Very close to Michigan Avenue, the Westin River North is a quiet Chicago hotel. If I can't get into the W Lakeshore, or it's inconvenient to where I'm headed, I always hit up the Westin River North next. The hotel is the former Hotel Nikko and has kept many of the touches that made it a luxurious, even Oriental, place to stay. It's a smaller hotel so it always feels more intimate to me.

Since I've stayed here quite a few times, this is not really a review of a specific stay, but of my general impressions of the property. I usually end up with a Deluxe River-View Room, which is basic but very comfortable. The Heavenly amenities (bed, shower, etc.) are always dreamy. A few times I have been upgraded to one-bedroom corner suites in the property, which are always nice. Even plasma screen TVs in the rooms!

I've experienced superb service, from food delivery to my room to good restaurant recommendations. Of course, there have always been little snafus, like misquoted prices on room reservations, malfunctioning outlets and equipment in the room; but when you stay at hotels enough, you learn to deal with it.

There is no lounge at the hotel, and I have never received coupons for a free breakfast as a Platinum.

If you drive a rental car into the city, you can self-park next door for $20, which will save you from paying the $38 valet parking price. There are a few other garages near the hotel with even better deals depending on what time of day you arrive.

In summary, as I said, if I can't get the W Lakeshore I always spring for the Westin River North. In my opinion, it's one of the better Starwood properties in Chicago.

Review by TimR.

Posted at August 14, 2006 4:31 PM