Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
221 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL 60601-7801
Full view
View all photos(1,956)1,956
360
Panoramas (42) 
Room & Suite (718)
View prices for your travel dates
Contact accommodation for availability.
There are similar hotels available.
View allDid you already book this hotel?
Avg. ₹28,132 /night, 10/4 - 10/5
₹53,242
per night
₹36,531
per night
₹19,819
per night
Oct
Nov
4 Oct
Today
6 Oct
8 Oct
10 Oct
12 Oct
14 Oct
16 Oct
18 Oct
20 Oct
22 Oct
24 Oct
26 Oct
28 Oct
30 Oct
1 Nov
3 Nov
Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#95 of 212 hotels in ChicagoLocation
Cleanliness
Service
Value
The Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago is the contemporary debut of Radisson Blu in North America. A true representation of the brand, it is designed to become a destination in itself. Radisson Blu is the upper upscale tier of our global hotel brand, focusing on design, style and attention to detail in every respect.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Valet parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Bar / lounge
Billiards
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Taxi service
Paid private parking on-site
Wifi
Hot bath
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Indoor pool
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Kids' meals
Wine / champagne
Business Centre with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Convenience store
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
ATM on site
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Shoeshine
Room features
Blackout curtains
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Coffee / tea maker
Cable / satellite TV
Bidet
Room service
Safe
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Bottled water
Clothes rack
Iron
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Minibar
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
On-demand films
Radio
iPod docking station
Walk-in shower
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Park View
Harbour View
Languages Spoken
English, French, Russian, Spanish and 4 more
Location
221 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL 60601-7801
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 100 out of 100
100
Midway Airport
15.6 km•
See all flights
O'Hare Intl Airport
26 km•
See all flights
Randolph/Wabash
7 min•Chicago L
Car Hire
102 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
4.5
6,211 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
The Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago garners applause for its ample amenities, including a praised pool and gym, and rooms that offer comfort with stunning views from balconies. The prime location is a highlight for guests eager to explore the city.
However, opinions on service and cleanliness are split, with some guests encountering issues, causing a few to question the hotel's value. While the atmosphere is generally considered modern and chic, a few guests find the ambiance marred by an unpleasant scent and loud music.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Chic
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Well-appointed
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
6,211Reviews119Q+A100Room tips
Traveller rating
- 4,441
- 1,057
- 417
- 174
- 122
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Detailed Reviews
Hotel's Favourite
Aqua Blu is a beautiful hotel successfully melding ultra-modern and industrial interior design in an iconic building close to everything downtown with great amenities and a good restaurant.
It's starting to show small signs of wear and tear, like some signage a bit askew and a reading light on a bed's headboard that wouldn't stay on, but it remains my favorite hotel that I can afford to stay at.
It's starting to show small signs of wear and tear, like some signage a bit askew and a reading light on a bed's headboard that wouldn't stay on, but it remains my favorite hotel that I can afford to stay at.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of an individual contributor and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Saif Alzyoud, Guest Services / Front Office at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Responded 10 Jan 2023
On behalf of all the team members at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago, I thank you for your outstanding feedback during your recent stay with us. We strive for consistent excellence, so we certainly appreciate any feedback our guests offer. This helps us immensely as we continue our efforts toward making each guest experience one that is worth experiencing again. Your loyalty is crucial to making our hotel a success, so I hope you will continue to make Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago, your destination property while in our great city. I wish you a great week and thank you again.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC nor of its partners.
I booked this hotel specifically because it had an outdoor pool (in downtown Chicago!) and it has a large and well-equipped gym. For those reasons this hotel was perfect for my recent 4 day mini vacation to Chicago. I paid more than I usually do for a 4* in downtown Chicago but with the weather forecast showing 85* and sunny all four days I figured it would be worth the splurge. It was.
The pool is large enough to accommodate many guests and the sundeck is wide with plenty of chaise loungers available. It is surrounded by nicely landscaped foliage and shrubs. The best part is floating in the pool and looking up at the hotel's unique architectural styling...it seems to have been designed for this view in particular. Floating in a pool surrounded by skyscrapers was a first for me and I will seek out this hotel for similar escapades in summers to come.
