- Jenn126
- First Reviewer
- 3 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 15
- Reviews
Hotel Pennsylvania
- October 23, 2006
- Rated 2 of 5 by
RBT331 from Medfield, Massachusetts
I stayed here during a college radio conference in March 2003. I thankfully did not have to pay for the room, due to my station paying for it. Even it hadn't, I wish I wouldn't have to pay for the room anyway.
Its location is extraordinarily convenient, being directly across the street from Penn Station/Madison Square Garden. From the outside, it looks like a nice hotel. The lobby...same impression. Get onto the elevator...still good thoughts. The hallway on the floor we stayed...okay, still positive. That is where my positive thoughts end, as soon as I opened the door to my room.
I entered the room and found that you certainly can't judge the book by its cover. This book had a great cover, but was horrid inside.
The wallpaper was peeling off of the walls. There was no shade/blinds on one of the windows. The radiator rattled unless you stepped one little sweet spot on the floor. The view left much to be desired. The one without the shade looked out onto a brick building that was about 2 feet away from our hotel. The other had a slightly better view. At just the right angle, you could see the top of the New York Life Insurance building.
The window with no shade was also open upon my arrival, and I could not for the life of me get it closed. I called the front desk, which sent someone up to close it, but still no shade. Likewise, we told them about the radiator, and nothing was accomplished.
But wait...there's more. There was a window IN THE SHOWER! The trash barrels were from TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. One actually had the logo of "Best Western" on it. The bathroom overall was relatively clean, albeit a bit small. The bed was just average. I didn't lose any sleep, nor was it the best slumber I ever had. The hotel does NOT provide a continental breakfast, but do have a couple little eateries right off the lobby.
One plus to the hotel was that they provided a luggage check. If you were checking out, but still wanted to sightsee, you could check your backs for a nominal fee, and pick them up later, so that you don't have to drag them around the city. Overall, the price was decent for Manhattan hotels, and the location is great. However, the amenities DEFINITELY need some work. I would not likely stay there again.
From journal Hotel Pennsylvania
Editor Pick
New York's Hotel Pennsylvania
- August 29, 2006
- Rated 3 of 5 by
jerryhuh1 from Sacramento, California
I actually stayed there twice, for four days/three nights the beginning of July and for three days/two nights the beginning of August, 2006.
I was not expecting luxury and was quite satisfied. I stayed on the fifteenth floor the first time and the sixteenth floor the second. The "views" from both rooms were not great, but I was not there for the view. The beds were adequate (even the folding bed that we needed the first night in August was comfortable, according to the young woman who slept on it), the sheets and towels were clean, as was the bathroom. The pillows are a bit thin, but they're soft enough that I was able to fold mine in half to get the depth I wanted.
Food in the hotel restaurants and coffee shop was good and probably average-priced for New York. When a bottle of Diet Coke costs $2 (the same as most anywhere else in the city), you can judge what other prices were.
I found the staff to be quite pleasant and helpful, perhaps because I was never trying to check in or out the same time as any large groups.
My friends and I found the hotel adequate for our purposes and absolutely excellent as a base for exploring the rest of Manhattan. Y'all gotta remember you're in the Big City, folks! If you want things just like home, don't travel!
From journal Getaway Destination in the BIG APPLE!
Hotel Pennsylvania
- April 25, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
scubadiver361 from Bloomington, Minnesota
The hotel was clean and the staff was friendly. The location was great—right across from Madison Square Garden and around the corner from the Empire State Building
From journal Spain
Hotel Pennsylvania
An older room is larger but dinghy and needs paint. A renovated room is smaller but appears to be cleaner. I liked that the rooms are protected by a lobby guard. It is close to everything in Midtown and right across the street from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station.
From journal Walked my legs off in New York City
Hotel Pennsylvania
- December 19, 2004
- Rated 1 of 5 by
msmorning from Oldsmar, Florida
This is a huge hotel with a rude reception staff, crowded lobby with long waits to check in and out, and rooms in a very bad need of renovations, with wallpaper peeling off the walls and lots of mildew. Don't book with an online hotel booking company if you want to be treated well.
From journal Christmas Time in NYC