My husband and I just returned from a get-away weekend in Chicago. We stayed at the lovely Penisula Hotel. The room was just beautiful. The bathroom was all marble, with a soaking tub AND a television. There was a separate marble shower. We had a deluxe king room. The bed had a down comforter and great pillows. There are phones EVERYWHERE in the room, plus a great system for controlling the lights and the music. We had a terrific breakfast in the Lobby restaurant. They also serve a fun chocolate buffet from 8:00PM to 11:30PM every night. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Todd, the concierge, found us 7th row seats to the sold-out Grease show at the elegant Chicago Theatre. I would strongly recommend the Peninsula to anyone who is looking for a luxurious hotel right in the middle of the Magnificent Mile.

Number 1 hotel in the USA the last 2 years in Zagat.
I noticed you had been considering the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton previously. IMO you made the right choice. The service at the other two (both owned and operated by Four Seasons) is slightly better than at the Pen, but the rooms are nicer at the Peninsula, and the location is more central.
Glad you had a nice time.

only to be able to have an advised opinion : what is utility of TV in bathroom and phones EVERYWHERE in the
room....
Habitually, a bedroom in hotel is for
sleeping, bathroom to wash(and not to look at TV...) and rest of day in town to visit...
Erik.

Ted Turner - I will have to go back and stay at the Four Seasons some time. I can not imagine what they could do to improve on the Pen's service. The service was very friendly. Any request I made was filled in 10 minutes or less. The only disappointment was that the spa was booked for the weekend. It did not occur to me to book that before we go to the hotel.

monpetit - The TV in the bathroom is positioned so that you can soak in the tub and watch it. The phones everywhere in the room mean that you do not have to take more that 2 steps to answer the phone. Yes, I know that vacations are not for talking on the phone.

We are 51 and 63. We have 3 "high maintenence" children who are 7,7 & 9. My husband has a very demanding job. Part of the reason we take these little trips is just to get away from all that. We like to get out and see the sights, but we also like to relax in the room. I don't watch 10 hours of TV in year, so sitting in the tub watching it for an hour, with no children yelling, "MMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!", seems like an incredible luxury.

Chicgal - Grease was fun. I would recommend it. The theater itself was worth a visit.There were a few weak points in it. The woman who played Olivia Newton John's part was just not "right". The ending scene when they sing "You're the One That I Want" was poorly staged. Frankie's scene in the play was cute. The people who played Rizzo's part and John Travolta's part were terrific. All in all, it was a good time.

I think a soak tub with tv sounds pretty darned relaxing. The only thing that would make it better would be that it was large enough for two and had a place for the wine and cheese.

Don't know what I should prefer :
flowers in room and bathroom changed
every 2 days, icecubes in room every night, roommaid opening bed at 7 p.m.,...like I've had in Atlanta at the Ritz carlton Buckhead, but no TV in bathroom and only(poor of me...) 2 phones(one on the "bedtable" , other on
the"bureau"...).
but if you have had and TV in bathroom, and all the phones you need and flowers
and roommaid... it's OK...
I just preferr more service's attention than "gadgets" in the room.
Erik.