Great stay - a couple of improvements shy of perfect
The unit: This was a 2nd floor 2 BR, 2 bathroom condo located in a quiet residential street off the busy N. Clark St. It was close to Addison (Red line) station, shops and restaurants. Paid, private parking was available behind the building for a non-trivial fee (highly encourage utilizing this option if you have a car as street parking was not readily available at all times, and required a temporary (paid) permit for overnight parking). The unit could be reached by the front door or directly from the parking spot, both by climbing two flights of stairs. If you're moving luggage, be prepared to put a bit of effort. There is another unit on top of this one (in the 3rd floor), and there was a lot of stomping overhead at times. This could be bothersome.
Amenities: The unit had all amenities needed for our stay. A number of towels were provided, along with hand soap, body wash and shampoo in the bathrooms. Kitchen was well equipped with all utensils, cutlery, vessels, plastic and aluminum wraps as well as salt, pepper, sugar, etc. The appliances (stove top, oven, microwave, fridge, toaster, and dishwasher) all worked fine. Dish soap and dishwasher tablets were provided. The AC worked well and there were ceiling fans in one of the bedroom and in the dining area. Besides, each bedroom had a table fan and there was a box fan in the living area. Iron and ironing board were provided. There was a compact washer/dryer combo. A large TV in the living room had streaming services. In short, the amenities were beyond our expectations.
The rooms: The condo was spacious. The bedrooms were big with the master BR leading to a patio with chairs. The bedroom closets were more than adequate, and there was enough lighting in all rooms. There was a queen-sized bed in each bedroom. The quality of the mattress and pillows was satisfactory. The living room, kitchen and the master bedroom also had plenty of natural light during the day. The bathrooms were also reasonably sized.
Internet: Internet was at times flaky, but the host was immediately responsive in calling up the service provider. It turned out to be a general issue in the area during our stay.
Furniture: This is the weak point of this unit. The sofa and chair in the living room as well as the four chairs around the small dining table were very uncomfortable and not fit for work use. Better quality furnishing would perfect this otherwise great stay.
The host: The host was very responsive and accommodating. He immediately followed up on the Internet issue and informed us of the status. He allowed us to check in a bit early and touched base during our stay to find out if anything was needed. Kudos, overall.
Overall, this was one of those rare units where all needs were anticipated and provided for by a very responsive host. The stay would be even better with updated furniture. Walking and other noise from unit above might be a bit bothersome at times.