Traveling, that’s where. Frantically trying to keep up with everything on my to-do list, while also taking time to back away from the computer. Attempting to make some money and start a couple of businesses. And getting ready for a big event in December (teaser).
I’ve been swamped and a little “off” and overbooked, but it’s all good. Especially the travel part. You know me — I love to travel. There’s a reason travel has its own category on this blog. Rather than being just another stressor for me, travel is my respite in the midst of chaos.
Last weekend I went to Denver for the first time to speak at Bloggy Boot Camp. LOVED IT! Granted, I was only downtown, but it sure was clean and pretty. I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Denver (fantastic and modern) and ate at The Corner Office (yummy and chic). I can’t believe in all the time I lived out West I never went to Denver. My quick weekend there made me miss the high desert, the open skies and the mountain ranges very much.
As much as I love the wild, untamed countryside, I also love a big city. I love the energy, the crowds and the never-ending list of things to do. That’s why I’m glad my travels in the past month have also taken me to Chicago twice. As far as cities go, Chicago is pretty primo. It’s a manageable size, easy to navigate, very clean, incredibly friendly in that Midwestern way, and chock full of great restaurants, attractions and shopping.
While in Chicago, I had a chance to stay at another Hyatt Regency. Now, me and chain hotels don’t usually mix. And I’m also not a huge fan of big convention hotels (unless they’re in Vegas). So all this Hyatt business was a little out of my comfort zone. I wouldn’t necessarily choose to stay there, all things considered. But my good friend Lisa somehow met this gal named Jennifer and somehow introduced us on Twitter and it somehow turns out that Jennifer does social media for Hyatt Chicago and, well, that’s what I used to do for hotels, and she looked cute in her picture and all, so when she invited me to stay with them, I couldn’t say no.
And boy, am I glad I didn’t.
To say the Hyatt Regency Chicago surprised me is an understatement. It was nothing like I expected. Big? Yes. Convention-y? Yes. Lots of business travelers? Yes. But despite all that, it was pretty much perfect. Even though I was a solo female traveler there on a mix of business and pleasure, it was exactly what I needed. Its location is beyond perfect. For me, part of the appeal of a city is being able to walk and use public transportation. I walked pretty much everywhere I wanted to go from the hotel, because it was right smack in the middle of everything.
The hotel is the “A.” I’ve marked all the other pertinent stuff for you. Also, it’s just a short (seven minute or so) walk from the State/Lake CTA station. And it’s connected to the Pedway (which is my new obsession).
I also like the decor in the hotel rooms. Granted, both times I stayed I was in the West Tower (the hotel is so big it has two towers on two blocks), so it could be that this tower has more up-to-date rooms. But they’re lovely. There’s a kind of mid-century modern (think orange and brown) slash Bauhaus kind of thing going on with the decor. The lines are clean, and the hardware is glass, metallic and sleek white porcelain. Best part? No hotel florals! There’s no ugly chintz bedspread or curtains or tacky patterned carpet to distract you from the stains and cigarette burns. And the bedding is soft, crisp white linens, as is the popular norm these days. (FYI — they have special rooms, called Respire rooms, for people with allergy issues.)
Here’s a picture of one of my rooms:
And this picture doesn’t do it justice, because I am a lousy photographer. Here’s the desk area:
I had plenty of room to work and make a mess of my stuff.
And the chair in the window was my dream. You can’t really tell from my terrible pic, but it’s a kind of pearlized leather fabric. I sat in it to read and drink my wine and eat chocolate covered strawberries and pretend I was a famous glamazon.
The second time I stayed, I got a gorgeous junior suite with a view over the river. I looked right across at the NBC building and the Marilyn Monroe statue. As I watched the NBC news each morning, they’d do a live weather shot on the plaza. I’d look at the shot and see people walking by on the TV. Then I’d look out the window and see the same people. It was like some alternate dimension where I was an omniscient goddess! One who sits in pearlized chairs and sips Evian from a minibar!
I couldn’t find a picture of the suite I had on their website, but I did see these pics of a couple of other suites. WOWZAS.
In case you didn’t look closely, that’s a pool table in that last picture. Yes, it is.
But let’s forget the pretty for a minute. I’ve stayed at some beautiful properties in my life that I will never return to. Why not? Because their service sucks. And to be honest, I didn’t expect the service at a Hyatt to be that great, either. I expected it to be, well, corporate-ish. You know, that kind of bare-minimum politeness that fits the script employees learn during training. The kind of service that gives you just enough to keep you from complaining, but not enough to make you want to come back.
In other words, that large chain hotel type of service.
Um, so, as much as it pains me to say it…
I was wrong.
I have been blown away by the consistently amazing service at the Hyatt in Chicago (and the one in Denver, too). And it’s hard for me to put my finger on what it is exactly that I love. It may be the genuine smiles and greetings. I can spot a fake one a mile away. It may be how the housekeepers in the hall each morning stopped what they were doing to have a little chat and ask how my trip was. Or maybe it was the driver who sprang into action to drive me to the airport and chatted with me about how to take better pictures (that was after these bad shots, I swear).
What it boils down to is this: In a hotel with over 2000 rooms, the staff made me feel as if I were the only guest there. And that is priceless. That is what good service is all about.
I can’t wait to go back to the Hyatt. I’m praying I find lots of clients in Chicago so I have an excuse ot go there for business every month. But even if I don’t, I’m going back for a family vacation. Nick and I once spent a romantic weekend in Chicago before we were married, when we still lived in separate countries, so it has a little sentimental value. Also, my boys love a big city (and public transportation) as much as I do. And Jennifer was telling me about all these awesome holiday-related events in Chicago toward the end of the year. Of course there’s the parade and all the lights on the Magnificent Mile. But the Christkindlmarket looks so cool, too. I could probably spend a couple of days shopping and eating at this festival.
Also, I think one of the blogging conferences needs to be held there. It’s perfect — great destination, easy to get to, massive convention space, plenty of rooms for everyone and affordable room rates (much more so than NYC or SoCal). Hello, BlogHer, I’m talking to you…
So here’s my disclaimer — Jenn hooked me up with a room before she even met me. She did it before she knew I was a hotel snob, and before she read my blog and knew how brutally honest I am. She’s either crazy or gutsy or very confident in the product she offers. I’m going with the third choice. Because while she hooked me up, I was under no obligation to say gushingly nice things about this hotel. I would never lie to you, dear readers. Lie to my kids about whether or not we have cookies in the house? Abso-freaking-lutely. But lie to you about a hotel? I can’t do it. It’s against my code of ethics.
But you can get the hook up, too. First, I highly suggest you follow the Hyatt Regency Chicago on Facebook and Twitter. They have all kinds of special offers and discounts and contests there. Then I suggest you book a room with this link. It’s a special one just for Freaky Perfect people, like us. If you do, you’ll get a discount off your room rate and your parking (and big city parking prices are one of the bad things about a bustling metropolis).
And please let me know if you ever do head to Chicago, or if you’ve been. I want to know what you like to do, see, eat, etc. while you’re there. I’m going to do a post soon with some touristy pictures (bad ones, of course), and I’d love to hear what you love about the Windy City!
