Escape to Paradise: The Westin Chicago North Shore Wheeling Awaits!
Escape to Paradise? Yeah, The Westin Chicago North Shore… Awaits! (Wheeling Edition!) - A Messy, Honest Review
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just crawled out of The Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, and I'm still untangling the sheets of its… experience. Before you picture a perfectly polished travel blogger with a pristine Instagram feed, let me tell you, this is not that. This is raw, unfiltered, and probably a little too honest.
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First Impressions (and the Parking Predicament)
Okay, so the "Escape to Paradise" tagline is… ambitious. Let's be real. It's Wheeling, not Fiji. But hey, a weekend away from the chaos of… well, life, sounded pretty good. First hurdle? Parking. The "free of charge" claim had me doing a little happy dance, until I realized the sheer volume of cars vying for spots. Car park [on-site] is accurate, but prepare to circle like a vulture after a rogue hot dog wrapper. Valet parking? Tempting, but I'm cheap (and sometimes, stubborn).
Accessibility - The Good, The Okay, and the "Could Do Better"
This is where things get interesting. The Westin does, I have to hand it to them, try. Wheelchair accessible is mostly true. The elevator is spacious, the facilities for disabled guests are present (though I didn't personally test everything - more on that later). The check-in/out [express] was a lifesaver, honestly. However, some of the hallways felt… a little tight for a wider wheelchair. It’s definitely better than some, but still something to consider if you’re relying on a wheelchair's maneuverability. The room itself (more on that disaster… I mean, room, later) had some clear attempts at accessibility.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges? Hmm. The main restaurant appeared to be accessible, but I didn't dig too deep. It's one of those “observe and report” situations for me.
The Room (Oh, the Room!) - From Dream to… Not So Much
Okay, deep breath. This is where my carefully constructed image crumbles. I booked a… let's call it a "deluxe" room. The pictures, of course, were dazzling. The reality? Well…
- Air conditioning: Worked, thankfully. Thank the lord.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Thank goodness. Essential for my doomscrolling.
- Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. The room. Well, it had all these things. I guess. But also:
- Room Decorations: Generic. I'm talking "beige on beige" with a splash of "hotel art" that someone pulled off a factory conveyer belt. Zero personality. It felt… soulless.
- The View: My "high floor" promise? Yeah, facing the parking lot. Romantic, eh?
- The Bed: Was… functional. Not cloud-like, not particularly uncomfortable. Just… a bed. And the extra long bed? Okay, that was actually nice.
- The Bathroom: Ah, the bathroom. The separate shower/bathtub situation was a plus. Additional toilet, maybe a plus, depending on your… intestinal fortitude. Bathrobes, Slippers - those I liked!
- The Imperfection: Okay, here’s where it gets messy. I’m pretty sure my bathrobe had a suspicious stain on it. And the Internet access – wireless? Sporadic at best. Picture me, huddled in the corner of the room, trying to stream a movie while wrestling with the Wi-Fi like a rabid raccoon. Pure. Agony.
- The Verdict: The room was… fine. A perfectly adequate place to crash if you’re not picky and/or have low expectations. But it definitely wasn't the "escape" I was hoping for.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - A Mixed Bag, to Say the Least
- Restaurants & Bar: They have a few. Restaurants are there. Bar. Yessss. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was good. They have Asian cuisine in restaurant, but I'm not really a fan (sorry). They also had Western cuisine in restaurant, for the unadventurous palates like me.
- Breakfast: Breakfast [buffet] was on offer. The Breakfast takeaway service would have been useful the morning I was running late. Asian breakfast and Western breakfast options were available.
- Room Service: Room service [24-hour] is a savior when you are lazy.
- Snacks: Snack bar present.
- Happy hour: Yes. Good times. (This is where the memory gets hazy, and my notes become… less legible.)
