Check-In for our Staycation at the Old Cook County Hospital

The hotel lobby is functional and well designed. I could not help but think the developers and architects had social distancing in mind before the pandemic. The front desk clerk was professional and provided service with a smile. He made eye contact during our entire interaction. Because I am a Discoverist member, I asked about an upgrade. The clerk changed the room to two queen beds with a sofa sleeper. 

Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall and Green Street

I was disappointed to learn the food hall was not open. We drove to Green Street Smoked Meats, even though the restaurant was not on the list provided by the front desk clerk. However, you can find Green Street Smoked Meats on the Hyatt website. We thought finding a parking space would be an issue in the West Loop, but we found street parking nearby. Of course, we were not paying attention to the directions and went to Green Street Local. It was not until we looked at the menu did we realize we were at the wrong place. Our server told us, “It happens a lot.” We finished our cocktail and headed to Green Street Smoked Meats.

Green Street Smoked Meats

We walked down Green Street and stopped at the first restaurant we saw because we smelled barbecue. The outdoor seating appeared to be at capacity; we sat indoors. When we looked at the menu, we realized we were at the wrong place again. This time we stopped at Parlor Pizza. Our server understood and told us to head next door. Finally, we arrived at Green Street Smoked Meats and dined indoors. By this time, I was hungry. Our server greeted us immediately. She shared our enthusiasm for smoked meats and directed us to the QR code on the table. We ordered quickly. The portions were perfect. When we returned to the Hyatt, we parked at the Pay Box. The cost is $2 per hour or $1 per hour for 10 hours.

First Guests to Occupy Our Room at the Old Cook County Hospital 

My sisters were born in the “County.” Kim noticed the floors as soon as we walked around. A lot of scraping and polishing went into making those floors shine. Make sure you open the door to the stairwell; the flooring is in its original condition. Even though we were the first guests to occupy this room, I wiped down all high-touch areas. It was more than enough space for three people. We do not know if the sofa sleeper was comfortable because Lynn did not spend the night. Kim and I toured the facility with one of the security guards. The fitness center was well-equipped, but the bar was not open. I was impressed with the seating in the breakfast area, and the pool table is a nice amenity.

Noises in the Night

The bed was comfortable. I dozed off first, but I heard music playing. Of course, I thought I was dreaming, but I quickly realized it was not a dream. We listened together and heard more music. I tried to go back to sleep. Then I heard furniture dragged across the floor. I did not say anything to Kim until the morning. She also heard tapping noises. I do not know if we talked ourselves into imagining spirits, but we heard something. Although we want to make another reservation at such a historic place, we agreed more guests need to occupy the building before we come back.

Staycation at the Old Cook County Hospital

According to my one-question survey on FB, 17% of the respondents said they preferred to staycation during the pandemic. I hope this post will inspire you to stay at your favorite hotel or resort. I enjoyed my stay here. Although breakfast was grab and go, we selected the hot breakfast and received French toast sticks. I only had one gripe about my interactions at the Hyatt. The hotel ran out of complimentary water at check-in, but the clerk offered a substitute. However, we did not receive a different beverage at check-out. The clerk looked at me and said, “We don’t have any.” Even though this may not seem like a big deal, I expect to receive all benefits as a World of Hyatt member.

Points Earned

Although I did not use World of Hyatt points for this stay, I earned 2,036. When I stopped in Ohio, I only used 2,500 points plus $60 to book a room at Hyatt Place Canton. Click on the link from The Points Guy to learn more about World of Hyatt membership. Kim and I split the cost of the room. The final expenses for this staycation were $125. The breakdown includes $66 for the reservation, $29 for cocktails, $10 tip at Green Street Smoked Meats, $15 for parking, and I left a tip for housekeeping. Have you selected your credit card, hotel rewards program, or airline rewards program? You can click on the icons at the top of the page to learn more.