In January, I booked two rooms (one for us and one for relatives with two small children) at this hotel for the long July 4th weekend. In booking, the toll free number reservation clerk asked if I wanted the alcove suite. I asked what it was. She stated that the alcove suite was in the corner, configured differently (like an “L” so the bedroom was still separate) but the price was the same as for the regular suite. I said yes and booked two alcoves on different floors (both room numbers ended in “02”). Then I arrived at one of the busiest weekends of the Chicago year where the room you booked was the room you got.
Beware - contrary to the website - the “alcove” is not a suite. It does not have a separate bedroom - it is one big square room. It does not have two TVs. It does not have a mini-refrigerator for the soda, water and left-over cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. It does not have a microwave to heat up leftover Gino’s pizza. It has one small coffee maker and that’s it. The advertising from Hilton (on its website) on this type of room is totally misleading. I did not mind the lack of a separate bedroom as much as the fact that it didn’t have a mini-frig or microwave. The fact that it doesn’t have a separate bedroom, mini-frig, microwave, etc. should be accurately advertised by Hilton on its website because it matters to some people – especially those with children. I also don’t see how or why Hilton charges the same per night for an alcove room as it does for a “true” suite.
The room itself was comfortable, I had a sideways view of the lake and the two kids absolutely loved the pool but I am surprised at, and disappointed in, the Hilton, which is a quality company, to advertise the alcove as something it was not.











