I stay here for work, but its central for all tourist activities as well. Great place, great location.

Excellent winter rate on the Hyatt website for a January weekend in Chicago at $109 a night per room (plus taxes)...Travelzoo was showing other Chicago hotels running comparable rates in January as well. I needed multiple rooms for a family trip--booked four rooms (two with two double beds, two kings) via the Hyatt website. I had stayed in this hotel before for work, the location is very central -- on the river not far from Michigan Avenue/Art Institute. We were visiting friends who live River North and friends in the South Loop, so the Hyatt Regency was truly a central location.

It was absolutely freezing the weekend we were in Chicago, so walking to any sites was not happening! -- thankfully cabs were readily available at the hotel, and rides were inexpensive. We also had rides from friends who live in Chicago, and quickly realized that the driveway entrance to the hotel is a complete traffic jam--best to be picked up on the side street!!

The rooms were clean, comfortable beds, spacious bathroom with marble floors. Suited our needs perfectly.

One note, I had booked four rooms, but at last mintue only needed three...Their cancellation policy is steadfast -- 72 hours notice required. I didn't have a problem with this since I knew about it in advance and seemed reasonable given how low the rate was - only reason I mention is to warn you that they really do have a cancellation policy!

Stayed here for 5 nights in a King "Junior Suite". There are so many better places to stay in Chicago.
1. This is 3rd time we've stayed here (work makes us stay here) and each time NO hot water. That's even after running the water for 20 minutes to see if it ever comes. Since to me cold water is camping, not hotel, I called front desk and 10 minutes and 3 calls later, someone from engineering told me the trick - you have to run the shower AND the hot water in the sink and then hot water comes.
2. Despite our large room, like other reviewers, the walls were paper thin. We heard EVERYTHING. I'm sure my neighbors did not enjoy our 6-year old son dancing and singing at 7 am but then again I didn't like hearing their drunk antics at 4 am - you get the picture.
3. DIRTY!! Our room had a mini fridge with spilled nasty sticky stuff on the bottom when we checked in. Lightbulbs were burned out in the room. Scuffs and torn and ripped furniture. Our couch was so stained we did not want to sit on it. Ceiling of bathroom looked what can only be described as "corroding". Some days our 2 glasses were clearly dirty (lipstick marks on them - not mine).
4. This is a HUGE hotel. There was a 4,000-person conference and at times we'd have to wait 15 minutes to get an elevator. Also, to get a cab sometimes took 20 minutes because everyone wants to leave for dinner at the same time.

On the good side:
The beds were ultra-comfortable, the bedding was clean and luxurious, and the staff in the concierge lounge were helpful.

My best friend and I got a bargain on a package deal that included airfare and 2 nights at this hotel in mid-January of 2008. I have seen a lot of negative reviews of this property recently, and while some of them do have validity, I feel most of them are overblown.

There were quite a few things I really liked about the property: The hotel IS huge, and while this may be a drawback for some, I found it to give the property a great energy with people constantly around in the lobby and bar area. The location is excellent, right by the Mag Mile. From our window on the 23rd floor we could see both the river and the Wrigley Building. There are several restaurants on the property and a Pedway you can use to link to several local businesses. The room was a tad small, but immaculately clean. We had a big screen plasma TV as well. The wireless internet is very fast (but a tad pricey). Beds were comfortable, but nothing to go wild about.

There were also some things I didn't like, of course. The front desk staff wasn't unfriendly, but they were definitely all business. When I walked up to check in, the first thing she said to me was "Last name?" I found all the staff to be this way during the trip. All business, no friendliness. Perhaps at a property this size it has to be that way, but I still think a little "Welcome to the Hyatt." before "Last Name?" would have been appropriate. The costs in the minibar, while always expensive, were outrageous here. A can of coke was over $5.

Overall, I enjoyed my time at the property, and my weekend getaway to Chicago in general. (My first time in the city!) I would be more than happy to stay at the Hyatt again.