Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Electric bicycle charging station
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Nice amenities
Cons:
Inconsistent cleanliness
Service delays

Categories

Cleanliness
7.59
Some reviews mentioned dirty parts of the room.
Service
9.06
While some service experiences were negative, the friendly managers and staff were highlighted.
Location
10
The location is unbeatable, with many attractions nearby.
Room Quality
8.6
Rooms were reported as nice and spacious, but some rooms required upgrades.
Amenities
9.55
Amenities like the pool and Starbucks are well received.
Value for Money
8.58
Some reviews indicated that pricing did not match the room quality.
Food and Beverage
9.54
Food quality at the hotel and nearby restaurants received positive mentions.
Overall Experience
9.09
Overall, guests enjoyed their stay, despite some issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 11:56

Property Description

Luxury Accommodation in Chicago's Lakeshore East

Stunning Views and Modern Amenities
Enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and surrounding parks from every contemporary room, equipped with a flat-screen TV, minibar, and deluxe bathroom amenities.

Indoor and Outdoor Recreation
Unwind at the indoor and outdoor pools or hit the outdoor track for a refreshing workout. Relax at the seasonal outdoor pool with a sundeck and fire pits, offering a perfect setting to soak in the Chicago skyline.

Delicious Dining Options
Indulge in American cuisine at FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, serving locally-inspired dishes for all meals. Sip on craft cocktails and local beers at the bar, adding a flavorful touch to your stay.

Book your stay at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago for a luxurious and memorable experience.

Important information:

Please note that the first night stay plus tax or the full reservation amount plus tax may be pre-authorized on the credit card used to make the reservation any time after the booking is made.

Please be advised that the resort fee varies by season.

Please be advised if booking 5 or more rooms, reservations must be made directly with hotel.

Guests must be 21 years of age to check in at this property.

Please note that the only type of pet permitted at this hotel are dogs under 40 lbs (18 kg).

Public self parking garage and costs USD 51 per 24 hours.

An Urban Fee will be collected at check-in and includes the following:
- Access to Health Club that includes fitness center, indoor/outdoor pools, outdoor running track, and game room
- Free local and long distance calls
- 24-hour Business Center
- Tier 2 WiFi access in guest rooms and common areas of the Hotel

Please note that the credit card used to make the reservation must be presented at the time of check-in.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: ORD

Property Policies

  • Internet

    Wired internet is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 10 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Parking

    Public parking is possible on site (reservation is not possible) and costs USD 59 per day.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for US$30 per person per stay when using an available extra bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Property Accessibility

Total Disability Score: 41
Public Area
  • Hill Located: No
  • Ramp: No
  • Entrance Type:
  • Entrance Leveled: No
  • Room Max Guests Number: 4
  • Pet Friendly: No
Reception And Restaurant
  • Reception Hearing Accessible: No
  • Reception Wheelchair Accessible: No
  • Restaurant Wheelchair Accessible: No
Elevator
  • Elevator Audio Signals: No
  • Elevator Braille Numbers: No
  • Elevator Contrasting Buttons: No
  • Elevator Visual Signs: No
  • Lifts Accessible: No
Show all accessibility features

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 2349 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.59
Service: 9.06
Location: 10
Room Quality: 8.6
Amenities: 9.55
Value for Money: 8.58
Food and Beverage: 9.54
Overall Experience: 9.09
B
Brandee • couple • us
7
2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
M
Moises • couple • us
9
It was amazing other than the dirty floor by our beds
Pros:

The location , the price , the amenities , the staff , the food, the room.

Cons:

Room had a lot a crumbs on the floor by the bed when we checked in . Really gross that they didn’t clean to good

2026-03-03 • via Nuitee
B
Bryan • family_with_children • us
10
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Check in too late

2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
C
Chris • family_with_children • us
9
2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
G
Gilad • family_with_children • il
9
Pros:

Great gym

2026-02-28 • via Nuitee
L
Luis • couple • us
8
2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
Y
Yanong • couple • us
10
2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
H
HESTER • couple • us
10
2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
L
lisa • family_with_children • us
5
Disappointing, especially for the money
Pros:

The location is very good for accessing most of the city and the public transportation. Very walkable from here.

Cons:

The room wasn't fully stocked with a hair dryer, toiletries, or coffee pods. Housekeeping came and emptied the waste basket but didn't make the bed or change the towels. There in-room frig doesn't allow for storage since all items removed (even just to make space) are charged

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
P
Plastiak • family_with_children • us
10
Pros:

The hotel was in a great location for what we had planned for the weekend. The restaurant was very convenient and the food was great. Room service was awesome too!

Cons:

We loved everything!

2026-02-22 • via Nuitee
B
Beth • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-02-22 • via Nuitee
D
D2177NMchriss • Friends getaway
10
Great service and always clean!
Pros:

Great service, from the curb to the front desk! The rooms are always very clean and Michigan Avenue is just a seven minute walk. We celebrated a birthday with a balcony room. It’s my go-to hotel when in the city.

