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.

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.