SENTRAL MICHIGAN AVENUE, Chicago

The hotel sits on Michigan Avenue in Chicago's South Loop, directly opposite Grant Park. From here you can walk to the Art Institute of Chicago (under 1 km), Millennium Park and the Magnificent Mile shopping district. The Museum Campus, with the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and Adler Planetarium, is about a 15-minute stroll. Midway International Airport is 15 km away; public transport (bus routes 3 and 4 stop outside, and the CTA Red/Blue lines are a short walk) provides easy connections to O'Hare and downtown. The location is considered to work well on foot for most visitors, with Trader Joe's and numerous cafés and restaurants within a block or two.

Accommodation ranges from studios to two-bedroom apartments, all with private bathrooms and a full kitchen including a stovetop, refrigerator, dishwasher and cookware. Each apartment also includes a washer and dryer, ironing facilities, air conditioning, heating, a flat-screen TV, and tea and coffee making facilities. The apartments are described as spacious, though some units have furnishings described as basic. Beds are double size in some apartments, so a king or queen is not guaranteed unless you book a premium room. Road-facing rooms can be noisier; rooms facing the lake on higher floors tend to be quieter and offer the best views. Some apartments have a balcony or terrace, and top-floor corner units have floor-to-ceiling windows facing both the city and the lake.

Grant Park Bistro is a modern, American-style restaurant inside the building open from 07:00 until 21:00-22:00 depending on the day. It serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, plus a cocktail hour. Outdoor seating and a barbecue area are available when the weather is warm. Because all apartments include a fully equipped kitchen with a stove, oven, refrigerator and dishwasher, many guests prepare their own meals, especially breakfast and snacks. For those not cooking, the surrounding block is filled with options: Peet's Coffee, Eleven City Diner, Mercat a la Planxa and Kitty O'Sheas are all within a short walk.

The wellness area includes an indoor infinity-edge swimming pool and a separate outdoor hot tub, both with views of Grant Park and Lake Michigan. The gym is equipped with modern cardio and strength machines and is available at no extra cost. There is also a games room on the premises. The pool is open all year from 07:00 to 23:00, and the hot tub has the same hours. Both can get busy on weekends, and the pool temperature may be cool at times. A landscaped terrace with outdoor furniture and a barbecue area is on the same floor, useful for relaxing or socialising.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the building and described as reliable. Parking is valet only on site at $72/night, or a public garage a block away costs $40/night for self-parking. The front desk is staffed round the clock; luggage storage is offered after check-out (available on request). A business centre with meeting facilities is on site. Pets are allowed - up to two animals per apartment, with a $75 per pet fee (certain breeds are excluded). Accessible parking spaces are available, and the building has a lift. Payment can be made with major credit cards including American Express, Visa and MasterCard. Housekeeping is not included unless specifically requested and paid for - mid-stay cleaning can be arranged with at least 36 hours' notice.