NEW YORK HILTON , Excellent Location To Many NYC Sites.
Written: Jul 16 '04 (Updated Sep 22 '06)
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Pros: Just a few short blocks from Radio-City-Music-Hall, Fine-Shopping, Great-Museums, Central-Park, Times-Square and much more.
Cons: A bit of a walk to 42nd Street theatres and sites in cold-or-inclement-weather.
The Bottom Line: The service, amenities and location were all we could want.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Hilton New York |
Just a couple of weeks ago my wife and I stayed in NY for a short getaway. Our choice of hotel was the New York Hilton at 53rd and Avenue of the Americas. This is 6th Ave.
PARKING
If coming in by taxi you will be dropped off in the circular driveway in front of the hotel. If driving in and parking in the garage that is under the rear of the building, you will enter the hotel from the back entrance. There is no self parking. The valet parking is $40 for a twenty four hour period. If you go over that time limit it quickly jumps up another $18 for just a few more hours. This happens to be one of the more expensive public parking lots in Manhattan. It is not affiliated with the hotel. You can get access to the garage from either 53rd or 54th streets.
The LOBBY
The hotel shows its best side when coming in from the main doors off 6th Ave. The lobby is huge with massive columns and inlaid marble floors. One thing I noticed is that there is not a flower arrangement to be found anywhere in the building. Even so the modern/deco look was warm in its overall colours and feel. At night personnel was at the main entrance asking for room keys, the plastic cards, as proof of residence before being allowed access to the lobby. I didn't quite understand this because the restaurant and the bar were still open for business to the public.
The concierge to the immediate left of the entrance was extremely helpful making our dinner reservations and giving us detailed subway directions. The desk was always manned or is that manned and womanned by at least two persons. The nearby check-in desk always had a short, but controlled, line. Two people manned the desk. Our check-in was very quick, effortless and the service, though not warm, was professional. Large screen monitors are also in the lobby to help checking out. This process can also be done by using the TV screen in your room.
We had bell service take our bags to our room. They took the bags directly from our car, when we pulled up to the valet parking at the garage, and stored the bags until notified as to our room number. The luggage was brought up within minutes of our unescorted arrival to the room.
The elevator banks of this 40 something story building are dedicated to particular floors. I found that we had very quick access to them constantly. I believe there were twelve in all. Inside they were spotless, with a mirror on the rear and a TV monitor broadcasting CNN 24/7. We were on an upper floor and the ride was quite fast and smooth and yet I didn't get that light stomach feeling as it slowed down.
OUR ROOM
A nice sized room was ready for us before noon. That made it so we could get out and start some site seeing early. The king bed was fairly comfortable for my wife and uncomfortable for me. I suppose I'm just too used to a very firm bed. This wasn't.
Our room had a dresser with a small 21" TV with remote. I will mention that I noticed that many other rooms had an armoire with the TV and clothes storage. It's easy to notice when walking the halls and the maids are cleaning rooms. The rooms also had joy stick video game controls and in-room Internet service at $10 an hour. The hotel also has a business office with Internet service, copying, fax and other business needs. They opened at 7AM.
Our room had a safe, clock radio, coffee maker, iron and board. There was adequate storage area for our clothes. We had a southern view that was mostly roof tops and the Sheraton Hotel just across the street. It was nothing spectacular however, someone who has never stayed in the BIG CITY at such a high elevation may find it "awesome". We could see the Palisades of New Jersey peeking out through some of the tall buildings in the distance. The windows could be opened slightly for fresh air but not much could really breeze in.
A nice sized desk with some writing paper, pen and post cards had a chair and lamp. Another soft comfy chair was in the room near the window. The desk, night tables, head board, and dresser all matched with their cherry wood finishes. The carpeting was VERY clean and in fact looked new. I had read in one of their brochures that the hotel has had a recent renovation of many rooms.
I did not like the A/C in that the vent was over the bed and we would either be freezing when it was on or stuffy when off. There was little contol.
