I was recently in Chicagoland and Heidi and I stayed at the Hyatt House in Schaumburg, where we found a police forensic unit photographing a side entrance to the hotel. I asked about it at the front desk and the response cracked me up.
Police Forensic Unit Photographing My Hyatt Hotel, But Clerk Says It Is “Routine Check”
As we pulled into the hotel just after 6:00 pm to check-in, we noticed a Schaumburg Police van and a squad car in the parking line near a side entrance to the property. Two officers were examining the door, and one was taking pictures.
During check-in, I asked the clerk what was going on and I had to laugh at his answer.
ME: “Why are those police officers outside? What happened?”
CLERK: “Oh, they are just doing an annual safety check.”
ME: “Really? With their camera?”
CLERK: “Yes, this is just a routine check.”
ME: “Come on, what really happened?”
CLERK: “Nothing, sir. Nothing to worry about.”
He could see I was not convinced…
Finally, let me just say that this property is not worth visiting. I rarely publish a negative review, but I will publish one for this property and it will be very negative. The room was dirty and falling apart, the dishes and silverware were not clean, the breakfast was disgusting (no omelets, which I thought were a staple of the Hyatt House brand), and of course the police issue.
The hotel’s in a decent neighborhood but seemed to attract a lower-level clientele and although I liked the sauna (the reason I chose it instead of the Hyatt Regency nearby), I’d definitely choose the Hyatt Regency next time.
When looking for a decent cheap hotel by airports just for a shower and sleep I always gave a preference to Hyatt Places. Now I am starting to look somewhere else. Most of my latest experiences with Hyatt Places have been similar to yours and left a lot to be desired. The brand looks tired, cheap bed sheets, cheap towels and usually not the cleanest place. I am avoiding it.
Hyatt Place and House have really been hit or miss recently. As someone loyal to the brand I’m rethinking my choices. Bonvoy has the same issues though so maybe it’s not worth being loyal at this point and just going with the best hotel by review vs price in each city.
Sad though how Hyatt and Marriott both allow these poorly run properties to fly the flag.
“Nothing to see here sir…” LOL
It seems like that hotel used to be a Hawthorn Suites years ago if it’s the property I’m thinking of. Not surprising that it’s going downhill, even that far out in the burbs. The nearby Hyatt Regency used to be a Grand Hyatt and should be much better.
At least the coroner’s van wasn’t there.
Lol!
Try to imagine my shock when staying at Hyatt Regency Houston West and finding 2 small full sized beds with 8 inch mattresses with polyester covers,exactly as Motel6.
I grew up about 3 miles north of this hotel. In the 70s I would ride a minibike in the area where this hotel is. They were clearing the area to build offices, hotels etc and it was still dirt. I got my license at the DMV on Golf rd right near Woodfield.
Why were you in the area?
My guess is they were overnighting in Chicago and wanted somewhere cheapi-ish and close to the airport?
To be discussed at a future point.
But you’ll enjoy this – when I was a kid one of my favorite restaurants was John’s Garage at Schmaburg Mall. Loved that salad bar!
Ah yes Joh’s Garage. There used to be a Vie de France right across from it . They had good baguettes and croissants.
Omelettes haven’t been around at Houses since before the pandemic. Their breakfast is no different these days than any limited service hotel.
I had no idea about that. What a joke.
I’m done with those brands.
If it’s as bad as you’re saying, perhaps you could call it criminally bad 😉
Can you explain what you mean by lower level clientele? Aren’t we all human beings?
Love it!
All are human beings, worthy of respect because they are image bearers of the Divine and because we treat others the way we want to be treated.
But my “lower level clientele” I don’t mean skin color or gender or social class…I mean poorly-behaved slobs who leave trash outside their rooms and don’t pick up after themselves while eating breakfast.
I don’t do a lot of travel but have had a few trips recently and have tried different mid (lower?) end hotels like Holiday Inn Express. The HI Express was solid, we stayed at 2 different ones for several nights. Room was clean, they gave us daily housekeeping and a free breakfast (nothing special but I don’t eat much for breakfast).
I thought noise was a bit higher but Hampton Inns and Holiday Inn Express are often decent choices.
@ rich:
We’ve also been enjoying pleasant stays at several HI Express locations over the past year. We did a month long road trip up and down the west coast this summer and had our best experiences at HI Express, Staybridge Suites, and Hampton Inn, They were better and newer than some of the higher level brand offerings in the same hotel groups. Go figure.
I stayed at the Regency nearby several times and hosted events. That was a very nice hotel, great service.
I grew up around Park Ridge(yes Maine East-Hillary Clinton,Harrison Ford),Schaumburg was always down market,aluminum sided tract homes,strip malls and officesetc.The only reason to go there was to check out Woodfield Mall.