HOTEL REVIEW: Holiday Inn Express, NYC
Aaron
Photo Credit: Eddie~S / Flickr.com
Every proper tourist has to have some place to head back to each night, a temporary home. Some even call it ... a hotel. For us, this was the Holiday Inn Express, just off the corner of 39th street and 9th avenue in Manhattan.
In the grand scheme of things, I've stayed in far nicer hotels. However, Manhattan is a city where space is pricy, so no hotel there can really be luxurious. Our room had everything most rooms have: two (incredibly comfy) queen beds, a closet, a desk, drawers, a bathroom and a TV set. What set it apart from rooms elsewhere is that all these things were compacted into a floor space only around 70 percent as large as most rooms. With all the amenities and comforts of a standard room, we couldn't complain, but it took some getting used to. In the end, I'd say the main thing I missed was a place to store packing bags and other things, as ours were in a semi-messy heap that partially blocked the entranceway.
Aside from the room, the hotel was quite nice. At $180/night, it was a moderately expensive hotel room, but about the cheapest Manhattan can offer while still offering good quality. Keep in mind, the price also included the complimentary breakfast buffet and a dish of hard candy.
Breakfast, as mentioned above, was actually pretty tasty — at least, some aspects were. The fancy machine that spat out pancakes every fifteen seconds, bowls of tasty fresh fruit and yogurt and milk impressed me. However, their attempts at omelets, sausages, and "bacon" rather frightened me. For the most part though, it was something to look forward to and to fill up on, especially when we smuggled out some fruit or a bagel and cream cheese to munch on during the time between meals.
Staff and service also impressed me. Every staff member was enthusiastic and helpful, willing to go out of their way to assist the guest, although knowledge of the English language among employees varied. Overall, we never had a problem resolving issues with the hotel.
The main thing that bugged me about the hotel was the elevator service. With 34 floors of tourists and two elevators to convey the huddled masses down to the main floor, waiting for an elevator and riding it down can potentially occupy five minutes. However, the service stairs are available for those lacking vertigo and susceptibility to heart attacks.
FINAL VERDICT
Pros: Good breakfast, comfortable beds, helpful staff, prime location
Cons: Elevator traffic, small rooms
Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone going to New York. With a location near metro stops, Times Square and many restaurants and tourist destinations, this is the perfect place for a tourist in the Big Apple. Despite our small complaints, they were fair outweighed by all that this place has to offer. Make your reservations today!
Cons: Elevator traffic, small rooms
Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone going to New York. With a location near metro stops, Times Square and many restaurants and tourist destinations, this is the perfect place for a tourist in the Big Apple. Despite our small complaints, they were fair outweighed by all that this place has to offer. Make your reservations today!