FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago

by Richard Evans

Apr 1, 2018
April 2018

Arrival/Check-In: My colleague and I arrived in Chicago on a cold day. Any thoughts of taking an early morning constitutional went out the window as soon as we stepped out of the cab. The Ritz-Carlton lobby is on the 12th floor of Water Tower Place. Check-in was friendly and efficient.

Guest Quarters: I had a spacious Lakeside Suite with large picture windows and views of the lake. It really felt more like an apartment. The entrance hall with a big coat closet and a guest powder room led directly into a comfortable living room/dining area which included a wet bar and minibar, a large flat-screen TV, a large couch and two easy chairs, a coffee table, a dining table with seating for two, a desk with desktop outlets and a fax machine. Since it was a corner room, it had views of the lake and lots of natural light. The bedroom had a king-sized bed with bedside tables, an easy chair and ottoman, a dresser and a large flat-screen TV.

The marble bathroom had twin sinks, a bathtub and separate shower and a water closet. The amenities were by Asprey.

Services/Amenities: The hotel was recently “revitalized” to the tune of $100 million over a two-year period, and it shows. Directly off the lobby is Torali, the hotel’s restaurant, with a new take on Italian cuisine featuring a contemporary, chefdriven menu curated by Chef Baasim Zafar.

Directly across the lobby is Torali Bar, an attractive watering hole whether you meet a friend for a drink on your way to dinner or stop by for an after-dinner drink. Also on the lobby level, The Café allows you to grab a quick bite or an afternoon coffee. The high tops have outlets for recharging your phone or computer.

When the weather is warmer, Rooftop at Torali, on a terrace just off the lobby, looks to be a great place for a drink and a snack.

The hotel has a fully equipped gym, a lap pool and a spa offering a peaceful retreat where pampering is the priority.

The property also boasts the largest luxury ballroom in the city as well as several other event spaces.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ The location is just off the Magnificent Mile, a reasonably short cab ride from the Loop and a few blocks from the lake. In spite of the cold I managed to take a brisk walk along the lake for a bit of outdoor exercise.

◆ The artwork in the hotel is worth spending a few minutes admiring. I especially like The Wave, a Lasvit handblown glass installation that floats above the main lobby.

THE RITZ-CARLTON, CHICAGO

Water Tower Place
160 E. Pearson St.
Chicago, IL 60611
tel 312 266 1000
ritzcarlton.com

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
Nov 7, 2024

Portland International Airport Debuts New Main Terminal

This past summer, arriving and departing passengers at Portland International Airport were able to enter the airport’s newly renovated main terminal for the first time. Built and designed by more than 30,000 local craftspeople, the new terminal doubled its capacity while maintaining the heart and character of an airport that consistently ranks among travelers’ favorites. The new terminal was designed by ZGF Architects, originally an Oregon-based firm, now with seven offices in North America.

Royal Air Maroc Relaunches Direct Casablanca–Beijing Route, Debuts Toronto Flight

As part of its international network expansion, Royal Air Maroc will reinstate the direct Casablanca–Beijing route initially launched in January 2020 and suspended just a few weeks later due to the health crisis.

Daily
Nov 7, 2024

Secure These 2024 Black Friday Promotions from Velas Resorts in Mexico

Velas Resorts in Mexico joins in on this year’s Black Friday deals. The brand is offering up to 25 percent savings on nightly rates and other perks such as complimentary stays for kids and teens, airport transfers, unlimited access to the spa’s hydrotherapy experience, complimentary golf, suite upgrades, and more. In addition to this discount, each Velas property promises other unique benefits.

Airlines
Nov 7, 2024

SAS, Virgin Atlantic Announce Codeshare Partnership

SAS recently announced its new codeshare agreement with Virgin Atlantic. The partnership launched Oct. 7 and allows SAS customers to connect through London Heathrow to Virgin Atlantic destinations. Availability will expand as approvals are finalized.

Explore Egypt on the Most Extraordinary Tour Ever

Picture this: You’re standing in front of the Great Pyramid, the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, in complete silence, with no crowds in sight. As you step inside, your guide leads you to hidden chambers inaccessible to other tourists. Here, you’re granted a rare chance to delve into the deepest mysteries of ancient Egypt.

November 2024
Nov 7, 2024

Embrace the Aloha Spirit on a Cruise to Hawai‘i

To say the Islands of Hawai‘i have long attracted travelers is an understatement. Fifteen hundred years ago, guided only by the stars, Polynesians crossed the Pacific Ocean and first set foot on the islands. Since then, European explorers, missionaries and businessmen discovered the islands in the late 1700s into the 1800s, each arriving with their own agendas. Tourism in Hawai‘i as we know it today began in the 1860s when Kīlauea, an active volcano on the Island of Hawai‘i, was considered a top destination for adventure travelers of the time.

eFlyer Deals
Nov 6, 2024

Independent Collection Hotels & Resorts to Launch Black Friday Deals

With properties across Florida, California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Maryland and Washington, D.C., Independent Collection Hotels & Resorts goes big for Black Friday. From Nov. 19 to Dec. 2, book a stay at any one of Independent Collection Hotels & Resorts’ properties and receive up to 40 percent off for stays Nov. 19, 2024–Dec. 30, 2025.

Remarkable Medellín

Visiting Medellín in Colombia: The Country of Beauty is like stepping into a fantastic story — literally, as the city in the Western Colombian Andes region inspired Disney’s Encanto. Here, valleys, the world’s tallest palms, vibrant communities, colorful houses, garden-like balconies and more prove reality is more picturesque than anything on film. And it’s especially more tempting following Medellín’s remarkable transformation, shedding its troubled past and reawakening as a city of innovation, art, cultural richness, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism and resiliency.

eFlyer Deals
Nov 6, 2024

2024 Cyber Week Deals from Avocet Hospitality

Spanning hotels from Charleston, South Carolina, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, Avocet Hospitality debuts some pretty special Cyber Week deals. At The Vendue in Charleston, South Carolina, save 25 percent on all bookings made between Nov. 21 and Dec. 2 for travel through Dec. 30, 2025.