The Food! Let's talk about this. The main restaurant, I believe it’s called "Morels," had a… serviceable menu. I had the burger, and it was… well, a burger. Nothing to write home about, but filled the void. The salad in restaurant was a tad sad. The soup in restaurant was… okay. The fries were good, at least. The Desserts in restaurant were decent. They had a Poolside bar, but I didn’t get a chance to sample it.
For the Kids & Services - Family Friendlyish, with a Side of "Try Hard"
- For the Kids: They claim to be Family/child friendly, with Kids meal options. I don't have children, so I can’t give you any real insight. They did have a Babysitting service, just in case you need some you time.
- Services and Conveniences: The concierge was helpful. Daily housekeeping was well, daily. Cash withdrawal was useful. Convenience store was there. Gift/souvenir shop.
- Services and conveniences: They provide food delivery. Baby sitting service.
- Getting around: Airport transfer service. Car park is located on-site. Taxi service available.
Things to Do/Ways to Relax - The Spa, the Pool, and the Quest for Zen
- Spa/sauna: Spa. Yes. Sauna. Maybe.
- Pool with view: The Swimming pool [outdoor] felt a little cold.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: The Gym/fitness looked… adequate. I didn't actually go in, because, well, laziness mostly.
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage: Yes. Good.
- Steamroom
- For the Kids: Not sure.
- Ways to relax Well, there's a lot of pool and spa type stuff.
The Spa Experience - A Glimmer of Paradise (Finally!)
Okay, this is where things started to turn around. I booked a massage, and finally started feeling like I was on some kind of vacation. The spa was… lovely. Dim lighting, calming music, the works. The massage itself was heavenly. The therapist was skilled, and I emerged feeling like a limp noodle in the best possible way. They also have a steamroom. Heaven. The pool wasn't particularly special, but it was clean and nice enough.
Cleanliness and Safety - Pandemic Era (at least, as of writing this review)
- Cleanliness and safety: They had a lot of words and things. I didn't see any of the Anti-viral cleaning products. Cashless payment service.
- Hand sanitizer: They had Hand sanitizer available.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seems that way.
- Rooms sanitized between stays. Let’s hope!
Additional Considerations - The Devil is in the Details
- Internet: The Internet access was… unreliable.
- Smoking area: Present.
- Security: Se
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this isn't your boring, sterile itinerary. This is my potential brain dump of a trip to the Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, IL. I'm talking full-on emotional rollercoaster, okay? Prepare yourself.
The (Potentially Disastrous) Wheeling Whirlwind: A Westin Odyssey (Probably with Way Too Much Coffee)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Room Debacle (aka "Where's My Room?")
- 1:00 PM: Arrive, Chicago O'Hare. Ugh, O'Hare. Let's just say my relationship with that airport is…complicated. It's like a toxic ex you keep running into at the grocery store. Always something to be avoided. Pray for a smooth flight. I'm channeling all my zen right now.
- 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Rental car pickup. This is where the real fun begins. Driving in Chicago is like playing a video game where the rules are constantly changing and everyone's trying to bump you off the road. Pray that I can actually merge onto the highway without causing a multi-car pileup. God help me.
- 3:30 PM: Arrive at The Westin Chicago North Shore. Okay, okay, deep breaths. Let’s hope the lobby isn’t a chaotic mess. Maybe they have cookies. Always works. Check-in. Please, oh please, let my room be ready. And not on the first floor near the elevator, because apparently, I can't get out of my head that it's dirty.
- 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Room Reconnaissance. *Room key! YES! Now, let's see if it's as advertised. Cross your fingers, people. A decent view is a must. And clean sheets. *
- 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Rant/Rave About the Room. *Finally got to the room. It's… fine. Actually, it's better than fine! It's pretty damn nice with a beautiful view of the parking lot. But hey, I'm not complaining, a parking lot is something to be admired too. *
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Unpack, freshen up, ponder the meaning of life in a hotel room. Why is unpacking so satisfying? Is it the promise of organization? Or just that I'm finally stationary? Who knows, but I'm doing it.
