Carlton Inn Midway

So glad that we took a chance on this jewel of a motel near Midway! The entire staff was incredibly helpful and friendly.
We booked a night with their park & fly service. Felt very safe leaving our vehicle with them as they keep a close eye on their lot (at half the cost of long term parking at Midway)!
Parking is tight and the rooms aren’t huge, but they are clean and neat. I was sold when I saw the cute pictures of (the owner’s) dog in the room! So sweet!

I can’t say enough about my amazing experience at the Carlton Inn Midway. They went above and beyond to make us comfortable, provided maps and directions for all of the sites we wanted to see, and even gave great restaurant recommendations. Everyone we spoke to was so kind. The room was large and clean. If you’re heading to Chicago, this place out!

Definitely not a luxury place, but this was perfect for a cheap weekend trip with my boyfriend. Got a deal through Expedia to make it even better! The local train is just a couple blocks away and it takes just about 15 – 20 minutes to get downtown. Super easy for newbies to Chicago like us. The room was small but clean, great for just a place to rest our feet at night. Bathrooms are tiny but not a big deal. Breakfast was decent and the front desk is holding our bags since checkout was several hours before our flight– free shuttle to train and Midway, by the way!
Best part was the upfront customer service as soon as we checked in. Stephen was great and gave us tons of resources/​foolproof directions for sightseeing in the city! We felt so welcome, especially after our train into Union Station had been delayed by several hours. Would absolutely come again!

Good place to stay… I second all the other comments here except I found the bed too soft… I wish all motels and hotels would use the same beds that La Quinta does… they have the best beds of any chain. There just aren’t enough of them!

Dean (shuttle driver) is most definitely one of the kindest people we have encountered on our travels. He was very friendly, upbeat, and he genuinely wanted to help. My first shout out goes to him!
The next is EVERYONE else that works for Carlton Inn. In all my travels, and all my reviews, Carlton Inn Midway has given me the VERY BEST customer service. The staff is always and constantly willing to give the best customer experience, often going way above the call of duty and even going out of their way to help. It is mind boggling how helpful everyone is especially since the nightly rate was quite cheap.
We had a small room, on a weekend, for only $ 103 a night (pre tax). The area is the first stop from the orange line from the airport. However, you can request for a shuttle pickup from the airport, and it was fast! You can also request for their shuttle to drop you off or pick you up from the orange line, which is an easy two blocks walk away. The hotel is about 30 – 45 minutes away from downtown/​loop. However, you will not even feel that it is that long since there are so many sights to see along the way, and it truly goes by pretty fast.
The area is fairly safe — it is right across a middle or high school and just a regular town. Nothing too vegas-​like, but just a regular old town.
Free breakfast — orange juice, coffee, donuts, bagel, fruits, and white castle biscuits that comes in sausage and egg with cheese, egg and cheese, and egg with cheese and bacon. Nothing too fancy, but I totally dig it. They have a small inside area to sit, but they have a much bigger space outside … this may be very useful during the warmer months.
The entire complex has two floors. This is also the first time that I ever had a non-​smoking room that actually smells nice and definitely smelled non smoking. It smelled clean and not one of those rooms that has clearly been drowned with Lysol and air fresheners. The bathroom was also clean that came with a shampoo and body wash dispenser. Small room came with a mini-​fridge, microwave, hair dryer, coffee maker, flat screen tv with HBO and Star channels, iron/​ironing board. Bed and pillows were comfy, and I was actually comfortable using their sheets and towels. Carpet was also clean.

Absolutely perfect hotel for visiting Chicago!
Very friendly and helpful front desk staff. Very clean and comfortable rooms. Close to public transportation (20 min to downtown — orange line). Restaurants and fast food near by. Free parking. Big plus also — the breakfast is very good.
Best of all — absolutely affordable price! We’ll definitely come back next time visiting Chicago!

Wow! What can I say? Thank you Unilocalers for the reviews of this place! What a gem!
The price is right and the location is a block and a half away from the Orange Line to downtown and minutes from Midway airport. There is a free shuttle that will take you to and from the airport (Midway), restaurants, the Orange Line, the store… basically anywhere within a few miles. We never had to wait more than a couple minutes for a ride and when we told them in advance what time we were going somewhere, they were ready and waiting. The shuttle runs 24 hours/​day.
Upon check in, I verified the shuttle would take us to the Orange Line as my aunt does not walk well. They said yes, and they mentioned they had us on the second floor of the hotel, but would move us downstairs to accommodate my aunt. AWESOME! They provided us a list with local restaurants, bars, shopping, etc. and highlighted staff favorites. The staff have good taste — we tried a couple of their favorite restaurants!
The free breakfast consisted of Dunkin Donut sandwiches, donuts, coffee, fruit, milk, bagels, etc.
Free wifi. Plenty of cable channels and movie channels.
Rooms were very clean and well kept. Sufficient plugs for devices. Dispensers for toiletries. Microwave. Refrigerator. Plenty of space. We stayed during a cold spell and the heater worked great.
All staff we encountered were extremely friendly and accommodating.
Will be returning to Chicago and will be staying at Carlton Inn Midway! Wish I could take this place with me everywhere I travel!

As an out of owner, I was very skeptical when our foreign friends booked reservations here. However, this place is a gem for the price. The neighborhood is safe and is an inexpensive train ride away front the places we want to go.
The rooms are small but very clean and include a microwave and refrigerator. The room is a little noisy but didn’t interrupt our sleep.
The staff is extremely pleasant which makes me believe that some of the complaining reviewers here did not even talk to the staff about problems with the rooms.
As stated in another review, the breakfast is on the chintzy side, but it is free. Wifi is also free as compared the expensive chains.

The good: For in the middle of Chicago, this seems to be a great deal (if it wasn’t for the smell — see below in «The bad»). Aesthetically, the rooms look great and were clean. Dispensers for toiletries (soap, lotion, shampoo, body wash) are in the bathroom so you can use as much as you want.
The bad: My first room smelled awful but my husband and daughter couldn’t tell. It was like someone urinated in the air conditioner! When we switched rooms, I didn’t think it smelled as bad (still not good though), but my husband and daughter didn’t like it. Grout in the bathroom was dirty and the lotion is super runny and didn’t smell great. For breakfast, the only water available is in a vending machine and the breakfast area is in an outdoor area, so beware if your booking during the winter or plan on eating in your room.

Great place to stay!!! In Archer Heights towards the south side, it was a great room (a smoking room once again and it didn’t smell). The bed was super comfortable, and the A/​C was just fine, and shower water in the morning was SUPER HOT!!!
the entertainment center had a HDTV on top, a single cup coffee maker, and a refrigerator below, with an open area to hang clothes as well as keep the iron and ironing board.
This hotel is much better than some of the other bigger brand name places I’ve stayed in

We enjoyed our stay at the Carlton Inn. We were greeted with map and lots of helpful info. Don’t be deceived by the motel style — the rooms are really nice! And they had a hot Dunkin Donuts breakfast! They generously offered to drive and pick us up from the train stop. It was an easy 20 minute train ride right to downtown. Excellent service! Would recommend for anyone who wants to save money but still wants quality.

Amazing service. For such a small establishment this place delivers a big return for your dollar.

The Carlton Inn was perfect for our overnight stay. We needed a pet friendly hotel near Midway for the night before our flight. Somewhere that would accommodate us and our 2 small dogs (Maltese).
The room was very very comfortable and had everything we needed. The staff were consistently wonderful. I’ve travelled the globe extensively on business and can honestly say that all of the the staff we interacted with at the Carlton were as friendly, helpful and accommodating as any 5 star hotel I’ve stayed in.
The Carlton is a 2-​star hotel, but the room was very clean and very comfortable.
The breakfast was a surprise because, though simple was quite varied and good.
We took the shuttle to Midway. We had 5 suitcases plus the 2 dogs and their in-​cabin carriers. The driver picked us up outside our room and was helpful with the bags.
The Carlton was perfect for our needs and perfect for our night before our flight.

We only stayed there for a night — since our flight out of Midway was canceled last minute. I have to say, from the time I called to my check — in and every interaction I had with the staff, they were GREAT. Very nice, very hospital and willing to help us with everything from our shuttling, restaurant recommendations, helping with our bags etc. They even put out an early breakfast because we were leaving super early (4am) and they had coffee brewed, donuts, fruit etc. If I ever go back to chicago, this is where I will be staying! The room was clean and had great modern touches without the price! LOVE THIS PLACE!

After screwing up our reservation we finally got a room. The smell walking into the room jut about knocked us out. Then when it came to sleeping we had tiny little pillows and the most uncomfortable nights sleep that any of us have had in a long time. The breakfast was so so. Pancake machine is a bonus. Bottom line: for what we paid I would expect more an would not stay here again. I could have paid the same amount and stayed at a Marriot.

Can’t beat this deal. We were very happy with our room, the amenities (free wifi, shuttle, parking, etc), and the awesome service. This is the friendliest hotel we have ever been to. Thanks Carlton staff.

Did I stay in the same hotel as the other reviewers???
1. they charged about 150 for a single room because a huge trade show was in town.
2. I stayed in a back room that was blocked from the parking lot and from common view. Very dark and suspicious, it needs to be redesigned as a woman I don’t think that’s safe.
3. My room did not look like the pic that’s posted. It was very dim and had a mildewy smell. There was the presence of water in my room because the night stand light was rusted.
4. Instead of travel sized complimentary soaps or shampoos, they have dispensers mounted on the walls. I have never seen that before.

My sister and I stayed for two nights at the Carlton back in May. We loved the personal touches!
If you looking for a cheap motel, this the one to consider.
The staff is personable and are eager to share their ideas of things to do in Chicago. They are very proud of their city! They will transport you to the train station (which is literally around the corner). The staff wants to make sure you leave Chicago with a great impression of their town! And the ride to the airport at 4:30 am by the staff was great.
The rooms are standard for a motel. The beds are standard. The room is a good size. I didn’t feel terribly cramped and limited. It was clean with standard amenities. And each room has photos of the owner’s dog. That tugged on my heart strings.
They don’t have to put out breakfast but they do. Yogurt, bulk donuts and egg sandwiches from Dunkin Donuts, which might be day old but whateves. Eat it or don’t.
Make no mistake. It’s a big city. You need to be conscious of your surroundings. But I don’t think it’s a scary neighborhood.
You will be pleasantly surprised with this great gem!
Room Tip: you can buy train passes from the front desk.

The Carlton Inn Midway is an amazing place to stay. They offer free shuttle to and from Midway and are right next to the orange train line for simple access to downtown. The train is within walking distance, but the shuttle will take you back and forth. I don’t think the neighborhood is that bad, but some may feel unsafe during the block or so walk.
A security guard walks the premises all day and night. Continental breakfast is large, including DD breakfast sandwiches. The cost of the clean, spacious rooms is modest and the customer service is always spot-​on.
When reserving, I would highly recommend requesting a room that is not in the back of the property. The small number of rooms back there do not face the street or parking lot. They face the backside of another row of rooms. Difficult to explain but if you ensure your room door faces the parking lot/​Archer St. you will be fine. That other row of rooms is just not as nice and they charge the same price as the other rooms.
The staff is excellent here. They are all so nice and helpful. I do like staying downtown, but if I don’t need to stay downtown I will always choose The Carlton.

I arrived at Midway airport, late at night with two young children. The free shuttle was waiting for us outside, as it runs 24 hours a day. Very nice! The room was surprisingly large, and very clean. Front desk staff, «Connie» was very much on top of things, considering it was late at night. She runs a tight ship, and it shows. :) They had a security guard nearby, since things can be a bit scary near Midway airport in the middle of the night. I felt safe staying there, and we slept well in the comfy beds. Surprisingly, the internet wi-​fi was FREE. The breakfast served in the lobby was FREE and there is even a small workout room on the 2^nd floor.
If you are in the Midway area, you don’t have to pay a fortune to stay at one of the hotel chains. The Carlton Inn is a great alternative, and we’d stay there again for sure. Excellent value for the money. I read the reviews about this hotel before I booked it, and now I can say I agree… it is a solid choice for the money. :)