine over Instagram lobbies. Best suited to independent travellers or business guests who want a reliable base within walking distance of the Magnificent Mile.
Chronicles of Chicago
Chicago was a fur-trading outpost in the 1830s, then exploded into a rail and grain hub, rebuilding after the 1871 fire with the world's first skyscrapers — the Home Insurance Building went up in 1885. The city's architectural DNA is steel and glass: Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright all shaped the skyline. By the 1920s, jazz and organised crime gave it a gritty cultural edge, while the 1960s saw Mayor Daley Sr's machine politics cement its role as a Midwestern powerhouse. Today, Chicago is a theatre, food and music capital, with a sharp civic pride that cuts through its lake-effect chill.
Best Time to Visit
Full Chicago guide →Best months
May, June and September — temperatures hover around 20-25°C, humidity is tolerable, and the lakefront paths are open without being packed.
Peak / festival surge
July is the absolute peak, driven by Lollapalooza (late July/early August) and Fourth of July fireworks over Navy Pier. Hotel rates double or triple, and book six months ahead. The Taste of Chicago also draws huge crowds to Grant Park.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the smart options: hotel prices drop 30-40%, you avoid the summer humidity, and the city's autumn colours along the Lakefront Trail are free.
Weather & packing
Chicago in summer is full-on humid and prone to sudden lake-effect thunderstorms — the temperature can drop 10°C in an hour. Pack a light waterproof jacket and layers, even in July.
Live City Briefing — Chicago
- The CTA's Red Line is undergoing weekend closures for station upgrades through mid-2026; check the schedule before heading to O'Hare.
- Navy Pier's new 'Wright Again' exhibition opens June 2026, featuring Frank Lloyd Wright's original drawings for a never-built Chicago tower.
- The city's bike-share scheme, 'Divvy', is on a hiring drive to meet summer demand; electric bikes are now standard.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Willows, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear courtyard. These floors avoid street-level noise and benefit from double-glazed windows that are more effective away from the lift lobby.
Rooms to avoid
Skip any room on the 2nd floor — it sits directly above the ground-floor bar and restaurant, where noise carries until late. Also avoid rooms ending in ‘01’ or ‘02’, as they're directly above the main entrance and suffer from footfall and door slams.
Best views
Odd-numbered rooms facing east offer a glimpse of the Chicago skyline over low-rise buildings. Even-numbered rooms to the west overlook a quiet residential street but with a solid brick wall opposite — less interesting.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 5 are quietest — the lift services all floors but these are far enough from street-level commotion and the rooftop HVAC unit that hums on the 6th floor.
🔊 Noise notes
West Surf Street is a secondary road with occasional buses and garbage trucks at 6-7am. The adjacent alley at the back is used for deliveries to the hotel kitchen around 8am and 5pm — avoid rear-facing rooms on floor 1-2 for those periods.
Insider tips
1) Parking is in a nearby pay lot (no hotel garage) — book a spot via SpotHero for half the walk-up rate. 2) Check-in at 3pm but ask the desk if a courtyard-facing room on floor 3 is available; they often hold them for requests made at check-in.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Willows
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 10 Mbps) for all guests; a premium tier at $9.95/day offers speeds up to 50 Mbps. No login portal – uses room number and surname.
Single lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital access to the Chicago Tribune and Wall Street Journal via PressReader codes given at check-in. No physical newspapers.
Check-in from 15:00; early bag drop available from 11:00 if room not ready. Late check-out until 13:00 for $50, subject to availability.
Free for same-day drop before check-in and after check-out; stored in a locked room behind the front desk.
Step-free at the main entrance via ramp; lift to all floors. One ADA-compliant king room with roll-in shower and grab bars. No accessible parking spaces on-site.
No on-site parking. Valet parking is not available. Nearest public garage is at 601 W Surf Street (0.2 miles), $35 overnight. No EV charging on site; nearest public charger at 640 W Wrightwood Avenue (0.4 miles).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 17.5% combined city and state tax on room rate, plus a $5.00 per night Chicago tourism fee
Deposit & card hold: First night's room and tax charged at booking; $100 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Second Church of Christ Scientist (492 m · ~6 min walk)
- Place of worship: Second Unitarian Church of Chicago (697 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: National Shrine of Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini (820 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Saint Clement Roman Catholic Church (855 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Alcott Park — 584 m · ~7 min walk
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Laugh Factory — 861 m · ~11 min walk
Sunshine Playground — 773 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 928 m · ~12 min walk
Walgreens — 503 m · ~6 min walk
7-Eleven — 307 m · ~4 min walk
Diversey — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →US Dollar, USD
Do not exchange cash; use ATMs from major banks like Chase or Bank of America for the best rates. Avoid airport and tourist-area currency exchange booths—they have terrible rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted almost everywhere; Amex less common but still works in most chain shops and restaurants. Contactless and Apple Pay are widely used.
Restaurants: 18–20% pre-tax. Taxis: 10–15% or round up. Hotel porters: $1–2 per bag; housekeeping: $2–5 per night.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Drip coffee at a local diner or bodega—around $2.50.
A slice of pizza or a burrito from a fast-casual spot—$8 to $10.
A main course at a pub or neighbourhood Italian place—$14 to $18.
