Thank you to the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport for hosting our stay so I could write this detailed review of our experience.
The Thursday before Christmas, my family and I flew from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD). Our flight (AA 1996) was scheduled to depart at 5pm, and we arrived at LAX at 3:20pm—a little later than I had hoped (a common occurrence when traveling with a five- and eight-year-old). Fortunately, there was no traffic getting into the airport (a surprise, I know), and the Priority check-in line at American Airlines and TSA PreCheck moved quickly.
There was a line at Clear, which made me question why I had just renewed my membership. 90% of the time, the Clear line is either too long, closed, or the TSA PreCheck line is shorter. FYI, I only renewed it because my credit card reimburses the fee. I no longer have their family plan, and now my wife and I sign up separately since our premium credit cards cover up to $199 of the fee. An individual membership costs $189, while a family plan costs $369. It’s also important to know that kids under 18 don’t need their own membership and can use the service for free with a traveling adult member.
We visited the American Airlines lounge to fill our water bottles, grab some snacks and use the clean bathrooms. It wasn’t too crowded, which is always a bonus. They even had jumbo cherry-flavored candy canes at the bar. Note: These may contain peanuts, which I hadn’t even thought to double-check, but my daughter did for her brother, who has food allergies.
We boarded with Group 1 at 4:25 PM, and our plane pushed back from the gate five minutes early, which is rare. Natalie and the kids sat in the bulkhead (Row 8, ABC), and I sat across from them, one row back in 9D. In the row across from me, one or two people appeared sick. The mother had a full box of tissues on the tray table, which is never ideal, and even worse, she put her used tissues on the tray. Yikes!
The flight was relatively smooth. I thought the turbulence would pick up when we were over Nebraska, and the captain announced that we should prepare for rough air ahead. Surprisingly, and fortunately, the turbulence never materialized.
We landed 30 minutes early at 10:41pm, but it was snowing at ORD, which caused a huge back-up on the tarmac, as planes waited to be de-iced. ATC informed the captain that they didn’t know when or how they would get our plane and others to the terminal.
This was not great news when your kids are exhausted, people around you are coughing and your 8-year-old son urgently needs to use the bathroom. Luckily, it only took 35 minutes to reach the gate. Interestingly, the taxiing to the gate felt longer than the flight across the country!
I booked the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport, which is located within walking distance to most of the terminals. I booked the room in September for $346.86 USD, and with taxes, it came out to $407.21 USD. Surprisingly, this was cheaper than booking a nonstop flight from LAX to Toronto (YYZ)—where we were headed—thanks to my elite status on American Airlines, which provides free checked bags (up to 70 pounds each), priority check-in, boarding, and free extra legroom seat assignments.
If we had flown nonstop on Air Canada, WestJet, or Porter, the baggage fees and seat assignments would have cost much more than the hotel. Plus, Chicago does an amazing job decorating ORD for Christmas, so I wanted to share that experience with my family and show my son the terminal featured in one of his favorite Christmas movies, Home Alone (I always mute and fast-forward the inappropriate parts).
I called the Hilton a few days before our arrival to request that they note our late arrival (we weren’t landing until 11pm). After navigating some AI hoops, the front desk told me I had to call the day of our arrival to confirm the notation. This didn’t make much sense to me, especially since they would charge me if I canceled within 48 hours, but okay.
Speaking of charges, I had partnered with Hilton to cover the cost of the stay a month before the trip, which worked out well for both of us.
Given the long delay on the tarmac, my kids were wiped out. They both fell asleep during taxiing, so getting off the plane was a challenge. Walking through ORD to the Hilton wasn’t easy, especially for my wife, who carried our younger child, while I managed the luggage (each of us had a backpack, plus my wife and I travel with computer bags). It was a relief that I had checked our luggage all the way through to YYZ, so we didn’t have to carry it for our connecting flight the following morning at 9:45am.
The Hilton is the only hotel within O’Hare Airport, and it’s just 10 minutes from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via an underground walkway. A shuttle can take you to Terminal 5, and downtown is only 50 minutes away via the Blue Line, which is located right next to the hotel entrance.
It’s only a long walk if you’re carrying small children and a lot of luggage, but it’s easy to find by following the signs to baggage claim, and then looking for signs for the hotel and Hilton.
I checked in the day before via the Hilton Honors app and used the Digital Key to bypass the front desk entirely.
Digital check-in made a huge difference, and while we were in the elevator with two 20-something travelers, they both looked up from their phones as I swiped straight to my room on the 5th floor. The app made me feel like I had unlocked some secret travel hack!
FYI: Although the front desk can take a while to answer the phone, they are very quick with text communication, and they reached out to us the day of check-in.
Hilton offers allergy-friendly rooms at some locations, which was great for our allergy-prone son. Our room featured hypoallergenic bedding, cotton linens, an air purifier and modern hardwood floors. It also had hardwood dividers instead of curtains, which kept out light, noise and drafts from the windows.
The air purifier mounted on the ceiling was a nice touch, but its light was bright (see photo below), and when the fan was on high, it was loud.
The Hilton building was constructed in 1975, so it’s a bit dated, but I think this worked to our advantage. The walls seemed thicker than newer hotels, or we just got lucky with quiet neighbors. We didn’t hear any typical airport hallway noise until 7am.
The beds were comfortable but a bit small, and the bulky pillows weren’t ideal. Had we arrived earlier, I would have asked if they had different pillow options.
The shower had a curved bar, which kept the shower curtain from touching you while you were in it, always a plus if they don’t have a glass door.
They also offered Crabtree & Evelyn products with text in large print, which should be mandatory in all hotels.
Hilton’s PR team had left allergy-free treats in the room, including goodies from MadeGood, Aunt Annie’s, Partake, Snyder’s, and Skinny Pop. There was also a cute gingerbread house Rice Krispies treat for the kids to decorate. Unfortunately, due to our late arrival, they didn’t even get a chance to touch it.
As of 2023, Hilton offers allergy-friendly rooms at over 700 hotels worldwide, making them a great choice for guests with sensitivities. These rooms are part of Hilton’s CleanStay program, which ensures enhanced cleanliness and hygiene standards.
I would definitely stay at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport again. It’s so conveniently located, and the amenities, such as the allergy-friendly room and Digital Key, made the stay more comfortable for our family.
In the morning, we made our way to security in Terminal 3. Though there was no Clear in that terminal (a strike against Clear), the TSA PreCheck line moved quickly despite its length. ORD had all security lanes open, and we breezed through—so fast that I didn’t even have time to pull my passport out of my briefcase!
As a Hilton Honors Gold member, I also received the choice of a Daily Food & Beverage Credit or 1,000 Bonus Points as part of my MyWay benefits. If you choose the Daily Food & Beverage Credit, you and one additional guest registered to the same room will receive an $18 credit per night. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to use the credit or check out the gym or pool, but I hope to return soon. Book your stay at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport here.
Unfortunately, our flight to Toronto was delayed at the last minute so we could have slept in or used the credit. We also had an adventurous flight, thanks to a sick passenger who inspired this story.
KEEP READING:
–Airport mayhem: Passengers brawl using wet floor signs at American Airlines check-in
–How to make sure the TSA Precheck checkmark is on your boarding pass
–Did you know your electronic devices should always be charged when going through security?
–10 airport security hacks every traveler needs to know
–Mom shares hilarious reason she’s not getting TSA Precheck anytime soon
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