Editor Pick
Location, Location, Location
- August 27, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Absy_Baby from Radlett, United Kingdom
I have been to New York City twice (I love it) the first time I went was with friends and I did not have a lot to do with the arrangements and bookings, we stayed in a hotel quite far away from mid town.
The second time I visited I went with my mum, who had never been and I'd decided we needed somewhere central, although Manhattan isn't massive you want to be near all the touristy bits and pieces.
So after looking around I decided being in the thick of it probably wasn't an option as it was all quite expensive. Then I found the Pennsylvania, opposite Madison Square Garden's and Penn Station, 2 blocks from Macy's, 2 blocks west of the Empire State Building, I thought it was great and had many more attractions around the corner.
It's actual location is west 32nd and 7th. I love the way they say it, sounds all New York like.
So with it all booked, I bumped in to my cousin, my cousin who had just come back from New York and stayed in the Pennsylvania Hotel, and he and his wife hated it. Said all the paint work was coming away, the bathrooms were out of date, they actually changed rooms three times. I thought oh great!
I am not a fussy traveller, I travel to see places so am not bothered too much by accommodation as it is just somewhere to rest my head and grab a shower. I prepared my mum and we expected the worse. (and it was too expensive to change hotels).
We booked the hotel with a flight and all in all paid £450 each for a return flight with Virgin to JFK and 5 nights' accommodation in the Pennsylvania, I think it was very reasonable, you may have your own thoughts.
~The actual hotel~
It has 1700 rooms and is the fourth largest hotel in New York City. The hotel was purpose built in 1919. A grand 90 years old. The front of the hotel is flat and gives the impression that it is a square building, it isn't, it is forked and looks like a large W but with an extra fork, this is great as it keeps the rooms in the 'forks' quiet. New York is a loud city and the roads are busy all the time.
The hotel houses a large entrance with concierge, the check in/receptionist desk is quite large with many desks, it was quite busy but we got checked in within 10 minutes. What was really weird is the girl behind the desk asked where we were from and we said England, and for some reason my mum said oh near Watford and it turns out the American girl had been working at our local hospital, it was so weird!
The hotel has a coffee shop (they sell the best hot chocolate in the world, as well as peanut butter cookies), there is a luggage room available, a fitness centre, 2 restaurants, a newsstand, and a travel desk for shuttle transfers, tickets, attractions and advice.
My mum and I stayed in a twin room, they are all relatively samey, the rooms include:
Private bathroom, with bath and shower
Air conditioning
Telephone
Clock radios
Colour television with 'cable' and pay preview films
Iron and ironing board
Key card
Desk
2 king size beds
Hair dryer
The hotel was clean and the room was not that bad, we were told on check in that half of the hotel was under renovation, this was not the half we were in. The room was ok, the paint work did look a bit old, and near the door it was starting to peel, but nothing too bad, it's not as if there was damp in the room or a draft from the window. The beds were really comfy and I slept like a baby. The bathroom was clean although the tiles were a bit mis-coloured where they had aged. Nothing horrible at all, and for the price, I would say it was very reasonable. The room wasn't massive, I mean the two beds took up a lot of room but it was fine, and with a large window to let the light in.
I have not booked direct with hotel before but would definitely consider it in the future, also look out for deals, they are always running offers. The website is very easy to navigate and has a lot of information.
Since I have been to the Pennsylvania I understand it has now finished being renovated and is a lot nicer inside.
I would recommend it and next time I go to New York I will be staying here.
Location!
I'm not use to staying in 2 stars, normally I go with 3 or up, but this was a really great choice. I booked it because of (1) the location and (2) the price on easy clicktravel was just too tempting. Its one of the best locations in New York - not in crazy times square, but close enough to enjoy it. Everything was just so easy to get to from the hotel. As long as you aren't looking for luxury, I would recommend the pennsylvania.
Ok, Not sure I would stay again
- March 5, 2009
- Rated 2 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
The location was great with subway around the corner. Plenty of food nearby. When we arrived at the hotel on a Sunday, the traffic was quite busy and we double parked to quickly unload and let my husband go and park the car in a garage a few blocks away. We had 4 suitcases, coolers, laptop bags, and makeup case on the sidewalk in front of hotel. There were 3 bellmen standing outside of the door with luggage carts lined up against the wall. The bellhops offered no assistance so when we try to get a luggage cart to load our stuff on it, the bellhops all start yelling, NO NO you cannot use that??? What are you talking about we are checking into this hotel???? Oh, we have to do it then...needless to say I gave that one no tip. He takes our luggage in and deposits it on the floor, well you cannot leave it, as the lobby was quite busy and check in line was very long. Had to wait for my husband to get back to watch the luggage so I could check us in, which took over an hour (waiting in line). Room was small, but clean. The staff is not friendly at all, our son left his room key in the room and they would not let him back up to get (as you have to show key to get on elevator). He went to the desk to get a new key and they told him he had to have his parents get him a new key, he is a teenager and had a drivers license, but they still refused. He had to call us to come back.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS HOTEL!!!!!!
- February 17, 2009
- Rated 1 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
First off, the line to check in was an hour and a half long. You have to watch your bags the entire time. When we had to use the bathroom, we had to get a card pass, then take the elevator down into the basement. Once you got down there it was an old run down basement (scary and looked like something out of the shining) Many toilets didn't work and the place looked like it was falling apart. Then what we paid, I thought, was sort of reasonable given Valentine's Day weekend and a long weekend to boot (President's Day 2009)but also paid $40 for parking. Walking throught the hallways to get to the room, i saw that the illuminated signs that had the room numbers on them had front plates falling off and on the floor. The place just looked like it had had it. Sure enough when i opened the door to my room, it worse than i expected. The room was tiny, barely enough room for the one bed that it had. There was a flat panel t.v. with no remote. The walls were filthy and the paint was peeling. THe deadbolt had been smashed off and i had to call a locksmith (who didn't fix it just showed me how to lock it by turning handle on door upwards). He also said that the room i had was one of the best rooms in the hotel on the best floor of the whole hotel.. The toilet leaked, the bathroom was tiny as was the shower...This was the most run down place i have EVER been. Wanted to leave the second i got there. Location isn't everything....Diner downstairs? scrambled eggs and bacon with coffee...$23.00. RIPOFF!! What a dump...stay away!!!