Hotwire would not publish our bad review of Grand Royal Hotel O'Hare Chicago

I'd had always had good experiences using Hotwire, but this was not the case on Friday, July 18, 2025.

My wife and I booked the Grand Royal Hotel O'Hare Chicago, supposedly 3.5 stars. Sounds nice, pictures looked good online, and Hotwire had always come through for us in the past.

We arrived late after a long day helping with a move. We thought we had the wrong place when we pulled up - there was a crummy gas station next door, and the hotel was connected to a dive bar that was apparently closed. The hotel itself didn't even look like a 2-star, much less 3.5. There were shirtless guys milling around the parking lot and the place looked run down.

We googled "Grand Royal Hotel Chicago" and it came up as "permanently closed". Huh. But we were at the correct address. A sign taped to the side of a van said it was for the hotel formerly known as the Grand Royal. I went inside to check, and we were indeed booked there. Yuck.

While I was inside, a man approached my wife and asked for a ride to the nearest liquor store. She politely told him no, but was a bit terrified.

We went up to the room, since we really had no choice, and it was not nice. Long story short, we called Hotwire but they couldn't get us another place at the late hour. They apologized and said the hotel was undergoing a management change...maybe so, but this place didn't get this run down in the two weeks since we booked it. So we ended up spending an awful night there.

Hotwire did get us into the Hyatt O'Hare for the following night. A little more expensive, even with the "apology money" from Hotwire, but well worth it. We checked into the Hyatt the following night and it was fantastic! Oddly enough, the Hyatt was only 4 stars - what a difference a half star makes! Night and day!!

I'm not sure how Hotwire compiles their scores, or how some people could find this place "excellent" or "10/10". The only good thing about it, in my opinion, is its proximity to the airport.

This was not our first bad experience at a Holiday Inn - or possibly former Holiday Inn - so we will not be staying at Holiday Inns in the future. We will use Hotwire again, but with more caution.

Hotwire did not publish our review of the hotel (at least I can't find it), but I'm including it below because 1) I think our opinion counts; and 2) I think others should be forewarned. Without further ado, here's the unpublished review:

Pictures are deceiving - it's been years since this place looked that good. Room was dark, dirty, and damp. The overpowering weed smell did help cover mold odors. What the A/C lacked in efficiency it made up for in noise. Didn't need to worry about sink or tub not draining because both had cracks and leaked. Only staff members we met seemed indifferent at best, certainly not as enthusiastic as the parking lot dwellers who greeted us by asking for a ride to a liquor store. This place truly gives off "pay by the hour" vibes, except it's hard to imagine anyone having a happy ending here. Truly the only things missing were chalk outlines and a cozy dumpster fire.

So beware, Chicago travelers - we were not happy with our experience at the Grand Royal O'Hare!