The interior design of the hotel is not to my taste (at all) with pretty garish color scheme and flashy (trashy) design choices and materials in the room. It made me think if a mob bosses mistress was given the task of decorating with a big budget and no oversight.
That being said the bed, pillows and linens were high quality and very comfortable, the AC did it's job with very little noise, and the elevators were fast and efficient.
The gym was great. Large and very well equipped. There's even an indoor half basketball court.
Location just south of the river and a short walk from Millenium Station and the Mag Mile were the icing on the cake.
The pool is large enough to accommodate many guests and the sundeck is wide with plenty of chaise loungers available. It is surrounded by nicely landscaped foliage and shrubs. The best part is floating in the pool and looking up at the hotel's unique architectural styling...it seems to have been designed for this view in particular. Floating in a pool surrounded by skyscrapers was a first for me and I will seek out this hotel for similar escapades in summers to come.
The interior design of the hotel is not to my taste (at all) with pretty garish color scheme and flashy (trashy) design choices and materials in the room. It made me think if a mob bosses mistress was given the task of decorating with a big budget and no oversight.
That being said the bed, pillows and linens were high quality and very comfortable, the AC did it's job with very little noise, and the elevators were fast and efficient.
The gym was great. Large and very well equipped. There's even an indoor half basketball court.
Location just south of the river and a short walk from Millenium Station and the Mag Mile were the icing on the cake.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jim Marino, General Manager at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Responded 25 Aug 2020
Dear foodieinGR, Thank you for your review and for taking the time to share your comments. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed our amenities and plan to return! We also appreciate your feedback regarding your guest room as we are always searching for ways to improve. We hope to welcome you again soon.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
My husband and I have stayed at this hotel over the years. The rooms and staff are still wonderful. However, I called for an additional wastebasket for the desk. Blu used to provide not only a wastepaper basket by the desk but also a recycling container. There were no robes. The t. paper is thin. Just enough towels to get by - no extras. I called and asked to have a morning paper sent up. The human did not answer me and instead directly transferred to me a recording about the benefits of business class. Really? I pay the resort fee and don't use any of those facilities. A friend whom we met in Chicago stayed at a nearby hotel just north of Blu. We walked over to visit. The hotel has the WSJ and USA Today stacked up in the lobby and let me have one of each even though I was not a guest there. Little things matter a lot, and Blu disappointed in that regard. (I go back to the early days when a complimentary newspaper was left at the room's door in a blue bag.) However, the big things are still great - staff, immaculate rooms, location (can walk to Loop or Michigan Avenue). Since I care about the minor things I mentioned, we will probably stay at the other hotel down the street. Too bad, as it's been a tradition to stay at Blu when in Chicago.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Corner room
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jim M, General Manager at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Responded 8 Jan 2020
Dear susiedawson, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. As a frequent guest, we're disappointed to hear that we fell short this time around and sincerely apologize for your stay being less than perfect. We will absolutely take these comments into consideration as we consider future improvements to improve our guest experience. Should there be anything we can do for you regarding your recent visit, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at (312) 565-5258. We hope for the opportunity to welcome you again and remind you why we began your tradition of staying at the Blu.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My husband and I booked the ambassador king suite for our honeymoon. We only stayed one night. We spent over $500 on this room for the night and left feeling pretty disappointed. The staff was friendly, so that was not the issue. However, there was only one washcloth in the room, only one robe and no slippers (as advertised with such an expensive room), there was an empty water bottle left in the room, there was only one single disposable coffee cup, there was a bunch of hair underneath the bathroom trash can (which I accidentally knocked over & noticed it), only one complimentary bottle of water (again, advertised with the room that we would have water bottles), and it just overall was NOT worth the money at all. This was really a disappointment as this was our one night that we had to get away to spend our honeymoon. We wish the room would have been actually stocked, as well as cleaned. We’ve unfortunately had a better experience at a motel.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Corporate Customer Care Corporate Customer Care, Owner at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Responded 20 Mar 2021
