Best Western River North Hotel

From the outside, the Best Western Plus River North Hotel looks generic: a brick facade accented only with a bright red sign advertising the hotel's name. Inside, the lobby looks like a living room, with aging big chain furnishings on worn checkerboard area rugs. A bookshelf stocked with hardcover tomes and serve yourself coffee adds a little warmth to the space. The indoor swimming pool is a nice size and includes patio furniture indoors and on the adjacent outdoor deck. Many of the visitors are business travelers, though tourists like the location and low rates as well.

The hotel is located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, once a warehouse district populated by artists and writers, it's now best known for its high concentration of restaurants, art galleries, and boutique shopping. Between the large "Rock-'n-Roll" McDonald's across the street, with the Hard Rock Cafe and the Rainforest Cafe all within shouting distance, this hotel is in an epicenter of chain-style tourist traps. A crowded tourist destination, it's also brimming with nightlife options, from upscale clubs to chain, theme restaurants. The Magnificent Mile, an iconic stretch of North Michigan Avenue, filled with upscale shopping and famous landmarks, is within walking distance, six blocks away. Guests can pick up the popular double-decker tour buses a block from the hotel (right in front of the McDonald's and the Hard Rock Cafe). It's a seven-minute drive to the lakefront and Navy Pier. Expect a 25- to 40-minute drive to O'Hare International Airport, depending on traffic.

Renovated in 2011 but already in need of updates, the contemporary rooms have a neutral decor with gray/brown carpets and curtains, bright-white walls, and dark wood furniture. They're average in size, with small desks and nice ergonomic work chairs. Double Rooms also fit in comfortable-looking armchairs and ottomans. The bathrooms stand out with checkerboard black-and-white tiled walls, but the shower/tub combos have aging fixtures. Flat-screen TVs with HBO, free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers come standard, but only Deluxe Rooms and Suites have mini-fridges.

This property has convenient and fun features. The indoor pool is large enough for laps, and the connected outdoor sundeck is a good spot to take in views of downtown. The adjacent fitness room is small, with only a handful of cardio machines. For dining, the on-site bar and restaurant, Pizzeria Ora, serves Italian American standards as well as Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. Guests can find free, locally roasted coffee (but no breakfast) in the lobby all day long near the small business center, which has a single computer and printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The most notable feature is the free underground parking, a significant perk, and a rare one, in Chicago.