Everything about The Ardmore exceeded expectations. The location has the advantages of being a stone's throw from a beautiful beach, easily accessible rental bikes for nice long rides along the waterfront, and equally convenient access to the Red Line El Trains. We were able to get around town, down to Millennium Park, Chicago Art Institute, Wrigley Field, easily by train. Nearby Andersonville neighborhood was a great place for thrifting, and cafes/bars, and getting around the Northside was easy by car, not too congested.
The apartment was even more beautiful, spacious, and comfortable than the photos suggest. From the big comfy leather couch to the sweet balcony for sitting in the sunshine and drinking coffee, to the dining room that sat our entire family of 10 comfortably, we had plenty of space to relax after busy days wandering the city. Sean has most everything you need in the kitchen, beds, and bathrooms (great water pressure in the showers!) and the washer/dryer, although small, was perfect for doing a few a few loads to get us through the week. Having fitness machines on the ground floor was also helpful for my kids who are athletes. They mostly ran along the lakefront, but it was great to have the exercise bikes as an option. The furnishing, books, and artwork in the apartment made us feel like we were surrounded by old-Chicago charm. The light in the apartment was also spectacularly warm and inviting. Kids loved the treasure hunt and we all enjoyed the historical photos and artifacts.
The wifi was great. We never had any issues with getting online and getting work done from any room of the apartment.
Sean was a great host. He was extremely responsive especially around check-in and check-out when we needed him most. Having extra keys made it easy for different members of our family to come and go as needed. The parking space made the visit stress-free - highly recommend renting the second parking space for the extra fee if you have two cars. The elevator was great to have for our older family members, but the old-fashioned sliding doors were a bit heavy so just something to be aware of.
Overall, one of the best, if not THE best, airbnb stay I have had in the last eight years, and I have stayed in some very nice places from Berlin to Los Angeles. Sean's place is definitely top of my list. Thanks, Sean for hosting such a magnificent apartment. It was a great way to get the family together and enjoy everything that Chicago has to offer.