This was my first, and probably last, horse drawn carriage experience. Let's just say that it was not what I thought it would be and this has nothing to do with any coupons, any tips, fees, whatnot. First, the realities are, you're being drawn by a horse. This means it stinks. If the horse farts, it stinks, if the horse pees, it smells, if the horse sneezes it stinks. There's nothing romantic or happy about it really unless you were ready for a horse ride in which case that's a whole 'nother issue. Then, it's very bumpy, cold and damp and moldy. It's just not a pleasant feeling, it's not soft, cushy or any of that romance novel stuff. It's simply just kind of ... meh. The horse takes you around the area and you basically just sit on it and bump along. You see ... some stuff ... here and there. Nothing special or spectacular you couldn't see while walking around. It was just ok. I don't think I would waste my money doing this again. read more

My wife and I did the city and lakeshore carriage ride and it was perfect. Our driver was very nice and welcoming, she even offered to take pictures for us. Great experience over all. read more

Antique Coach & Carriage - Tours Near Me

Awesome experience. Take the 30 minute and see the lake and city by carriage. It goes from Ghiradelli to the Magnificent Mile. A must. read more

Antique Coach & Carriage - Tours Near Me

Romance personified. If you are shopping, dining, or celebrating in downtown Chicago this holiday season considering stopping by the carriage stands on Michigan Ave for a tour of the loop - see stores like Macy's and the city Christmas Tree decked out in their finest holiday sparkle. If you call them directly they even take reservations for private transportation off their normal tour routes in covered or open carriages. This is a year round service, but a special delight during the holidays. read more

Don't use this service. The carriage drivers whip people in traffic and company says my bruise isn't battery because I didn't bleed

An age old form of transportation has given tourists and locals a different view of this great city. It's perfect for any season, for a romantic moment, to be shared with friends, or just one of those things you need to do at least once in your life. I can't speak for all the other carriages, but this company has been around for nearly 20 years now. They mostly cover the lakefront and goldcoast area, providing rides for tours, proms, weddings, parades, or just a nice stroll around. Rates aren't that expensive (at least in my eyes for what you get), $40 for a half hour and $80 for the full (plus tip). Lucky for us we had a Groupon, so my date, myself and another couple (plus a bottle of champagne) set off. You have to call to make an appointment, though I'm sure there has to be somewhere in the city that you can just do a walk up. You then meet your carriage at whatever location they tell you on the phone and hop in. Our coachman was nice enough to give us the option of the scenic route (which can be noisy and full of traffic) or the quite route (not as scenic but very quite). I was pleasantly surprised how relaxing the whole experience was, even with us getting crazy with the champagne. I was also surprised on how warm it actually was in the carriage, it was in the 40's with a nice wind but all it took was a blanket (which they provide) to keep warm and of course each other. What a great experience, you should book your trip today!! read more

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**Let me say I love to do romantic excursions like this and I was super excited to put this together** but... ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE SERVICE... I called to order a reservation and I was hoping to use a Groupon I had purchased for half of our trip. Apparently this was unacceptable because the woman who called me back, I believe her name was Debbie, must have thought I was insane to want to use a discount for her carriage services. I was told not only would they not honor it but that I would have to pay in full and talk to Groupon to get my money back. Now I don't care about the cost but its the principle that I'm upset about. Companies use Groupon to assist in building their business and clientele and essentially make more money. If you can't handle that, maybe you shouldn't be working with another company to "grow your business". Honey, this is one company that does not have their shit together. read more

I was initially a little discouraged when I arrived early and simply had a hard time locating the "meeting point". I called the number (several times) that was listed on my confirmation email as the point of contact for any inquiries. I never recieved an answer, only a voicemail. My Wife and I got our bearings together and We got to the location 10mins late. The gentleman orchestrating the rides took our name and pulled us from the waiting line and assured us that our reservation would still be honored upon the arrival of His next available carriage. Once the Carraige arrived, we were not dissatisfied. Our Rider Mary was extremely polite and so was Her carrot loving companion Freddo. We enjoyed a beautiful ride through the Gold-Coast, one that I would refer to anyone that desires to have a more private/romantic experience with their spouses. We looked at lights, beautiful homes (a few that were for sale ) and we enjoyed complimentary blankets that were offered. Our 45min ride was closer to 60mins and it was the most beautiful experience to have with My Wife. This company had me a little nervous in the beginning, but the were 5 stars in the end. Request Mary and Freddo!!! You won't be disappointed. read more

Antique Coach & Carriage - Antique Horse And Carriage - Tours Near Me

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Cathy was wonderful came to the hotel and picked us up and dropped back at hotel entrance. I surprised my daughter and niece and they loved it and Cathy made the ride wonderful for them ... please ignore any negative reviews and call Cathy if you want the best carriage ride 312-399-7866 read more