Thank you for sharing your review. It is a delight to learn that the service of the staff worked perfectly for you. On the other hand, we feel sad knowing that your experience was less than satisfying due to the cleanliness of the room and availability of some amenities at that time. We appreciate the feedback and will use it to fine tune our operations in the hope that upon your next visit, we can meet or exceed your expectations.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We just did our daughter's wedding at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago. It was wonderful, due in significant part to the quality and efforts of the hotel. They were incredibly accommodating to get the space ready, the food (for 200 guests) was even better than when we had selected it at the tasting, and the hotel gave us the free use of two presidential suits, two ambassador suites, and a very large meeting room that served as a hospitality room and location for the after-party and Sunday morning brunch. The hotel service was fantastic, and the senior staff assigned to the event couldn't have been more helpful. The guests all were happy about their rooms, and the event space looked great. We spent a lot of money on the wedding, but we loved the weekend and felt that we got more than our money's worth.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â The higher floors get lack traffic noise.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jim M, General Manager at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Responded 17 Feb 2020
Dear Mark F, Thank you for your review! We're delighted to hear that you and your guests enjoyed your time with us throughout the beautiful wedding and sincerely appreciate you choosing us for such a special occasion. We're sending our warmest wishes your way and hope to welcome you again soon!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The room needed to be cleaner. The curtains had stains all around the room. The dresser had crumbs and junk stuffed down between the cracks. The toilet seat had something on it, luckily had brought sanitizer wipes to clean it off
Read more
Review collected in partnership with Radisson Blu
Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of an individual contributor and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jim M, General Manager at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Responded 12 Feb 2020
Dear mkalin933304, Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback. On behalf of the entire team, we sincerely apologize that the cleanliness of your guest room was not up to our standards. I can assure you we are addressing this internally to ensure a similar situation does not occur in the future. Should there be anything we can do for you regarding your recent visit, please do not hesitate to contact us at (312) 565-5258. We hope for another opportunity to exceed your expectations.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC nor of its partners.
Hotel staff was great . Very nice decor Vincent was helpful . The room was amazing with a wonderful view. The room was clean and spacious tables could use some touching up look bad with wood to replace spot that was broken . Seemed to be a quick fix. Ironica was pleasant and helpful as well she noticed that we were passing a elevator closer to our room and given us a better option of using a closer elevator. I enjoyed the pool could be a little bigger but nice. I really enjoyed myself there.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jim M, General Manager at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Responded 8 Jan 2020
Dear Isaac0825, Thank you for your review and for taking the time to share your experience. We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your time with our friendly team and will be sure to pass along your kind comments to Vincent! We also appreciate your feedback regarding the condition of your room as we are always striving to perfect our facilities. We hope to welcome you again soon.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had an excellent stay at the Radisson Blu Aqua! The room was huge. Our wrap-around balcony had a panoramic view of the city and let in lots of clean, Covid-free air. The service was amazing, the restaurant has outdoor seating with radiant heating for cool mornings, and the various seating areas in the lobby provide comfortable places to meet with friends. The in-room coffee maker is a Cuisinart pod machine, so the coffee is rather weak but easy to deal with. Iron and ironing board worked great for our fabric face masks. And all the best attractions of Chicago were right around the corner. A wonderful place to stay!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Radisson Blu employees are trying to make this a first class hotel, but they appear to be having serious employee problems in that there aren’t any! The first room they gave us had not been serviced, they responded immediately and gave us a different room that had been. They also apologized and gave us a free round of drinks and breakfast for the inconvenience. That’s the type of service I expect from a Radisson Blu. I would rate them higher, but this particular Radisson has some peculiar design issues as well as housekeeping issues.
The furniture seems to be substandard, and while the furniture in the first room was broken the furniture in this room seems to be missing. There are marks on the wall where shelves used to be.