2026-02-21 • via Tripadvisor
J
J8814GMfrankb • Family
10
Outstanding Hotel!
Pros:

Amazing hotel in the heart of Chicago!!

2026-02-19 • via Tripadvisor
3
399timishag • Solo travel • Skokie, Illinois
10
My new staycation destination
Pros:

The room was spacious and clean. I love the amenities. I liked that there was a restaurant inside. The service and food was great. I had the lamb chops and salmon. No complaints so I will be back.

2026-02-17 • via Tripadvisor
T
Travel41575199304 • Couples
10
Luxury
Pros:

I went with my husband for Valentine’s Day very romantic

2026-02-17 • via Tripadvisor
L
lauracA325XW • Couples
8
Birthday getaway
Pros:

Rooms were clean and had a great view.

2026-02-17 • via Tripadvisor
S
stephaniebY5537QY • Couples
8
Date night
Pros:

Me and my husband spent the night here and it was awesome. Amenities were good but parking was terrible. The baloney room was definitely worth it.

2026-02-16 • via Tripadvisor
J
janicehL9675FW • Couples
8
It's all about Location, Location, location!
Pros:

Great Location walkin̈g distance to Magnificent Mile. The Firelake restaurant in the hotel was convenient and the menu has a middle eastern taste (hotel is owned by Qatar corporation). Furnishings are very sleek and modern. Had a balcony (small narrow not for sitting outside) small room with king size bed, Glass desk oversize s-shape chair. and bathroom has a sliding barn doorstyle shower door shared with next door toilet area. The shower head is great like a heavy rainfall! Water did leak out due to the hanging shower door. The snacks are on top of the mini bar fridge and if you lift one item it's on your hotel tab instantly! (found out later, we told them we didn't eat it just checked it out). Had sufficient towels etc and the tubes of shampoo conditioner body wash & lotion. Bed was comfortable and pillows were little lumpy. Overall clean and comfy room but shower areas need serious grout cleaning.

2026-02-16 • via Tripadvisor
G
gabriellepP9537HX • Couples
8
Overall a nice stay
Pros:

The hotel was nice. The jacuzzi and pool were convenient. It was nice to have a restaurant in the hotel. Parking was expensive but pretty typical for the area. It was nice to be within walking distance of great restaurants and things to do. The bed was uncomfortable and there was a fee to use the mini fridge for personal items.

2026-02-16 • via Tripadvisor
N
nikiat2026 • Couples
6
Nice Hotel, Too Many Hidden Fees
Pros:

I recently stayed at the Radisson Blu Aqua in Chicago, and while the building is beautiful and the location is undeniably convenient, the experience was overshadowed by an exhausting number of hidden fees and upsells. For a hotel that places at least an $1,000 hold on your card, you’d think basic conveniences would be included — but instead, the stay felt like a constant attempt to squeeze out more money at every turn.

1. The Mini‑Bar Trap

The room includes a mini‑bar, but what they don’t tell you is that every item is on a sensor. Simply picking something up — even if you put it right back — triggers a charge.
I needed somewhere to store my injections, so I placed them in the fridge along with a couple of water bottles. There was no signage on the fridge door warning that moving items would incur fees. Only later did I notice a tiny sign saying to dial 0 for a “mini‑fridge” if you need one.

So I called. After waiting 10 minutes, I was told it would be $25 per night to get a fridge that isn’t booby‑trapped with sensors. Charging guests extra for medically necessary refrigeration feels questionable at best and honestly, it borders on an ADA concern.

2. Late Checkout Games

Before my stay, I called to ask about late checkout. I was told to “call the morning of.”
At check‑in, I asked again. Same answer: “Call the morning of.”

Only on the last day did they finally reveal the real reason:
Late checkout is $30 per hour.

If they had told me this from the beginning, I could have planned accordingly. Instead, the policy seems designed to prevent guests from making informed decisions until it’s too late to adjust.

3. A 4‑Star Hotel With 2‑Star Transparency

The hotel markets itself as upscale, but the constant add‑ons make it feel more like a budget airline. Other guests have noted similar frustrations: high parking costs, no microwave, and being charged for basic conveniences that most hotels include without a second thought.

Between the mini‑bar sensors, the surprise fridge fee, the late checkout charges, and the massive credit card hold, the stay felt less like hospitality and more like revenue extraction.

4. The Stay Itself

The room was fine — not bad, not amazing. The location is great. The building is architecturally impressive. But none of that makes up for the feeling of being nickel‑and‑dimed at every turn.

⭐ Overall Rating: 3/5

The hotel itself is okay, but the lack of transparency and constant hidden fees make it hard to recommend. A 4‑star property shouldn’t behave like this. When guests are already paying premium rates and filling your restaurants to capacity, the least you can do is provide honest communication and basic amenities without surprise charges.

2026-02-15 • via Tripadvisor