New York Trip Rept: Hotels
Jul 22nd, 2004 | 10:43 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
New York Trip Rept: Hotels
Second installment. (The first is "Food")
Some of you may recall my agonizing over hotel choices. I wound up staying at TWO.
From Thursday until Sunday morning we stayed at the Wellington at 54th St. and 6th Avenue. I can't say enough good things about this hotel. It was built by William Randolph Hearst when he needed a place for his friends to stay in New York. The Donald Trump of his day, he developed the first high rises on the west side. Of course the once pristine views of Central Park and the river have disappeared behind other larger buildings. They have maintained some of the feeling of a more elegant age--like dark wood floors in the atrium of the suite.
The best thing about this hotel is the enormous rooms. They upgraded us to a corner suite, which of course was magnificent, but I was curious and asked to see some other rooms. The one they showed me that they described as their smallest room is not small by NY standards. And every room has marble baths and very large windows so they are filled with light. Lobby is small, but I like the comfy feeling rather than the Grand Central Station atmosphere of places like the Hilton across the street. You can sit in the bar and watch the world go by on 6th.
Just below us was corner suite with a wrap-around balcony. I was told that it was where Clark Gable stayed when he was in town. There are several suites with balconies, but you have to be lucky to get one. The hotel doesn't promote them because they don't want people to be disappointed.
Unfortunately, we had the best experience first. We wheeled our luggage to 55th and 7th Ave. for our second stay from Sunday through our departure on Thursday morning. That's the Wellington Hotel. It was much better than I had been led to believe, both here and on trip advisor (which has both good and bad reviews). But it is a wierd place--three buildings cobbled together. Their floors were at different levels, so there are three sets of elevators. We were in the "Back" building and getting there entails going up a few steps to the main lobby, then down two small flights of stairs and past some utilitarian areas on the side of a rather grand room that is totally unused to get to the elevator. The elevators were dingy, but the room we had, although small, was freshly decorated and very clean. Spotless bath (mold and mildew seems to be a big complaint on trip advisor). We had an air shaft window, so after the large, airy rooms at the Warwick, it seemed a little claustrophobic, but my husband really liked it because it was very quiet. (The Warwick room was 28th floor, so it was pretty quiet, too.)
The Warwick is a great bargain, in my opinion. You can almost always find good deals on hotels.com. It is used a lot by tour groups and they tend to be in the section of the hotel built in the 20's that has the smallest rooms and only twin or double beds. There are a few high rooms with views, but the one they showed me was a very tiny room--don't know if it would be worth it just for the view. I asked about the accusations of mold and mildew and they said they always try to follow up on web complains, but haven't had people come to the desk and complain, so they are are mystified as they have never found that to be true. The gift shop, coffee shop and restaurant are run separately but you can charge meals on your hotel bill. The breakfast shop is average but the restaurant Molyvos is superb. The gift shop is overpriced and the employees rude.
Both these hotels are wonderfully located. Close enough to walk to Times Square, but far enough away that you don't have to be immersed in crowds all the time.
So if you want to pinch pennies and want a good location, and particularly if you are of the "I only sleep in the room anyhow" school, try the Wellington. If you want a touch of luxury and old-world service, and don't mind paying for it, the Warwick is your choice.
Vera
Some of you may recall my agonizing over hotel choices. I wound up staying at TWO.
From Thursday until Sunday morning we stayed at the Wellington at 54th St. and 6th Avenue. I can't say enough good things about this hotel. It was built by William Randolph Hearst when he needed a place for his friends to stay in New York. The Donald Trump of his day, he developed the first high rises on the west side. Of course the once pristine views of Central Park and the river have disappeared behind other larger buildings. They have maintained some of the feeling of a more elegant age--like dark wood floors in the atrium of the suite.
The best thing about this hotel is the enormous rooms. They upgraded us to a corner suite, which of course was magnificent, but I was curious and asked to see some other rooms. The one they showed me that they described as their smallest room is not small by NY standards. And every room has marble baths and very large windows so they are filled with light. Lobby is small, but I like the comfy feeling rather than the Grand Central Station atmosphere of places like the Hilton across the street. You can sit in the bar and watch the world go by on 6th.
Just below us was corner suite with a wrap-around balcony. I was told that it was where Clark Gable stayed when he was in town. There are several suites with balconies, but you have to be lucky to get one. The hotel doesn't promote them because they don't want people to be disappointed.
Unfortunately, we had the best experience first. We wheeled our luggage to 55th and 7th Ave. for our second stay from Sunday through our departure on Thursday morning. That's the Wellington Hotel. It was much better than I had been led to believe, both here and on trip advisor (which has both good and bad reviews). But it is a wierd place--three buildings cobbled together. Their floors were at different levels, so there are three sets of elevators. We were in the "Back" building and getting there entails going up a few steps to the main lobby, then down two small flights of stairs and past some utilitarian areas on the side of a rather grand room that is totally unused to get to the elevator. The elevators were dingy, but the room we had, although small, was freshly decorated and very clean. Spotless bath (mold and mildew seems to be a big complaint on trip advisor). We had an air shaft window, so after the large, airy rooms at the Warwick, it seemed a little claustrophobic, but my husband really liked it because it was very quiet. (The Warwick room was 28th floor, so it was pretty quiet, too.)
The Warwick is a great bargain, in my opinion. You can almost always find good deals on hotels.com. It is used a lot by tour groups and they tend to be in the section of the hotel built in the 20's that has the smallest rooms and only twin or double beds. There are a few high rooms with views, but the one they showed me was a very tiny room--don't know if it would be worth it just for the view. I asked about the accusations of mold and mildew and they said they always try to follow up on web complains, but haven't had people come to the desk and complain, so they are are mystified as they have never found that to be true. The gift shop, coffee shop and restaurant are run separately but you can charge meals on your hotel bill. The breakfast shop is average but the restaurant Molyvos is superb. The gift shop is overpriced and the employees rude.
Both these hotels are wonderfully located. Close enough to walk to Times Square, but far enough away that you don't have to be immersed in crowds all the time.
So if you want to pinch pennies and want a good location, and particularly if you are of the "I only sleep in the room anyhow" school, try the Wellington. If you want a touch of luxury and old-world service, and don't mind paying for it, the Warwick is your choice.
Vera
Jul 23rd, 2004 | 09:36 AM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 0
Hi Vera, thanks for such a detailed hotel report. It's always nice to see how things went after following the original posts. Do you mind if I ask what rate you got for the Warwick? Did you book on hotels.com?
Lori & Meesthare. Vera reported on the Warwick first (the one that was nicer) and the Wellington second.
Lori & Meesthare. Vera reported on the Warwick first (the one that was nicer) and the Wellington second.
Jul 24th, 2004 | 08:50 AM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
Now I see that I also reversed the names toward the end of the report. It is the Wellington that has a lot of European tour groups and tiny rooms, etc.
I'm so sorry. Next time I'll post in the day time when I'm awake.
Vera
I'm so sorry. Next time I'll post in the day time when I'm awake.
Vera
Trending Topics
Jul 25th, 2004 | 09:55 AM
#8
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
We did NOT have the suite with the balcony. Booked a regular room and were upgraded to a suite on 28th floor where we looked DOWN on the balcony on the 27th floor. I think the rooms on the site were going for about $225 a night on the web site in July.
Vera
Vera
