SR

We were planning to stay here next month. Recent negative reviews comment on poor airconditioning problems, uncomfortable beds, poor service and rude employees. Any comments, I'm getting cold feet. Any other suggestions? We want a nice, full service hotel in a good location.

Austin

SR - I've not read all the negative reviews. Where did you see them? Le Parker was one of the ones we considered because of the great reviews. We chose the Gorham, mainly to save some $$, great reviews, location, and large bathrooms. If as the time draws nearer and we could get a room at the LPM, I'd stay there in a heartbeat.

Nikki

I stayed at le Parker Meridien two weeks ago. Had a great stay. I think the beds are really comfortable, they have firm mattresses topped by featherbeds and duvets. The rooftop pool has a fabulous view.

I didn't experience any rudeness. I have stayed here several times and if there is a good rate available I would always choose it. In fact, I had booked the Gorham for that same weekend and cancelled when I got a good rate at the Parker Meridien website.

I have also stayed at the Gorham. While I would stay there again, one of the friends with whom I stayed was not impressed with the hotel and will not go there again. It is an older building, less stylish rooms, although they are large (we stayed in a suite, so I don't know about the standard room size).

Austin

Thanks for that info Nikki. We know the Gorham and the LPM really don't compare. The larger rooms and big bathroom are the appealing part. And the cheaper parking ($33 vx. $45 per day) Plus, we hope to spend very little time in the room!

However, I'm waiting for the time to get closer and try for a room at LPM at a better rate. At one time, a few weeks ago, LPM website had rooms for $175.

Do you reserve with the hotel or on line?

mclaurie

Austin you can find much cheaper parking if you go to iconparking.com Type in your dates, pick a location near your hotel. You'll have to take the car yourself & pick it up but you could save $10+/day for the slight inconvenience.

Nikki

Austin, I reserved the room on the hotel's website. I had been checking repeatedly and the rate went down the week before my trip. I have also gotten good rates for le Parker Meridien at quikbook.com. All very changeable, just keep checking.

Caribbean_Rez

We stayed at the LeParker Meridien 2 weeks ago. We booked it in February and the rates went down 2 weeks before our stay and they went down again a week before our stay and we also got a free breakfast and late checkout. When I checked in I asked if we could be upgraded to a suite and we were! The bed was comfortable the service was great and no one was rude. However, the parking rate was $40 (OUCH) for one night. It was pretty steep, but since we were upgraded and received a free breakfast we didn't mind.

Austin

McLaurie - thanks for the tip on the parking. Looks like that area (W 55th) has a lot for about $35 per night, about the same as the Gorham rate ($33).

I'll keep checking the LPM for lower rates.

SR

Thanks everyone for your responses. I saw the negative reviews about LPM posted on this website under hotels. Hotres.com has a room at the Parker Meridien for $169 for July which is when we are going. I dont' know if I can get this any cheaper as it gets closer or if there is a comparable hotel for less. I've read great reviews in the past about LPM, but if you read the last several reviews posted over the last two months, they are not positive. Has anyone found a better rate at LPM than the $169 ? I will be with my 14 year old son and sister. Can the rooms at LPM accomodate the three of us? Two women and a teenager trying to get ready for an evening show in a small NY hotel room after being out all day doesn't seem too fun to me. Should we book two rooms ?

Austin

I'd like to know if the LPM rooms are roomy enuf for 3 as well. One of the reasons I chose the Gorham was the reports of larger than average rooms, and large bathrooms.

djkbooks

We've stayed at Le Parker Meridien many times (most recently at ridiculously low rates through Hotwire last October).

I cannot imagine poor reviews. The beds are wonderful, service is friendly and efficient. Never had any problem with climate control - in fact, we found it to be superior.

We've been upgraded to an upper floor suite which was absolutely magnificent. Views, walk in shower, huge and spacious. Sometimes no charge, once for a nominal extra charge.

My only quibble with the place is the new infrared mini-bars (but these are popping up all over).

johnc

I stayed at the PM in November and it was fine. The place has been remodelled since my last stay 5 years ago and they are trying for the "boutique" look. However this is a VERY big hotel and service is spotty. We prefer the W Tuscany in NY but sometimes its rates are high. If you want space at an excellent price, stay at the Benjamin --- great location and the rates on Quikbook and Express Reservations can be very good.

BTW. The PM can be a bit misleading with its "park views" claims. The hotel is a few blocks south of the park.

Austin

been doing some reading, and one report that the discount prices are only for the lower floors, so if you want a view of the park (above 25th lfoor, odd numbered rooms) you may have to pay extra.

I read one review that the rooms were large. Another said they were so small that the bathroom door didn't open all the way into the bathroom!

To those who stayed there - how are the room (not suite) sizes?

djkbooks

I'm beginning to wonder whether those with "reviews" have ever actually stayed here!

The one time we were assigned a "standard" room via Hotwire, it was HUGE.

When we booked via their website (on our first visit) a Park View room, it did, indeed, have a MAGNIFICENT view of the ENTIRE park. While the hotel is several blocks south of the lower edge of Central Park, it's TALL and the views (from our windows anyway) are over and above (though the rooftops in between are charming) everything in those blocks.

johnc

Austin the room sizes are fine --- I'd guesstimate 250/300 sf ft. Somewhat avg to above avg by NYC standards.

johnc

Uhhh, I guess we have a different opinion of what "park view" means. The Park Lane has a magnificent park view, as does the Pierre. I had a high floor deluxe room at the PM and it was a reasonable size and I could see the park on the horizon but I would not have called it "huge" or a "park view".

johnc

PS The office rooftops between the PM and Central Park are "charming"?

Nikki

I think that $169 is an excellent rate and I would grab it. I have paid at the very lowest $159 last Christmas, and I consider anything up to $200 a good rate. I did book two rooms since my husband and I were traveling with our two teenagers, and that gave us the real luxury of space.

According to the hotel's website, the standard rooms are 320 square feet.

I have no problem with the bathroom size in the standard rooms, I have stayed in several rooms and the bathroom size is fine. The bathroom at the Gorham in the suite wasn't particularly larger. However, there is a problem for three people to stay in a room if you require three beds. I have been told that they will not put a rollaway in a room with two beds and they will not put a rollaway in a suite that has one bed and a sleep sofa. If two of you are sharing a bed, that is not a problem. Otherwise, you should call and check.

As far as the view is concerned, it depends how high up you are. To say that the park is on the horizon is a bit hard for me to understand. When you're high enough up, the park, which is three blocks away, can be seen quite clearly, as well as the buildings all around it. Check out the view from the pool.

I think the possibility of upgrades to higher rooms depends on what's available, not on how much you paid or how you booked. I was upgraded to two tower rooms when I stayed there in December at the $159 rate I booked through quikbook.

GoTravel

Le Parker Meridian is between 56th and 57th Streets and Central Park South is technically 59th Street. It seems to me that the upper floors on the 57th Street side would have fabulous views of the Park. I've had a great view of the Park from an upper floor of The Hilton which is about 4 blocks south of LPM.

SR

Thanks again everyone ! Your comments have been very helpful. For those of you who have stayed at the LPM, did you wish you had been in Times Square instead? We are first timers to NY for five days.

Niki: thanks for your comments about the beds at LPM, that was helpful. I would think we will need three beds because I'm coming with my sister and teenage son. From what you are saying, we probably should get two rooms, right?