Cathy was a fantastic host for our hour tour. She made it magical for our four year old who thought she was a princess. Cathy was friendly, knowledgeable and fun. She even recommended a great family restaurant for us after our tour, took our photos and let my daughter pet the horse. :) For those of you who are talking about over worked, depressed horses... it just happened to come up in our conversation about our horse that she and the other horses spend three weeks in pasture in a farm and then work one and a half weeks before returning to the country. And they have days off in between. So I doubt they are depressed. I'd love to have their vacation to work ratio! We will be doing this again next time we have guests or a special event and I will be asking for Cathy. read more

It was better than expected, started by the historic water tower and toured the mansions of Gold Coast. The carriage was enclosed and we had the option to cover the doors as well. Our host was very friendly and the horses seemed happy! read more

These are a nice way to cool down and relax but between the buildings, not much to see. For the same money you can take a river cruze

Carriage rides are supposed to be nostalgic and romantic, but it's not the case when the horse is obviously sick and overworked. Ours wasn't the only one. Please don't use this service. read more

Perfect experience, I would highly recommend Antique. Debbie was very responsive in helping me arrange a custom 1 hour ride. The driver was perfectly on time for the pickup, the ride was fantastic and the drop off was exactly at the right time and place. Very reasonable price for a custom ride, as well. read more

Totally agree with M.B.'s review. Not only are these horses overworked it is only those with no compassion for these animals who pay for rides. First of all the city traffic is terrible for these horses to have to be in; all of the exhaust can't be good for any animal or human. Second, for those that complain about the smell here's some advice, DON"T ride the CARRIAGE!! Last night while going back home, my husband and I saw about 8 carriages and their miserable looking drivers and tired horses waiting for NO ONE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DARN COLD!!! read more

I'm a sucker for romance- enough said! A night under the blanket with my sweetie on a horse drawn carriage looking at the city is so amazing. read more

This was a great time! You cannot be mad that the groupon expired on you! How can you say that is bad service if you did not call ahead and do your planning. They only have so many carriages and so many horses and hours to operate. I spoke Debbie --- She is great! I am bothered that someone even things otherwise. She explained that everyone called the last 4 days of the Groupon and she only has so much man power and everyone was being rude to her :( Any ways - BEST TIME!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! read more

I proposed tonight and followed it up with a carriage ride. Absolutely perfect experience!! The gentleman leading the horse gave us time to talk about the night while at the same time tossing in interesting facts about the city as we passed by certain areas. For a carriage ride, there's no alternative! read more

Very nice and relaxing. Cash only, and the charge for the ride goes directly to the company so be sure to have extra to tip your coachman! Our driver was very nice, and our horse's name was Fiona. Nice trek from Michigan Ave to Lake Shore and back. But you can also choose to take your carriage ride in the city. If it's chilly out, they typically have blankets, as the first time we tried a few years ago it was freezing, but the weather this trip was gorgeous. read more

My wife and I Did a tour this past Friday. I was a little nervous about liking it before I booked it for our 5 year wedding Anniversary. However, it ended up being a great experience and a cool way to take in the views on the city. read more

I booked a horse and carriage for my significant other and I as a gift. Let me tell you, we had no issues at all! I came a few days before our scheduled tour and asked what I would need to do in order to put the gifts in the carriage before the tour. Omar was a great help!! He forward our information to Danny and man... we had everything we wanted. This company is VERY professional and helped us out a lot!! We had the best Christmas!! read more

Cathy and Debbie were wonderful to work with as we planned an over the top proposal for Visions Event Studio. Her professionalism, as well as attentiveness to details was unmatched. I would definitely recommend Antique Coach & Carriage to anyone looking for carriage services. read more

Did the 30 min ride with spouse and kids to see Christmas lights on Michigan Ave. Can't complain. Wasn't that cold in the carriage and they had a blanket to cover up. 4 yr old was bored after 10 min. Decent price for a fun memory in Chicago. read more

I was excited and looking forward to going on the carriage ride downtown a week before Christmas. Made it to the pickup site and had typical questions about the ride and the driver was VERY RUDE and short with us in answering my questions about the ride. Don't dare bother him during the ride. Apparently the driver I had is extremely unhappy with his job and totally ruined the mood of the evening. Obviously this job requires one to be people oriented and oh, I don't know, how about being happy?? He also asked me for a tip up front before the ride even began and said it should be at least $20. I thought we tipped people based on the service that is provided. How disappointing! read more

Fantastic! I don't write tons of reviews but this couldn't have been simpler. I booked on their website for about $50 for a half hour ride. I showed up and the driver, Bruno, was sitting right there waiting for us. He was very nice and we took a romantic stroll through the Streeterville. The inside of the carriage had slick red velvet seats and even a couple blankets. I couldn't have asked for anything more. read more

