HI Chicago Hostel

I mean it's a stay....

Liked: Great location, Great staff, safe neighbourhood, close to everything - and convenient for students who have to come down to Chicago every now and again.
Disliked: Booked a 'hot minute' prior to heading to Chicago from Canada (plenty of time). One of the things I didn't like was the day before I was to leave Edmonton (Canada) and head to Chicago, I received a notification from HI Chicago Hostel that the 'Breakfast included' (one of the deciding factors for me most places I stay) would not be offered from June 2nd onwards (I was Travelling there on June 1st). It's a great place, but 'breakfast included' was one of the deciding factors for 'why' I chose HI Chicago Hostel over other similar places). When I asked if there would be any partial refund and/or compensation (as I had pre-payed and all of that jazz for a stay that included Breakfast as a meal), they replied with some generic email message to the effect of: "As of June 2nd..." // "No more included breakfast" // "But we partnered with nearby places for discounts". I didn't pay for 'discounts'. I wouldn't have stayed if they had notified me earlier of their changes. On that note, there was no compensation/etc. for what I had paid for, and when I was notified of the 'changes' I was already 'on my way'. So there is that. I don't like the whole 'last-minute' policy notification, but no compensation for the stay - I ended up paying full price. I got a 'generic message' basically stating "no we are not going to compensate you b/c of our 'last-minute changes' so here is a generic email response and enjoy paying full price".Not appreciated.

Superb

Liked: I love all the common areas and different bathrooms that you can use the snacks. Amazing staff was really nice. Overall I loved it. It was perfect.
Disliked: I have no complaints. I mean it was a fire alarm that went off, but that’s not that you can help. I love that you had a kitchen for people to use.

Superb

Liked: The room was excellent. We stayed in a 6-person female dorm and it was incredible spacious and tidy. Having the curtains on each bed allowed for privacy and the lockers were a perfect size for our belongings. Bathrooms were impeccable, breakfast was filling and the open space downstairs allowed us to interact and meet other travelers. Amazing value for money!

Exceptional

The stay was good

Liked: The location.
Disliked: It could be a little cleaner, and the rooms need to have fans in them.

Clean comfortable accommodations at reasonable...

Liked: The facilities are good and the staff keeps everything exceptionally clean. The place is well run and very welcoming. Every single one of the staff were friendly and helpful to us. Their communications before our visit was fast and complete; the hostel does a great job of providing information to its guests. While very much like college housing, the HI provides a lot of facilities that most hotels lack-- very comfortable lounges, community activities, very nice cafeteria area and kitchen for guests to use. We very much appreciated the access to bus lines and subways so that we easily got to all of our destinations, from far north Chicago to far south Chicago.
Disliked: Was disappointed that breakfast was disconitinued, but glad to find good choices for great breakfasts in nearby diners and cafes.

Superb

Pleasant

Pleasant stay, most affrodable by...

Liked: The location is excellent! Close to Grant park. The river walk is also about 20min walk. Good location.
Disliked: No complementary breakfast anymore.