In the course of several trips to and from Chicago to visit our daughters, Harry and I have had the opportunity to try several different travel options and accomodations. On our most recent excursion, we flew from Portland (PDX) to Midway (MDW) on Southwest Airlines, as we have in the past. Formerly, we have varied our means of transport from Midway into the city, trying the El (inexpensive but difficult to negotiate with luggage) and taxi (fairly quick and direct but about $50 plus tip for a one-way trip).

This time we tried the Go Airport Express shuttle van. We purchased our round-trip tickets at the counter adjoining the baggage claim hall ($56 for both of us) and hopped right on a waiting van (they leave every 15 minutes for downtown hotels). Travel time matches a taxi ride, with perhaps a few minutes tacked on, depending on how many others are sharing your ride and where they are staying and where your hotel falls in the logical order of drop-offs. We found that, as promised, a shuttle would be at our hotel every 15 and 45 minutes after the hour every day, so we didn’t need to reserve or pre-arrange our return trip to the airport. For ease of travel and value, we decided this will be our preferred mode of airport transfers in Chicago in the future.

Harry had found a good rate at the Chicago Hyatt Regency, located along the south side of the Chicago River on Wacker Drive, just east of Michigan Avenue and on the northern side of the Loop. Three of our four nights were weekend evenings, and our deal included a room in the West Tower on a Regency Club floor, which ensured access to the Regency Club Lounge on the 35th floor (great views!) and a host of amenities beyond those offered with a standard guestroom. While comfortable and offering a great view south to Soldier Field and Grant Park, our 33rd-floor king-bedded room was not particularly remarkable. The 37-inch plasma TV apparently included cable movie channels, but the malfuntioning remote (and a busy schedule) meant we never had a chance to confirm that feature. We appreciated the presence of a coffeemaker and minibar as well as a sizable work space (Internet fee was more than $13 per day) and easily accessed power outlets. We found ourselves wishing for a little more drawer space for our clothes and more counter space in the bath for toiletries; adequate certainly for a solitary business traveler but tight for a couple on a multiday leisure trip.

Access to the Regency Club Lounge meant we could enjoy a generous Continental breakfast buffet each morning along with several different local and national newspapers. The Lounge also offers light snacks and beverages throughout the day, an honor bar and hors d’oeuvres in the evenings and some rather decadent-looking desserts after the dinner hour. Although there was also a dedicated concierge desk there, I never saw it manned during what I would have expected would have been a prime time for those services at the start of the day.

Our busy schedule out and about meant we didn’t get to try Hyatt’s 24-hour Stay Fit fitness center or the complete business center (with Internet access included), nor did we stop in at the several bars and dining establishments located within the complex. One could certainly find all one’s needs met, though, without leaving the property if a conference kept one there. Happily, we took advantage of the Hyatt’s central location to get out and explore sites we had not yet had a chance to visit on previous trips (and revisit a few we wanted to see again) and get in some shopping time, too. More on that, tomorrow.

Lastly, I’d like to extend a very happy birthday today to our publisher and CEO, Francis X. Gallagher. Many happy returns, Fran!

– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader