Virgin Hotel Chicago

Nearly lost in the excitement about the birth Virgin Hotels is the fact that it’s a real hotel we’re talking about, in the actually existing city of Chicago, Illinois, in a restored 1928-vintage building inside the Loop, the city’s central business district. At the moment Virgin is threatening to kill off quite a few of the industry’s pet peeves all at once: they promise wi-fi that’s fast and truly free, a minibar with prices that match the corner shop, room service without the extortionate delivery fee, as well as plentiful closet space and lighting that’ll enable you to doll yourself up with confidence. (This last bit, they say, is aimed at women, but we say a well-lit vanity is a must for any gender.)