Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
In the heart of the Theatre District |
| Disadvantages: |
Breakfast is a waste of time |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
Having done some research on the net before travelling I was expecting a huge shopping mall underneath the hotel as the lobby isn't until the 21st floor but although there are shops (including a massive HMV), restaurants and a 25 screen cinema they are separate from the anything to do with the hotel.
The hotel is about a 30 second walk to the nearest subway station and about 3 mintues from the heart of Times Square. You are also in walking distance of Macey's (6/7 blocks), a flagship Gap and Victoria's Secret and plenty of other shops and attractions (Madisson Square Gardens, river cruises, theatres etc etc).
The Hilton Times Square has two entrances, one on 42nd Street and one on 41st street. When giving directions to your cab driver make sure you give them the 41st street entrance as this is quieter and you have time to get out of the cab without being run over by NYC drivers.
The doormen and bellboys are friendly and the bellboys take you up to the hotel reception on the 21st floor via a fast lift. Check-in was speedy, efficient and friendly.
The lobby has 6 lifts to take guests to their relevant floor. During our three night stay one of the lifts was out of order but this didn't affect the service provided. We never waited more than 10-15 seconds for a lift.
When we got to our room I was surprised at how big it was as friends had warned me New York hotel rooms were nothing to write home about but this was spacious, clean, tastfully decorated and had an amazing view.
The coffee making facilities were in the bathroom and we had our own mini-perculator - fresh coffee was definately a bonus.
The bed was huge and very comfy. There were extra pillows in the wardrobe (where the bathrobes, ironing board & iron were too).
As with any hotel TV in the USA there loads of channels on the TV as well as being able to use the hotel's interactive facility to check your bill and check out (far quicker).
We had a turn-down service every night. We would go out for a meal and a few drinks, come back and our bed was ready to get into - none of that mucking around and trying to fight your way into the covers! The maids were very good and the room was always very clean.
On our last day we decided to have breakfast in the hotel (having eaten out elsewhere during our stay). I though the buffet breakfast was overpriced (about $20) for what you got (no toast!) but it suited us that morning not to have to go and find somewhere else to eat. The waiters were friendly and the resturant was trendy and comfortable.
If you didn't want to eat in the hotel there were plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel as well as MacDonalds and other fast food places.
We also made use of the concierge service to a rrange a car to take us back to the airport (we were particularly concerned at the threat of a transit strike). The concierge clerk was helpful and ensured we would have a car. Priced slightly over what you could have got on the street but it gave us peace of mind that we would be picked up and also the set fare.
I thouroughly enjoyed my trip to New york and it was made even more specialby this above-avergae hotel. It was central enough to everything we wanted to do but off the busy, busy streets so you didn't feel in the hub of things all the time.
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