Not a street-food-heavy area; for cheap eats head south to the Maxwell Street Market (Sundays) or grab tacos from trucks near Clark & Diversey.
Jewel-Osco and Aldi are the main budget supermarkets; Trader Joe’s is also common for reasonable staples.
Goodwill and Village Discount Outlet thrift stores; also Target on Addison for basics. For trendy cheap stuff, take the Red Line to the Belmont or Wicker Park areas.
Cheapest way around: CTA day pass ($5 for bus/train all day; $10 for a 3-day pass). From O’Hare: take the Blue Line train ($5) into the Loop, then connect to 60657 via Red/Brown Line. Avoid taxis ($35+).
1. Buy groceries at Aldi or Trader Joe’s instead of eating out every meal. 2. Use the CTA day pass ($5) rather than ride-hailing apps. 3. Look for free museum days (most are free on certain weekdays) and free summer concerts in parks.
Good to know — Chicago
Type A/B · 120V
safe
USD ($)
Emergency Contacts
ChicagoAll emergency services in Chicago, United States are reached by dialing 911. This is the primary emergency number for police, ambulance, and fire services. For non-emergency situations, contact the Chicago Police Department at 311 or visit their website.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Chicago, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Willows
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 928 m · ~12 min walk — pharmacy · Walgreens — 503 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Downtown Chicago / Local neighborhoods → London House Chicago, Near Chicago River
💡 Routes 156, 2, 6 serve the Wacker Drive area. Ventra card recommended for faster boarding. Best for local exploration.
Midway International Airport (MDW) → London House Chicago, Downtown Chicago
💡 Cheaper alternative if arriving at Midway. Orange Line connects to Red/Brown lines for downtown access.
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) → London House Chicago, 85 East Upper Wacker Drive
💡 Avoid peak hours (7-9 AM, 4-7 PM). Airport taxis offer flat rates from taxi stand on baggage claim level.
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) → London House Chicago (Clark/Lake Station nearby)
💡 Most economical option. Blue Line runs 24/7; transfer at Clark/Lake for walking distance to hotel. Download Ventra card app.
About Chicago
Wikipedia ↗
Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the third-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.74 million at the 2020 census. The Chicago metropolitan area has approxi...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Willows?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the rear courtyard. These floors avoid street-level noise and benefit from double-glazed windows that are more effective away from the lift lobby.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Willows?
Skip any room on the 2nd floor — it sits directly above the ground-floor bar and restaurant, where noise carries until late. Also avoid rooms ending in ‘01’ or ‘02’, as they're directly above the main entrance and suffer from footfall and door slams.
Is The Willows noisy?
West Surf Street is a secondary road with occasional buses and garbage trucks at 6-7am. The adjacent alley at the back is used for deliveries to the hotel kitchen around 8am and 5pm — avoid rear-facing rooms on floor 1-2 for those periods.
Which rooms have the best views at The Willows?
Odd-numbered rooms facing east offer a glimpse of the Chicago skyline over low-rise buildings. Even-numbered rooms to the west overlook a quiet residential street but with a solid brick wall opposite — less interesting.
What are insider tips for staying at The Willows?
1) Parking is in a nearby pay lot (no hotel garage) — book a spot via SpotHero for half the walk-up rate. 2) Check-in at 3pm but ask the desk if a courtyard-facing room on floor 3 is available; they often hold them for requests made at check-in.
What time is check-in at The Willows?
Check-in at The Willows is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Willows have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 10 Mbps) for all guests; a premium tier at $9.95/day offers speeds up to 50 Mbps. No login portal – uses room number and surname.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Willows?
17.5% combined city and state tax on room rate, plus a $5.00 per night Chicago tourism fee
Where can I eat cheaply near The Willows?
A slice of pizza or a burrito from a fast-casual spot—$8 to $10.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Willows?
Cheapest way around: CTA day pass ($5 for bus/train all day; $10 for a 3-day pass). From O’Hare: take the Blue Line train ($5) into the Loop, then connect to 60657 via Red/Brown Line. Avoid taxis ($35+).
When is the best time to visit Chicago?
May, June and September — temperatures hover around 20-25°C, humidity is tolerable, and the lakefront paths are open without being packed.
Top Attractions in Chicago
💡 Parking on the pier itself is expensive — the free trolley from nearby Streeterville, or a 15-minute walk from Michigan Avenue, is cheaper and often faster. Summer weekends get very crowded by afternoon; mornings are quieter.
💡 Go early (before 8am) or on a weekday to get a clear photo of the Bean without crowds. The garden section at the southeast corner is quieter and offers good views of the skyline.
💡 Start at the Riverwalk entrance near Michigan Avenue bridge. Go at sunset for good lighting on the skyscrapers. The paid cruise adds historical narration but the free route is excellent on a clear day. Allow 1 hour.
💡 Illinois residents can book free tickets online for Thursdays; bring a state ID. Non-residents: the regular $25 ticket gets you into the Modern Wing where fewer tourists go. Give yourself 2-3 hours.
💡 Arrive before 10am on weekends to avoid queues at the free parking lot. The zoo is compact; two hours is enough for a thorough visit.
💡 Check the website before going—some special exhibits have a small fee ($5–$10). The conservatory is west of the Loop; take the Green Line train to Garfield station. Allow 1–2 hours.