The lighting in the room, as is common in a cheaper motel, is completely inadequate using narrow spotlights that point down and not illuminating the room.The shower while warm and comfortable has the controls on the opposite wall of the door so that you must turn on the water and get out of the way as fast as possible until you find out what temperature it is. Also the shower handheld was on, and instead of the water coming out the showerhead it began pouring out of the shower into the bathroom floor. Not a major problem, except during COVID-19 protocols there’s no maid service! Also, only one small bar of soap in the entire room – so we have to move it from shower to sink. The coffee maker is a standard Cuisinart, and it came with one coffee pod and 4 tea pods. My husband needed to go downstairs to get a second coffee pod so we could each have a cup of coffee. And by the way there was no coffee available downstairs in the lobby. On the plus side, the beds amazingly comfortable and the pillows are just right. And I’ve had no problems with the temperature controls. So the basics are there, but don’t expect a luxury experience.
The furniture seems to be substandard, and while the furniture in the first room was broken the furniture in this room seems to be missing. There are marks on the wall where shelves used to be.
The lighting in the room, as is common in a cheaper motel, is completely inadequate using narrow spotlights that point down and not illuminating the room.The shower while warm and comfortable has the controls on the opposite wall of the door so that you must turn on the water and get out of the way as fast as possible until you find out what temperature it is. Also the shower handheld was on, and instead of the water coming out the showerhead it began pouring out of the shower into the bathroom floor. Not a major problem, except during COVID-19 protocols there’s no maid service! Also, only one small bar of soap in the entire room – so we have to move it from shower to sink. The coffee maker is a standard Cuisinart, and it came with one coffee pod and 4 tea pods. My husband needed to go downstairs to get a second coffee pod so we could each have a cup of coffee. And by the way there was no coffee available downstairs in the lobby. On the plus side, the beds amazingly comfortable and the pillows are just right. And I’ve had no problems with the temperature controls. So the basics are there, but don’t expect a luxury experience.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Radisson Blue Aqua is a one-time condo building, refurbished/remodeled to create a hotel in a great location for leisure/business travelers alike. The decor is modern in a restrained glitz. In spite of Covid restrictions and a limited labor market, we found the hotel to be spotless. Requests for bath linen and water were promptly satisfied. The staff was amazing! Dinner and breakfast at the FireLake Restaurant were tasty and well-presented, reasonably priced. We loved the Grinch theme that dominated a special Christmas breakfast for children. We will certainly return.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jim Marino, General Manager at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Responded 10 Jan 2022
I'm delighted to hear that you had a wonderful visit with us! Thank you for your kind review.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It is an outdoor pool for sure, they have indoor but not sure if it is only open to condo residents or not?
We took Uber from O'Hare to the hotel, however I see online a cost for $45 per day.
This is a fairly standard daily parking fee for a large city in the US, so not unusual.
You would want to verify when you book your room, to be certain no changes have occurred since the post of those rates.
If you stay here, I hope you enjoy it as much as we have. The Radisson Blu Aqua's location is a great starting point for walking to sights and dining.
It's a great hotel!
…
"Beware of the parking issue. How can a Jeanne Gang building house such a disorienting garage and an entrance right next to a CVS? "Read full review
"Read the review, make your own decisions. Get confirmation of all details in writing… or have a backup plan."Read full review
…
PRICE RANGE
₹14,192 - ₹31,827 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United StatesIllinoisChicagoCentral / Downtown / The Loop / New East Side
NUMBER OF ROOMS
334
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingRADISSON BLU AQUA HOTEL, CHICAGO - Hotel Reviews, Photos, Rate Comparison - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Which popular attractions are close to Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago?
Nearby attractions include Millennium Park (0.5 km), Chicago Architecture Center (0.4 km), and American Writers Museum (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, free wifi, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago?
Yes, a parking garage, paid private parking on-site, and paid private parking nearby are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago?
Conveniently located restaurants include Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe, Eggy's Diner Chicago, and Morton's The Steakhouse.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool and a fitness centre during their stay.
Is Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 1.0 km away from the centre of Chicago.
Are any cleaning services offered at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business centre, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.