We could use a little heat wave right about now.

Good exchange of information here I think, about availability of a/cs in NY hotels. I know some apartment buildings, as noted by others, have an all-on or all-off system, so you have to have heat or a/c irrespective of the weather, but am surprised if any hotel has it.

I know you were polite in the situation, but I imagine you also know that in NY at least, it's fine to go through a series of degrees of assertiveness if you're not being treated right. Which you absolutely were not. I am in 1000% agreement with you in being angry at being lied to and jerked around.

Thanks to all who had informative replies; it was esp good to know that the clerk who cited NY "regulations" was mis-informed.

To the Helmsley's credit, I did this past week get a very prompt and very courteous and informative response to my e-m. We were offered a complimentary w/e as recompense for our discomfort - a decent gesture, I'd say. And, as I noted in another NY Report post, other than the a/c problems, the hotel was an excellent value - a generously sized room, with both towels and pillows that were fluffy and oversize.