Staff was friendly and helpful. We stayed with our dog, which we've never done before. They were very welcoming, gave her a dog biscuit, and there was no pet fee. We enjoyed a walk in the park and along the lakefront in the morning. Walkable to shopping and dining in the Gold Coast, Old Town, and downtown. There's a restaurant/bar on the rooftop that's open late and a coffee shop attached to the lobby. I'm not sure if the hotel is non-smoking, but we did smell some cigarette smoking on the hallway, but not in our room.