The ACME Hotel: Blows your mind, not your budget

"A Chicago hotel that appeals to both your wallet and discerning tastes."

One of the greatest joys in my life is being able to travel, be it closer to home or halfway around the world. However, I am by no means a jet-setter. My travel budget does not allow me to jet off to Paris for impromptu shopping trips, nor does it allow me to wind down at the Four Seasons George V hotel after a long day of city exploring.

I am a pragmatic traveller and allocate a larger portion of my budget and time towards things that matter more to me which are food and activities. Where I stay does not rank as high on my list as I don't spend much time at my hotel other than to sleep. However, the more I travelled, the more I've been caught in dilemmas such as wanting a tasty late night nibble, but being too tired to venture out for food or being stranded with spotty hotel Wi-Fi while trying to research next day's activities. I knew in my heart I needed to devote more attention to finding ideal hotels that deliver on quality, without breaking the bank. That's where The ACME Hotel comes in.

In Fall of 2016, I travelled to Chicago for a few days of eating, shopping, and sightseeing. Determined to refine my choice in lodging, I scoured the net for possible hotels that met my new criteria - quality, comfort, price and location. I was ecstatic when I stumbled across The ACME Hotel, a reasonably priced boutique hotel with a trendy, high-tech vibe. 

Situated in Chicago's hip River North neighbourhood, the hotel is a stone's throw away from the city's best stuff. Whether you want to shop the Magnificent Mile, dine at Eataly, or stroll to Millennium Park, the walk from The ACME Hotel will be a breeze.

King Suite bedroom

I stayed in the King Suite, which was 404 square foot in size and included an in-suite lounge room. Although I'm not a light sleeper, I have trouble falling asleep when I'm not in my own bed. The Serta Suite Plush King bed was a dream to sleep in and I fell asleep in no time. The back-lit bathroom mirror with LED lips was another nice touch. The lips, which illuminated the bathroom just enough to see when the lights were off, made late night bathroom breaks that much more bearable.

Back-lit bathroom mirror with LED lips
Note: The regular lights were on so the lips were not lit up

My suite also came with two 46" LED Smart TVs, one for the bedroom and one for the lounge room, which I really enjoyed having. When my boyfriend took naps in the bedroom, I was able to watch television in the lounge room without disturbing him. Other perks of the lounge room was the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin sound system, wet bar, microwave, and fridge. The hotel also provided free 100 MB Wi-Fi which is more than fast enough for my internet surfing needs.

In-suite lounge room complete with sound system, fridge, microwave, and wet bar

Located within the hotel are a few places to fill your belly. First, there is The Berkshire Room, a casual restaurant where you can nibble on delectable snacks while cleansing your palate with wine, cocktails, and lagers. The Berkshire Room consistently tops national and local "best of" lists. Then, there is Bodega, a lobby bar located on the 2nd floor where you can sip on custom cocktails. Unfortunately, I never made it to either of those restaurants, but I did make a point to visit West Town Bakery, situated on the ground level of the hotel. Here you can get Chicago's own Dark Matter coffee and espressos, delicious pastries and breakfast sandwiches. I got a latte, which was quite nice and picked up some "Unicorn Blood" chocolate for a tasty souvenir.

Other Perks:

• Get 15% off when you book 2 nights at The ACME Hotel
• Book DIRECT to get a $10 food and beverage voucher at either Bodega or West Town Bakery for every night of your stay

I highly recommend The ACME Hotel if you ever visit Chicago. I had a very positive experience and got great value for the money I paid.