Fairmont Chicago at Millennium Park

This hotel was top notch from the moment we drove up to valet to the check in and then to the checkout. The location was perfect. You were not too far from all the sites yet not right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. We had a corner room view of the city so it made each day refreshing to wake up and look out. The restaurant food was very good. The concierge staff was amazing.

Julia at the front desk made my experience outstanding. She was incredibly courteous, professional, and had such a welcoming energy that instantly made me feel at ease. What stood out most was how upfront and transparent she was—she clearly explained everything I needed to know without me even having to ask. Her honesty and attentiveness gave me total confidence in my stay. Julia’s warm demeanor and clear communication set the tone for a smooth, comfortable experience. People like her make a real difference, and she’s a true example of what great hospitality looks like. Thank you, Julia—you truly went above and beyond!

Good stay soiled by "Urban Experience Fee" of ~$30 per night after taxes Everything was fine except for a bit of stinginess with sugar, creamer, and drinking water, which weren't a big deal. However, the bait-switch too often employed resort fee, in this case an "Urban Experience Fee" of $25+tax (~$30) per night really puts a damper on checking out. Despite appearing in the booking email, it is still a bait-and-switch when it's accepted that people shop by nightly rate, which doesn't include these extra fees. So instead of compliments on the comfort of the bed, tastefulness of the furnishings and decor, enjoyment of the bathroom, the discussion here is preoccupied with these ridiculous fee protests that too many hotel chains stubbornly insist on continuing to include in the new age lodging pricing model. I will be disputing it via my credit card company because the front desk representative refused to remove it. I submitted this review above upon request from the hotel for feedback, and to their credit promptly received a response the next day. The courteous explanation addressed what the fee is allegedly for and included a reminder of a disclaimer (the so-called fine print) that is provided, as though this disclaimer for obtuse pricing excuses obfuscation and intentionally reduced transparency of not providing a single number for actual nightly rate and another single number for total cost of stay given the number of nights. I promptly reminded the customer service leader in my reply that the fee is not optional and neither are the amenities or discounts for products/services even if not used and the guest is simply sleeping and showering in the hotel. It is clear that these fees are used to disingenuously reduce the rate shown when shopping for lodging and pricing transparency, and further complicates the process for the consumer, disclaimer be damned. Instead of seizing the opportunity to rise above the fray and be transparent and forthright, all these hotel chains are mimicking the practice. Cheers. EDIT: The very kind and courteous Guest Experience Director and I had a conversation about these fees. He was very understanding and sincerely interested in feedback to share with their Executive Team. He offered a courtesy refund for the concerns, a very kind gesture I did not directly request. Ratings adjusted for the explicit concern for guest experiences.