The smallish bathroom was well lighted and had Neutragena counter top products like shampoo and rinse. The water NEVER got really hot. It never made it more than warm. This was for three days straight. They had plenty of towels and hooks for hanging clothes. A quiet flush toilet and shower/tub matched and looked new.
SPA
I took a peek at the Spa and exercise rooms on the fifth floor. It boasted top of the line equipment in a cool, comfortable atmosphere. The cost is $12 a day to use it. Massages and such are extra. I believe the steam rooms and sauna are included. Call for particulars if you need them. There is no pool in this hotel. I believe there are only three or so in all Manhattan that have one. The Hilton Property, The Millenium, in Lower Manhattan is one of them. It's a fine hotel that we use often and I recommend.
RESTAURANTS
Right off the lobby is a lounge area. It's a quiet atmosphere but closes pretty early in the evening. It serves drinks and light snacks. The Bridge Bar happens to have a very dark setting. They do mix good drinks and are generous with their bowls of nuts and pretzels. Table and bar service is available. The rooms decor of a modern/retro mix has art deco appeal. Huge high and curved-back banquets balance the two sides of the bar that feature large screen TVs playing sports games. I really wish they had a quiet corner, at least on one end or the other, of this 150' long room. That size is my estimation. All the same my wife and I enjoyed a couple of late night drinks there. The bar doesn't have food but you can order take out next door and bring it to the bar. That's what we did. The place across the lobby hall, the New York Market, was open from 6AM till 11PM for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and late snacks.
During the day it is bright room with market umbrellas and a fine menu. We had breakfast there one morning and the food was excellent. They made wonderful made-to-order omelettes. I believe it was $18.00 for a breakfast buffet that also featured Japanese breakfast items. This didn't seem very popular but the salmon was very good. This is a very convenient restaurant if you are staying in the hotel with good selections and decent New York prices but, with so many other places that the city offers, you may never try it.
IN CLOSING
I liked the overall feel of this hotel Though it is large in scale, it still had a warm and intimate feel. I have read that the place really buzzes when it is crowded. We never experienced that. There were no conventions in the hotel that we were aware of. The hotel does have extensive facilities for such functions.
We had a good price for the hotel and its proximity to Fifth Ave Shopping, Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center, Central Park, a number of fine museums and Times Square can't be beat. Cab service was only a whistle away from the front doors and the subway has some stops near the south-west corner of the hotel.
Great Hotel W/O This open to everyone! www.angelfire.com/trek/greathotel2004
Times Square Restaurants
Stardust Diner A good place before a show in Times Square. Aspiring actors are here. / The Manhattan Chili Company good quick eats before a show. / ESPN Zone A sports bar, arcade, and MORE! / TGI Friday's Times Square Location. / Pig'n'Whistle, a great Times Square Pub / Ollies, Broadway / Cold Stone Creamery Right on 42nd Street / Osteria Stella A great find in the Times Square area / Tavern on the Green in Central Park / The Boathouse Cafe in Central Park
Nearby things to do
Radio City Music Hall A Spectacular place to see a show! / Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum / Times Square, the Heart of NY / Times Square Visitors Center / The INTREPID Sea-Air-Space MUSEUM It's a good one! / The BEAST a thrill ride tour of The Statue of Liberty. It's fantastic!! / Central Park So much to see and do any time of year! / CENTRAL PARK ZOO / The Metropolitan Museum of ART A fifteen minute walk uptown from the Zoo on 5th Ave. / Museum of Natural History across from Central Park West / The Museum of Television and Radio
TKTS half price tickets to Broadway
Aida, the Broadway Play Great show at half price / Thoroughly Modern Millie A 6 Tony award winner Broadway Play / The Boy From OZ A new play on Broadway / The LION KING
Other mid-town Hotel
Grand Hyatt Hotel, NYC
Marriott Marquis New York
New York Hilton
Grand Hyatt Hotel, NYC
Further Downtown
W Hotel Union Square
Downtown Hilton
Millenium Hilton., directly across from ground zero. They have reopened!A great location to all that is downtown
Recommended:
Yes
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