Staying at Hotel Felix in Chicago, IL

While I was in Chicago attending the first ever Women in Travel Summit (WITS) I had the opportunity to stay at the Hotel Felix and, after looking at their website, I had high hopes. The property looked stylish and chic without being fussy. The beds looked fluffy and comfortable. Best of all the hotel is environmentally conscious. In fact, they’re the first green hotel in Chicago to have a Silver LEED Certification. They incorporate some standard green practices like having a linen reuse program but they go above standard by doing things like ensuring that all lighting is energy efficient and carpet made from recycled materials in the rooms. The recycled metal artwork out front might’ve been my favourite eco touch.

Meet ‘Loren’, the 7′ tall sculpture made out of recycled pipes, an umbrella stand, a drill bit, and topped with a milk bucket head.

Once I arrived at the Hotel Felix I realized that their location in River North was also fantastic. You’re only a few blocks from several CTA train lines and bus stops are even closer. There are restaurants, bars and shops nearby. While my fellow WITS attendees were trying to hail cabs on a snowy Chicago night after a party, I only had to stroll a block back to my warm room…or the lobby bar for a glass of wine in front of the fireplace.

Throughout my stay staff were always very friendly and made me feel welcome. It’s always nice to see a smiling face when you’re away from home. Beyond the warm greeting I got at the door, the first thing I noticed was the fresh scent of the lobby. That may sound weird but hotels are increasingly using a light scent to trigger warm, fuzzy feelings in guests. I have to admit, it works.

I was was feeling in a relaxed mood even before I got to my floor. The king room was cozy but it made the most of the space available. Instead of a dresser, drawers were built into the base of the bed. There was no closet or wardrobe but there was an extended hanger in an alcove where you could hang up a handful of items. The 32” tv was hung over the desk which made watching from bed very comfortable but would be hard on the eyes if you wanted to have tv background noise while you worked. I lamented the lack of in-room coffee/tea supplies. Free coffee was available in the lobby each morning starting at 8am, but sometimes a girl just likes a cup of tea before bed.

Speaking of bed, it was as comfortable as it looked. When my head hit the pillow at night I don’t think I moved at all until my alarm went off in the morning. It was like being hugged all night. The bathroom was like having a mini spa in your room. Between the robe, lime scented L’Occitane products and the large tiled, walk-in shower with rain showerhead I felt pampered even with a 6am wake-up. If you wanted to feel even more pampered you could head down to the Aveda spa on the 2nd floor for a whole range of services.

If you’re looking for a relaxing retreat in Chicago you can’t beat the Hotel Felix for its great location, friendly staff, insanely comfy beds and eco-friendly practices.

Hanging out with Madeline and Scrappy outside the Hotel Felix.

Note: I was hosted by the Hotel Felix while I was in Chicago. They didn’t ask that I write a favourable review or that I try to feed Scrappy dog treats…all natural, of course.