Freehand Chicago

10/10 definitely recommend it! I stayed at Freehand Hotel during my solo trip to Chicago and had such a great experience. I was in a shared room with three other people and was assigned a bunk bed. Honestly, I was so impressed with everything, especially the location. It’s right in the heart of downtown, close to everything, and super ideal for both solo travelers and tourists. The room and bathroom were very clean. When I arrived, there was a fresh towel waiting, and the beds were clean and comfortable. Each bed had a mini shelf, outlet, and light, which was super convenient. I didn’t have any issues with water or electricity. The hotel felt very safe and secure. You need your room key to use the elevator, which I appreciated. The staff was super friendly during check-in, and even though I was skeptical before arriving, I left really impressed. They also have small lockers in the room for valuables, so I recommend bringing your own lock like I did. I left my general items out and had no issues at all. The other guests were respectful and quiet. Overall, I highly recommend Freehand Hotel and would definitely stay here again. It’s clean, safe, well-located, and perfect for anyone traveling alone or on a budget.

First and foremost, this is my personal experience.
If you’re considering staying at Freehand, I highly recommend spending the extra money and staying elsewhere. My review will be thorough—and a bit long—but I’m sharing it to be as honest and transparent as possible. Pros: * Location, location, location. It’s central and walkable to many attractions. * The staff were friendly and pleasant. Honestly, I think they know the hotel isn't up to standard and are doing their best with what they can. Cons: * I stayed in two different rooms, and neither had properly working AC. * In the first room, the AC barely functioned, and they brought me a small, dusty 12-inch fan that did nothing to help. * The next day, they offered me two complimentary drinks, which was appreciated, but didn’t fix the issue. * I was moved to a second room where the AC still wasn’t adequate. The rooms themselves were small, dusty, basic, and poorly lit. * No fridge. * No coffee maker. * No ice bucket. * Just the bare minimum. In both rooms, the towels didn’t match, and there weren’t enough of them. * My first room had a broken phone and blackout curtains. * The second room had a working phone, but the curtain barely covered the window. I booked a queen room that included a shower, toilet, TV, and phone—but again, very basic. Another issue: I spoke with several guests who thought they were getting private rooms, only to realize they had booked hostel-style quad dorms by mistake. In Summary: You truly get what you pay for. I’ll be attaching pictures and videos to support my experience. Personally, I wouldn’t stay here again—and I suggest you don’t either.

I had to keep reminding myself how cheap the Freehand Hotel was during my quick stay in Chicago—because I got what I paid for. 709 was disgusting. The sheets seemed clean, but that was about it. The room gave they cleaned what they had to which is probably just the sheets. The in room couch was so grimy. I asked for an extra blanket just to have a semi-clean place to sit. The shower had mold, the hallways were filthy, and the lobby bar area was dark, dirty, and neglected. One elevator was in operation so that was a nightmare. I almost didn't want to touch anything because I know it's not cleaned often. It was affordable and convenient, sure, but I won’t be staying again. That said, the front desk staff was super friendly. The cleaning ladies just bust in the rooms in the morning without knocking. Though, location couldn’t be better—right by the subway and close to everything.