Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Superb location and newly decorated rooms |
| Disadvantages: |
A little expensive |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
Overall, I was incredibly impressed with this hotel.
The location is fantastic. No matter how you choose to get to Manhattan, the hotel is easy to locate. Not far from Grand Central, and on a major Subway link - it couldn't be easier.
I want to start this review with about the only negative impression I got - and that was at check in. The guy behind the desk didn't seem interested that I'd be staying at the
hotel, he just did what he had to do and that was it. No conversation. No welcome. I just got a room card. He only just remembered to give me my free cookie (a nice touch).
My room was on the second floor which I was slightly concerned about as I had heard that the street noise is quite loud. However, when I entered my room you couldn't hear anything more than the general hum of New York. This is my first time to New York, but the room was a lot quieter than in other major cities I've stayed in. Even during the night, there was no need to worry about the noise.
The
rooms were nicely decorated. The hotel had been refurbished last year I believe, but the rooms still looked like new. The beds were huge and very comfortable. There was an office-like chair in front of the desk and a chaise long in the corner of the room which was very comfortable if you get chance to sit and watch TV - which was a plasma screen - another nice little touch. The bathroom was on the small side, but it was split into two, with the toilet and shower/bath in one section, behind the door, and the wash basin was in front of the door. Overall, there was plenty of space for what was necessary, but if you like a big bathroom you may be disappointed. Despite it's size, the bathroom was nicely decorated. The shower was very powerful (which is a must for me!) and had a number of setting depending on how you like your shower. There was also adequate wardrobe space - including quite a lot of hangers instead of the usual one or two!
I didn't have time to use the fitness facilities at the hotel, but did take a look and the equipment all looked fairly new.
After my second night in the hotel, there was a message asking me to call reception. They said there had been a 'problem' in the room next door and they were having to relocate people to other rooms. I was a little annoyed at this inconvenience, but the hotel staff were incredibly helpful - they even offered to help me pack and then unpack my stuff. I politely declined as I didn't have too much. I was relocated to the 9th floor and the room was exactly the same standard as my first room. I would therefore presume that they were all of this standard. As an apology for the inconvenience, I got loads of free cookies, plus another one each day in a cookie jar in my room, a free newspaper each day plus tickets for free buffet-breakfast for the rest of my stay which made the whole move ok! I was staying room only as most
hotels charge ridiculous prices for their breakfasts, and the Doubletree Metropolitan was no exception, however armed with my free breakfast token, I indulged every morning. The food was freshly prepared and there was a wide selection to choose from. Everything from a traditional cooked breakfast to cereals, fruit salads, fresh fruit plus lots more. The food was very nice - but still wouldn't have paid their
price for it.
The service that the staff in the hotel provided was (with the exception of the check in guy) exemplary. Nothing was too much hassle and I didn't feel like I was asking the earth if I needed something. The concierge were brillirant and booked me a helicopter flight with Liberty Helicopters and the porters were always ready to help with luggage storage and they always had a cab ready if you needed it.
I would not hesitate to stay at this hotel again and would definitely recommend it to anyone - businesses or pleasure travellers. I will definitely be staying here on my next visit to New York.
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