- 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Dinner at the hotel restaurant, something quick and easy. I am SO HUNGRY. Pray for no hangry outbursts. If the service is slow, all bets are off. I will start humming and staring. I'll make a note I was here. I'll start to take pictures.
- 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Drinks at the bar. Gotta recover from the drive and the early morning. I probably need to be very quiet. It will lead to one thing in life. Drinks. This is the part of the day where I become uninhibited. I get brave.
- 9:00 PM: Collapse into bed. Ahhhhh. Sweet, sweet, hotel bed. Let’s hope I don't get a crick in my neck.
Day 2: Exploring Wheeling and the Perils of a Spa Day (Pray for Relaxation!)
- 7:00 AM: Wake Up. Well, I failed to sleep in. Maybe I will be up early and can explore. Let's see.
- 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. I swear, the breakfast buffet is a microcosm of life. So many choices, so much indecision. But I'm going to conquer it - waffles, eggs, bacon, fruit, maybe some questionable yogurt. Who knows. It's going to be a fun morning.
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Maybe explore Wheeling. *What's in Wheeling? I honestly have no idea. Quick Google search… *Okay, there's a park, some restaurants, and… a bunch of businesses. Let's not go crazy.* I'm going to channel my inner tourist. I might get lost. I might find a hidden gem. The possibilities are… mildly exciting.*
- 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM: Spa Time! (This is the one I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT.) Okay, the spa. This is where I truly believe I'll transcend my earthly worries. My goal: utter relaxation. Deep tissue massage, facial, maybe a little time in the jacuzzi. I'll bring a book, even though I know I'll probably fall asleep while staring at it. But if the spa isn't up to mark I'll probably go into a rage. I'm not kidding. No one. NO ONE, should mess with my spa day.
- 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Spa Lunch: Probably one of those tiny little salads, because I'm trying to be good, but mostly I'm going to daydream about the massage. Oh, the massage…
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM A little bit of shopping and wandering. I might buy something. I might not. It depends on my mood, the weather, and the sales. It's that simple.
- 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Dinner at a local restaurant. Time to find a new favorite restaurant. I'll probably consult Yelp and immediately regret my choices. Wish me luck.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Wind down at the hotel bar. I will think about life, maybe read a book, probably people-watch. This is the calm before the storm I call "Day 3."
Day 3: Departure and the Bitter-Sweet Reality of Going Home
- 7:00 AM: Wake up. How did I sleep? Oh man, where is the hotel coffee?
- 7:30 AM: Hotel Breakfast. I'm going to load up on the food, because I'll be heading back to the airport, which I'm already going to dread. I definitely have to be prepared.
- 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Last minute panic packing. Did I forget anything? Did I buy too much random stuff? Did I even enjoy my trip?!
- 10:00 AM: Check Out. Okay, this is it. Goodbye Westin. I'll see you never, or maybe I will.
- 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Drive to O'Hare. The final battle: navigating the Chicago traffic one last time. Wish me luck, people!
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Airport Debrief. Security is a stressful mess. I hope there won't be any issues. Find a good place to wait. Let's pray that the flight home is smooth.
- 1:00 PM: The flight home. Bye, bye Windy City! See you again, hopefully. Where I'll do all of this again.
Important Disclaimer: This is subject to change. I'm a human being, I'm unpredictable, and I may or may not stick to any of this. Expect last-minute changes, random tangents, and a whole lot of coffee consumption. Happy travels to me, and may the odds be ever in my favor!
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So, You Wanna Know About... Well, *Everything*? Ask Me Anything (ish).
Okay, fine. What *is* this whole "thing" we're talking about? Seriously, what even *are* we talking about?
Is this *actually* helpful? Or am I just wasting my time getting coffee?
Why should I trust *you*? You sound like you're making it up as you go.
Alright, alright. But... specifics? What can you actually answer?
What are your limitations? I bet those socks are gonna be a problem right?
Okay, fine. You convinced me. But where do we *start*?