I was pleased with the service I received when I took a carriage ride with Antique. Our driver was kind to us and her horse. Some of the drivers seemed a bit gruff, but know that there are kind ones too. As for the carriage experience I found the gentle motion of the carriage to be soothing and calm, and a nice chance to see the city lights and also enjoy the quiet company of my friends (you get a nice sense of privacy if you ask for the windows to be up). Maybe it's not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. If you really want to see the city, ask to have the top put down. I think these horses are well taken care of. You have to keep in mind that a horse at rest will hang his/her head and cock one foot up. When you see horses looking like this while waiting for customers, they are simply taking a break. Our driver actually told us that there would be a short wait since her horse needed a rest between rides. Plenty of these horses were lively and curious. They were clean and well fed, and upon asking a few of the drivers where they stayed, I found out that they have 2 weeks per month rest on a ranch southwest of the city. Overall I had a really good experience and would recommend Antique highly. Remember to tip your driver well. It turns out they see very little of the $40 you pay for a ride, and rely on tips to make ends meet. read more

Debbie Hay was wonderful. We met with her 9 months before my daughter's wedding to see the horses and carriages. She could not have been nicer. The facility provided good care of their horses and the carriage was beautiful. My daughter was married September 9, 2017 and they provided transportation from the picture site to the venue in woodridge, il. They were there early, happy, not rushed, and they were spotless. The carriage held my daughter and 5 bridesmaids and one flower girl easily. What a terrific special touch which they provided. read more

I would strongly discourage people from using any sort of horse carriage service. It's just wrong to work any animal the way these businesses do - they make these poor horses work in the extreme heat, and the cold of winter. They don't get a break, some of them look lame and many look depressed. How could anyone with a heart want to support this sort of thing? I just don't get it. There is nothing romantic about having a poor overworked horse pull you around. read more

2017 would have been our 4th annual Christmas Day carriage ride with our kids. Our reservation was cancelled for Christmas Day due to extreme cold weather. They let us know within reasonable time before we headed out. We chose a refund over rescheduling. I emailed two days later for an update on the process of our refund. I were told that the refund would be done that day 12/27/2017. I shot over another email on the 31st. I was told that the refund was done on the 27th. On the 8th day I sent another email with no reply. The 9th day, I received a refund but it wasn't for the $53 I paid. I had to send another email informing them that I paid $53 and only got a refund of $45. I did eventually receive my full refund but feel like I had to fight for it. We're disappointed in the hassle we had to go through. read more

overworked and depressed horses pulling around tourists - how romantic! Their noses right up against exhuast pipes on crowded, traffic-filled streets, no breaks given temperature or weather conditions. I see these horses come down my street every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow and I dont think they think it's so romantic. read more

Do not pay for30 minute ride our driver gave us 20 minutes for our 30 minute ride and I had to laugh he sped up the horse when we turned the corner from the lake. I requested the lake tour and we got to see more of the city instead of the lake. Once we did get to the lake he was very busy taking pictures with his camera. I thought it would be a nice touch to catch the end of the air show if I could give this driver a f- I would I'm glad he didn't ask for a tip. I would not recommend this ride to anyone. If your driver is an older man with an accent and a large camera just say no and wait for the next carriage read more

This past Friday my daughter & her friends had their senior prom. I thought a carriage ride would be a different and enjoyable way to end their evening. I spoke to Debbie reserved 4 carriages and was able to prepay the entire adventure. When they arrived 4 carriages were waiting & ready to go. They rode around the city & absolutely loved it! A few of the girls said the carriage ride was the best part of senior prom! To make things better for them, the hummer was even able to park where the carriages were waiting for them! I would definitely recommend a carriage ride!! read more

I met with Don about going for a ride with my wife who was meeting me downtown after work. Don came up with the idea and was right on cue. Don picked us up right after dinner at Catch 35 and offered to take us to the fountain, but after a few drinks and dessert, we were ready to head back to the car. Don was very respectful of his horse and made sure to wait for all lights if they were about to change to not stress out his horse. He was very respectful of both myself and my wife and I will not hesitate to ride with him again. I will admit that some guys that work out there look like they don't care much about their horse, but I work close by and see the relationship Don has with his horse's (not the same one everyday) and how he allows kids and passer-bys and opportunity to interact with the horses. If you are looking for a good wind down to a romantic night... look for DON! read more

We tried this ... what a horrible experience. The smell behind a horse is not good. The driver (Don) was grungy and grumpy. Cars were constantly honking at us ... think about it .... a walking horse in downtown Chicago blocking traffic on already congested roads .....? Not really a good idea in the first place. Overall, not a good experience and will not do it again. read more

we had a nice tour of lake shore drive!!! the driver was not well-informed of the city and its history but that's ok!

I wish there was a way to give less than one star!! i was verbally harassed today by a driver named don ... at least that is what his card said. i was riding with a girlfriend and our chidren... and he was continually saying some of the most inappropriate things to me and other people around us... at one point he said he wished i wasnt married so he would have a chance with me. i had something that fell on my shoulder towards my chest area and my friend removed it and he said "i wish i could have done that" ... he kept telling im beautiful in front of others and my children... i mean pay someone a compliment once with respect and than drop it... it was a nightmare and my friend ended up in an arguement with him by the time the ride was over... he didnt give us one shred of history or factual info about the city ... all he did was create a terrible experience for all of us... i certainly hope this has an affect on him and the company he represents as he was simply and awful person!! read more