PUBLIC Chicago

Air conditioning did not work. Furniture was worn out and all damaged. Carpet was all stained and discolored. Couch and chairs were covered with some type of cloth covers to mask stains. Pubic hairs on bathroom floor. Soap dispenser not attached to shower wall. Reservation desk employees were unprofessional and not trained. Checking out was a big mess. Reservations all messed up and their billing was a disaster. I understand that a new company took over hotel. It’s apparent they are more concerned about bringing in revenue than providing an enjoyable customer experience.

"Absolutely to Avoid" Negative experience from the very start. The young man at reception was rude, unprofessional, and visibly annoyed by the questions I asked to understand the reason for a voucher I had never requested. We arrived when it was 2:00 a.m. in Italy, so it was impossible to contact the travel agency that had booked our stay. We asked if we could pay the voucher, which they claimed was mandatory, the following day so we could clarify with the agency first, given the extremely high cost of almost $500 for 3 days. Our request was denied, and we were not allowed to access the room we had already booked without immediate payment. We were therefore forced to pay on the spot. The voucher imposed by the hotel included breakfast, drinks (even for children), and dinner vouchers. When we pointed out that we would never have dinner there, that we had minor children, and that on the last day we would not even be able to use breakfast because it started at 7:30 a.m. while we had a taxi to the airport at 7:00 a.m., we were told that it was not their problem and that at best they could give us drink vouchers instead. All of this was even more unacceptable considering that on the agency’s voucher it was clearly stated “room only” plus about $100 in taxes, with no mention whatsoever of mandatory packages including meals. Additionally, towels were not changed unless repeatedly requested, and in three days the room was never cleaned. The air conditioning also did not work properly. In my opinion, this is a non-transparent and unacceptable policy that shows little to no care for guests. In many years of traveling, I have never encountered such an unfriendly welcome. There are far better options in the area – I will never return here.

Felt like I was robbed. Double the price when you arrive. Hidden extra cost. Really mad and disappointed. Plus another extra for parking! 😡

I am writing this review about a stay that I was unable to book at the Ambassador Hotel because when they offer you a complimentary night's stay in their property (due to service issues in a previous visit). it apparently means nothing. My husband and I have stayed at this property several times and I helped my daughter organize a bachelorette weekend in Chicago a couple of years ago when she booked multiple rooms and a suite at the Ambassador. Unfortunately such loyalty appears to mean nothing. Despite having an email from the Front Desk Manager offering us a free night's stay in a suite and proving a copy of that e-mail, when I tried to make a booking this month and make use of that 1 complimentary night (as part of a three night stay), no-one was willing to assist. I sent multiple e-mail messages, used the "chat" function on the hotel website and spoke to a member of staff - Jessica. I explained the dates I wanted like to book, asked for one night to be complimentary and provided the email offering that stay. No-one replied to my e-mails, no-one called me back to assist with the booking - I was "ghosted"! I like the Ambassador Hotel but this experience has shown me that they do not value their customers and do not honor their customer service promises. Please be aware of that when deciding if you wish to stay there...

I booked my stay at the Ambassador Hotel Chicago back in April using my credit card travel points, plus an additional $218 out of pocket. When I arrived on July 21, I was blindsided by the front desk informing me that, since my booking, “new management” had taken over and my room now supposedly cost roughly $90 more per night. This surprise “fee” was explained as covering six bottles of water per day (which I can only assume is because the pipes have lead and they don’t want guests drinking the tap water), along with vouchers for their restaurant, bar, and breakfast. I booked a place to sleep, not to eat hotel food every day in a city known for world-class dining. I was never told about this additional $90/night before arrival, nor did I agree to it. The staff member at the front desk seemed to realize how absurd this was and offered me a “room upgrade”, from a two-bedroom to a one-bedroom? The rooms are sparse at best: minimal decor, stark white walls, and nothing special to justify any kind of luxury price tag, let alone an extra $90/night for water and meal vouchers. The next morning at 8:30 a.m., it sounded like someone was in my room with a pickaxe. There was construction happening above, below, and around me. I was on a working vacation and couldn’t work in my room. The so-called “business center” is just an abandoned bar area that looks like it’s used only for events, not a functioning workspace. The hotel likes to boast about its history as the former home of the famous Pump Room, but that’s long gone. What’s left is an old building with outdated rooms, lead in the pipes, and none of the charm or amenities one would expect for $160/night. To make matters worse, the hotel took my card for a standard $125 security deposit (refundable if you don’t damage the room) only for me to wake up to an unauthorized $695 charge to cover those extra fees I never agreed to. Chicago is not a third-world country, guests shouldn’t be forced into paying nearly $100/day for bottled water and vouchers they didn’t request or use. This experience felt misleading, overpriced, and deeply disappointing. Bottom line: If you value transparency, quiet, and getting what you actually booked, stay somewhere else. PS I have videos of the noise of construction on the room that I can't post on this review because it only allows photos...