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Todd from Denver, CO
"I pull up and instantly know I've made a mistake booking this hotel. The chic modern lobby that you see in the pictures and promo video is nothing but a small hallway. There is no doorman, no common area, no guest restroom and for some reason a glassed off busted down construction zone area for some reason that makes absolutely no sense to have so much wasted space in such a small space to begin with, and only one small elevator that can carry 4 peopele without bags comfortably in service. My check in was quick and I was up to the 5th floor and told my room was 507. So, at the door for 507 I'm trying and trying to get my key to work all while holding and carrying my 4 bags. After a couple minutes I look at my key card holder and realize the front desk told me 507 but wrote 501, so I head to the other end of the hall to 501 where the key works and I open the door to closet sized room. Literally an 8x10 foot that basically fits the full sized bed in it. I begin to unpack and realize there is no way I will be able to spend the 4 nights I've booked in NYC in this small of a space. (I've been to NY many many times and never seen a hotel room for the price I paid this small) It was literally the size of a closet. I call to the front desk and ask if there was anything they could do or if the could upgrade me to something else, when really I just wanted to leave and go the hotel I stayed in 6 months ago when in the same area. This hotel was a huge mistake. The front desk offered to move my room to a queen...FOR A PRICE. And when I got to the front desk they graciously offered me a king room which I gladly took. Upon entering 505 I was more ok with it than the full room (don't book the urban full, which I didn't realize I had booked until I got there, my bad, too small for as much money as they charge for a room that size, even in NY) The room is still small but much better, and the decor is bright and modern. While unpacking I noticed an unusual amount of outside noise from the street permeating my room and then, UGH a 1970's heating/air conditioning unit in the window. I was on the 5th floor and could hear conversations of people on the street. The hvac unit was like having the window open. Like there was no window there at all. SO LOUD. Every horn, every brake screech, every construction noise, every siren was like it was in my room. I SLEPT ABOUT 4 HOURS A NIGHT because it was SO LOUD. I know this is NY but again, for the price they charge for this hotel, the noise and the fact that they window hvac is RIDICULOUS. I've never stayed in a hotel that has window units in the several times I've been to NY. Never. It was awful, but at this point I figure I'm stuck. Now i know why they have so many pillows on the bed... so you can cover your head to try to block out the outside noise. The bathroom is small and modern, clean and efficient, however, there isn't much space to 'hang your towel' which they ask you to do to help stay green. there is a small hook on the back of the door that holds on towel and a small towel bar on the shower glass but there is nowhere really to put the wash cloth or hand towel. It just made it seem even smaller that there was no counter and no extra hooks or towel bar really. Then... on my last night in town, my last night at this hotel, I get in late and it had been cold and rainy outside so as I prepare and get into bed I'm thinking the reason why I'm so cold is because it was outside. At about 4a.m. I wake up and turn up the window heater. At 5a.m. i put my sweat shirt on. At 6a.m. I am pissed and realize the heater isn't even working, In fact, it's blowing colder air in. I call to the front desk, MAD, and as I explain to the front desk guy the situation, he says to me, 'What do you want me to do about it?' in a snotty tone that I can barely hear. The best he could do for me at 6a.m. is have someone bring up extra blankets to my frozen room. This is March in NYC and I've paid approx $1200 for 4 nights at a bad hotel that looks cool online and I've lost it! I only had 2 more hours before I needed to be up to get to the airport and the best they could do for me was offer extra blankets with no apology, no mention of refund, NOTHING. Three hours later I stop at the front desk to check out. The girl working was more concerned with answering the phone and taking care of phone calls than helping me standing in front of here. She answered phone call after phone call. I felt extremely invalued at this moment. Finally, she tells me she has to call her manager to see what they could do for me. After speaking with him. She tells me, 'Well, things like this happen and you just have to deal with it.' WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY???? 'And that they would give me a discount, but where is the calculator...' All the while I'm thinking, I HAVE TO GET TO THE AIRPORT! Why is this taking SO LONG. She finds the calculator and begins tapping it with her finger nails and i tell her that I'm in a hurry to get to the airport and she says, 'Sir this is going to take some time, I have to enter everything manually, so here is what we are going to do for you, we will take off your upgrade charge.' MY UPGRADE CHARGE? THAT'S IT??? At this point I am livid and realizing I have to get to the airport because it is taking so long for this to get finished. i ask for a printed receipt reflecting the discount and she says again, 'Sir, this is going to take time...I could email it to you....' So, I give her my email address. I make it to the airport but only with minutes to spare, they were boarding my plane when I got to the gate and I'm not late for flights. I get home and check my email, and you guessed it, THERE WAS NO EMAIL RECEIPT! DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL. SPEND THE MONEY ON SOMEPLACE ELSE. OH!!!! AND THEIR FREE BREAKFAST (which the love to advertize everywhere) IS BREAD AND COFFEE. HOTEL= ruined New York weekend...."
Posted: Tue, Apr 03, 2012
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