Th egreat thing about this hotel was the view, especially from the French Suite (Room 4011) in which I have been staying. On top of that, I was able to get a rebate because this hotel is associated with the Athletic Club of Missouri - I think I'll go back there the next time I have to go to Chicago.

First things first. The BAC is difficult to find at first. Various previous reviews have mentioned this. We arrived on a Saturday PM (when most of the loop is shut down) and even our transfer shuttle from O'Hare had no idea were the hotel was and basically dumped our bags on the side of the road when they got fed up looking.

To be clear to get to the hotel you must enter the main revolving doors to get into 440 S La Salle. When inside you take the main bank of elevators to floor 39 and transfer from there to a small elevator (next to the main bank) to get to reception on floor 40. After the initial difficulties in finding the entrance to the building nothing could be simpler in getting into the hotel (using the security tab provided). Whats more because you are a little out of the way you feel very secure.

The hotel itself, as has been stated before, is small - around 20 rooms. However reception and ousekeeping staff were friendly and courteous throughout - amongst the best I have ever encountered.

Our room was amazing. Maybe there was not the same level of opulence you would get in a four or five star place but everything was clean and well maintained, particularly the bed.

Because the hotel is small you didn't get things like pay per view movies but there was a thorough range of cable channels available which was fine for us.

Clearly the best thing about the hotel was the view. We had a clear view of Buckingham Fountain and the Field Museum as well as the loop skyline and Lake Michigan. It was amazing to watch sunrise and sunset across the lake and not to be overlooked by anyone.

There have been some comments previously about the continental breakfast. It was absolutely fine. There was a well stock supply of Coffee, Juice, Cereals, Bagels and Muffins. OK it's not what you would get at one of the major hotels around the Mag Mile but it is free.

In response to some other comments there are better locations of hotels in the city. This hotel is right in the south of the Loop, so you do have a fair old walk for the Magnificent Mile and attractions such as Navy Pier. However, it is a good location for the Museum Campus and Grant Park and is certainly no more than ten blocks from Macys on State Street (and around three blocks from the Willis (Sears) Tower). It is also worth noting that there is an El Station right outside the hotel.

Overall this is the best hotel I have ever stayed in. I can accept that it may not suit everyone but if you don't mind a little bit of walking then it is worth going for the view alone.

This hotel was not at all what I thought it would be. I do not think it should be rated as a 3 1/2 star. The bed was rickety ane hard and also had no box spring. The bathroom was not as clean as I would have liked there was hair on the floor that was not mine. The furniture is old and all chipped and scuffed. And the top bedding looked old and dingy! It was a pretty good price though

I booked on travelocity so I got a really good deal on the room rate. The hotel is overall very nice. It is quiet and isolated and it does have an exclusive feel to it when you check in. The room was very comfortable and the bathroom was very pretty. The view from the room was excellent with a combination of city lights and lake (we faced south). However, there were some dissappointments. The TV was ancient and did not work well. The access to the healthclub was an awesome advantange, however, it has extremely limited hours. They close at 9pm weeknights, 6pm on saturday, and they were not open at all on Sunday. The continental breakfast was diaappointing. It basically consisted of a bunch of day old bagels and pastries kept in the refrigerator and set out in the morning. The breakfast was not well stocked and was frequently empty and without coffee. Also, I tend to notice things about hygeine. It was a little concerning that the breakfast is stocked by the housekeepers while they are cleaning the guest rooms. I didnt really see the house keepers wash their hands or use gloves before handling the food on the breakfast bar. Overall, it was a good stay. Its well worth it if you get a steeply discounted price online, but i dont think i would pay the "full rate".