As with all hotel properties, this one has several good as well as several negative aspects. Let's start with the good. The lobby is nice and spacious and the gazebo/pool area in the central courtyard is very nice.The hotel has only two floors and most staff were friendly and helpful. There is a basic complimentary continental breakfast each day with toast, muffins, cereal, juices, yoghurt, tea, coffee and some fresh fruit, but there are no cooked items.

I did have some issues with the property. You feel as if you are 'in the middle of nowhere' when staying here. Johnel's restaurant (large portions but mediocre food) is next door: KFC and a bowling alley are across the street along with a pizzaria. Other than that there is really nothing nearby and Hammond itself appears to be a town that prosperity passed by. Those who like to go for a walk after dinner will be disappointed by the 'down at the heels' aspect of the town. The hotel is undergoing a renovation (though I saw no work in progress) as most rooms are very tired and worn. You can hear noises from the hallway and adjoining rooms quite easily. Depending on traffic it will take 30 minutes or so to get into Chicago by personal vehicle. I would prefer a hotel which has been upgraded; has more amenities nearby and is in Chicago or a nicer suburb.

The rooms are a little beat up. It's a pre-fab concrete construction hotel, and it's not bad. The furniture can be slightly stained and there can be marks and stains on the walls and bathroom fixtures. Some of the air conditioners are excessively loud and also bent up a bit.

The staff is very friendly and helpful. The pool is ok. No exercise room, and the WiFi works only by whimsy during my stays. This is my fourth time here, so I guess it's ok, and it's far far far cheaper than any hotel room you'll find in or nearby downtown Chicago, which is just a 20-30min easy drive up the Chicago Skyway or US 41.

The area is patroled (the cops eat at the nearby restaurant) and it's near food, groceries, filling stations, pharmacies, and so on. It's about three miles from the Horseshoe Casino, and can be noisy with trains going nearby, the nearby Skyway, and the noisy airconditioners.

My Mom and I went on a bus trip and stayed at the Ramada for 3 nights. The rooms were clean and modern. the breakfast was complimentary and had a great variety.
The staff was very friendly and accomodating. The housekeeping staff even left us little treats in the room.

There was a shuttle bus to the local casino and the driver was soooo friendly. He gave us a brief history of the area. We even won a couple of jackpots at the casino!

The restaraunt was also very good and very reasonably priced.

If I am ever in the Chicago area again, I will definitely stay at the Ramada.

I had actually went to the Chicago Forum because my trip centered around actually going to Chicago. The Ramada in Hammond was recommended and I am really glad I took this suggestion. It was a very nice, clean hotel and the staff was super friendly and accomodating. The detached restaurant, Johnel's had very good food and the portions were extremely large even the desserts. They even delivered to the room too. We had so much food left over that we brought some back to the hotel and a staff member overhead us saying that we had no where to keep the food. She immediately requested a refrig for our room and it was there in a jiffy! For the price this was a very nice hotel and the commute to Chicago was a snap on the South Shore train whose station was within a mile of the hotel. This hotel was very close to lots of familiars....KFC, bowling alley across the street, Speedway gas station, White Castle, Aurelio's Pizza, Arbys to name a few. But with Johnel's just a hop across the parking lot we didn't need to go to any of the fast food places. The restaurant prices were very reasonable too!