Partial lake view does the trick!
Written: Apr 12 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great location, beautiful facility, great food.
Cons: expensive at regular rates.
The Bottom Line: The Drake is to Chicago what the Plaza is to New York. The stateliness of the hotel has been kept through renovations. Perfect location.
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| WBDBaj's Full Review: Drake Hotel (The) |
The Drake is known for its location, elegance, and afternoon teas with all the yummies included. I wanted to show a girlfriend from Maine the best of the city last week, and while looking on Expedia.com found a room for $100 (plus tax, etc.. $125). The room was at the Drake, and it was nonrefundable. I thought it must be closet sized, but got it anyway.
We parked the car about a block away in a public garage to save bucks on valet parking, and as we entered the hotel, I noticed stairs going up to the lobby, and the floor I was on wrapped around the back of the stairs - going to elegant shops in the building. Gone: Peacock and Sons jewellers. A proud tradition of Chicago days gone by. The carpeting going up the lobby stairs was bright red diamonds traced by bright blue. It really lights up the smaller lobby space, and a huge huge arrangement of fresh spring flowers and forsythia sat in an urn-like pedestal vase on the main table. In the elevator hallway, the carpet pattern reversed itself to the bright blue diamonds surrounded by red and gold lines.
The checkin was simple - the woman helpfully pointed out the restaurants and their locations, and gave us two card keys to our 2nd story room. When we went in, this room was gorgeous, spacious and well appointed. Two twin beds, two windows - one looking up the end of North Michigan Street, and the other at the crashing waves of Lake Michigan and the whirling traffic on Lake Shore Drive. This was worth at least $100! There was a nice desk and chair, a TV armoir, and a minibar. The bathroom had a smaller sink and shelf, and a footed tub with pullaround showercurtain was amply full of hot water. Gratis soaps, mineral baths, shampoos and lotions were available, and really, we weren't crowded at the sink at all. The beds were wonderful, the pillows down-like and not so fluffy you can't sleep on them. Plenty of blankets and a working thermostat made our trip wonderful. Maid service perfect, and you need to call if you require turn-down service.
We had a drink at the Coq d'Or bar - nice enough with pate and crackers free to go with your drinks. Total bill for 2 beers: $10.85 with tip. Dark room and definitely bar-like, but very elegant. We didn't have a chance to even see the Cape Cod Room, but unless it has drastically changed in the past two years, you can't beat the fish and shellfish served there. It is a grand tradition of delicious food.
Our last morning, we had breakfast in the upstairs restaurant, and the best thing there is not the buffet, but the mueslix with fruit and toast. Juice and coffee, and the tab did come to about $12. They have everything you'd want from Eggs Benedict to bagels and cream cheese. The buffet looked good, but we weren't that hungry.
In sum, if you can get a deal at the Drake, do take it. The Drake is a perfect place to be, and the stars of the world and Hollywood do still stay there. We overheard people talking about a celebrity in the elevator (which has a padded couch in the rear). The Drake is well kept up, well thought of, and exceedingly sumptuous.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
WBDBaj
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Member: Debby
Location: Indiana
Reviews written: 511
Trusted by: 19 members
About Me:
Samaritan Center, Elkhart.
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