I recently booked 4 nights on HOTWIRE.COM at the Belvedere Hotel in NYC (48th street between 8th & 9th ave.). Hotwire lists this as a 3 star hotel but Orbitz lists this hotel as a 2 star??? Am I getting taken? I don't understand this star rating. Orbitz also list the Sheraton Towers on 7th Ave. as a 3 star, yet when I stayed there last year it certainly seemed like a 4 star to me. Why such discrepency on the star rating. If you've stayed at the Belvedere before, I'd love to hear your own opinion. I liked the location and loved the fact that the room has it's own coffee maker (many NYC hotels don't have one like the rest of the USA hotels). This star rating system seems to need some uniformity. Thanks, Carrie

Hotwire has a reputation of overrating hotels, especially compared to Priceline. Many 4* hotels on Hotwire are rated as 3* by Priceline. That having been said, I have friends who have stayed at the Belvedere and really like it.

Have you ever thought of what the previous guests have done with that coffeemaker?

Have you ever thought
of what the previous guests have
done with that coffeemaker?.....explain?? I don't get this statement. What can you do with a coffee maker except make coffee (or maybe heat water) Please explain your concern??

I don't understand the coffee maker statement either?? Also, what star rating does Priceline rate Hotel Belvedere? Thanks.

I have never stayed there before but looking at expedia and several travel sites, that list Belvedere Hotel as 3 star. Not sure what criteria Orbitz uses to lower it to a 2 star??

Hi
I stayed there last November over the Thanksgiving holiday. I'd rate it 3 1/2 stars. It was reasonable, clean, safe and conveniently located. I had my three children with me so I was concerned about several issues with the hotel I stayed at. It did not have a coffee maker in the room and I walked to the deli on the corner for my morning coffee. Also there are not bar facitities at the hotel, yet there is a nice restaurant next door that serves a great martini. I'd stay there again, it was a pleasant experience.

So happy to hear from someone who stayed there and to hear good things about it. I think it will work out fine and am feeling much better now! I'm surprised you didn't have a coffee maker in your room as the homepage mentions coffee makers, refrigerators and microwaves in all rooms (not just the deluxe). I know this sounds stupid to 99.9% of you but I'm just the type that likes a hot cup of coffee first thing when I wake up. My husband is a real sweetie and always starts the pot going as soon as I begin to stir. Thanks for the positive feedback!! Carrie

We have stayed at The Belvedere and we were pleased as the location is great. We did not have a coffee maker in our room, but "take out" coffee was available from the cafe downstairs. Would the person who mentioned a good place to eat next door please give me the name, as I will staying in the area again.

Hi Carrie, I too enjoy that first cup of coffee when I wake up - if for some reason you room doesn't have the coffee maker (as advertised) a friendly visit to the front desk will probably produce one! Also, check this link for reviews of the Belvedere: http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7188109/ there are 6 reviews from folks who have stayed at the hotel - it sounds like you'll be fine! Have fun!

If you do a search on the Belvedere Hotel on this board (not Rants and Raves), you'll find some other reviews too.

Hi again
I didn't have a coffee maker in the room and my check with the front desk revealed that I was out of luck, no coffee anywhere in the hotel. No big deal. Less than a half block to the corner was a 24 hour deli with great coffee. I would stay at the hotel again, great staff, friendly, helpful. The restaurant next door, I don't remember the name....I did'nt eat there, but the bartender made a mean rasberry martini, it's just 2 doors over towards broadway on the same side of the street as the hotel. Enjoy

We just got back from NYC and stayed at the Belvedere. We did not have a coffee maker either but there is a Starbucks 1 block behind the hotel. We liked the hotel and would stay there again. We booked ours on quickbook.com

Just reserved this hotel for the 1st weekend in August from lodging.com for $126 per night. Checked 4 or 5 other sites, and this was best rate I received. It got such good reviews from these boards that I decided to go for it!

Candy,
I hate to disappoint you but there was another recent posting where someone booked the Belvedere for $92 per night on hotwire.com You might want to look at that site to get a better price if you can cancel your existing reservation. I think $92 sounds like a fabulous price! You will like this hotel very much. We were there last year and will stay there again if we return to NYC. Enjoy your stay at whatever price you ultimately have.

Note to Jay - I agree with you that $92 is a great price but if one is looking for a guarantee that they will be getting the Belvedere, you won't have that assurance before committing to the hotel. Hotwire does let you know the exact price before committing but does not disclose the exact hotel in advance.

Bummer. Oh well, it's only $34 difference, not a huge amount. It seems like there is always a better deal out there somewhere! I was tempted to use hotwire or priceline, but decided that even tho it might save me some, it wouldn't be terribly significant. Maybe next time!

Candy,
I owe you an apology. I'm not familiar with hotwire.com (dumb me) and didn't realize until reading Owen's message that you didn't know which hotel you were selecting. If I had known this I would never have mentioned reading the posting regarding the lower room rate. No One wants to hear about the one that got away. I'm very sorry! Jay

In reply to the what people do with the coffe maker? I work as a room maid and can confirm some people do use them as make shift bed pans (and don't even empty them b4 we clean the room.)

Now you know.