Hilton HHonors - Embassy Suites in Lower Manhattan reopens today

Today is the day. Way to go! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Why not support this property just across from "the site" in battery Park City!

Actually, the hotel re-opened 5/1. I stayed there the night of 5/4.

Check-in -- quick and painless. Received Embassy Touch (2-bottle water, nachos, granola bar and something else) -- value based on in-room minibar pricing - $17.

Room upgrade was to a river view.

Open bar from 5-7. Only problem -- very crowded and not enough bar tenders (not that there is alot of room for an additional bartender).

Breakfast -- well worth it considering NY prices.

--Jim

Yes, I know, but not officially! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

FWIW, the official date is/was 5/16/02.

Rooms are very lasrge by New York standards (450 to 800 square ft per suite) & the views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty are spectacular.

Weekend rates start as low as $139 a night. Information: 212-945-0100 or 800-EMBASSY

Thanks, Doc. Would you recommend this property for a family tourist weekend in NYC this summer? I currently have a reservation at the Times Square Hilton. Thanks.

Financial district hotels are generally offered at a significant discount to those elsewhere in NY because there are no business people to fill the hotel on weekends and tourists prefer midtown because its more centrally located. Still, its close to the Statute of Liberty, Staten Island Ferry, Wall Street, and Ground Zero which is now a tourist attraction to some extent. It used to be very convenient with subways but I am not sure how they were affected by the attack. The neighborhood is safe, just not convenient to theaters, museums, etc because its at the tip of manhattan.

How would this property compare to the Doubletree Suites in Times Square? Which place would you stay at, ES or DT?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NCRBILL:

How would this property compare to the Doubletree Suites in Times Square? Which place would you stay at, ES or DT?</font>

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Bill:

It's really up to you and largely a matter of a given preferred location for each given individual, IMHO.

The ES is not my favorite property, personally, since I noted a less than aware atttitude, with a strong no can do component, there on two separate occasions that ranged from the reservations office to the bartender.

The DT, and I only just visited once and never stayed there, is okay as I understand it, though again, not my favorite.

I'd be selecting the Time Square Hilton in this area as the staff is seemingly very nice and helpful in my limited experience with them, from the doormen downstairs, to the front desk, etc!

And of course, the Waldorf Astoria would be my first Hilton choice in Manhattan! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Hope this helps a bit and let me know if I can be of more assistence.

Enjoy your stay! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I haven't stayed at either property, but I wanted to comment on LemonThrower's post...

The subways in that area are still pretty much running as they were, the most notable exception being the stations right at the WTC site. Depending on where you wanted to go, it wouldn't take you very long (20 minutes, at most on a weekend) to get to the midtown area.

One advantage of staying downtown is that you are very close to Battery Park. On a nice day you can just sit on the lawn or the benches and gaze out at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, etc. and enjoy the outdoors.

Staying in TSQ would certainly have a different energy vibe. Wherever you stay, enjoy!

I would like to bring this one forward.

I am looking for a hotel at the end of August ( US OPEN ) for a party of 3 or 4.

I guess a 2 bedroom suite would be the best deal, suites are available from 152 to 179 USD.Seemed like a good deal for me ??

But I have some more questions on the public transport to the USTA Tennis Center.Is there any subway running in that direction or is it better to take a cab ??
In addition to that, we need a rental car from some more shooping ( Woodbury ) and ashort trip up to Boston.Does anybody know what they charge you for parking ??

Further on, does the hotel offer the evening reception and what about breakfast ??
Brilliant as usual at ES ??

Thanks a lot !!

Patrick

Yeah, they have an evening reception and hopefully your bartender will be able to tell you what kind of Scotch they have! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

All ES serve breakfast, I think! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'd skip the car as it is totally unnecessary and quite expensive to park even downtown. Just do the rental, from the airport, if possible, for only when you need it out of town.

Forget about a cab to the Open, as the traffic and expense will wear youout for syre. I still remember when John McEnroe had to forfeit his match when he was delayed in traffic and he lived nearby as well!

Enjoy NYC, and the greatest tennis event there is! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

If you take the #7 train to Shea, its an easy walk, or they usually provide shuttle buses.

Thanks for this thread Doc. I live in Battery Park City and the downtown area could definitely use the business. Almost directly across from this hotel is a Ferry which you can take over to Hoboken NJ for a great meal without NYC prices. Also if you plans are flexible, NYC is having a few more tax free days where all of Downtown is tax free. This includes Hotels, Restaurants etc. The next dates are July 9 ~ 11 and August 22~23 for more information go to http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/salestax.html

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by rd7242:
If you take the #7 train to Shea, its an easy walk, or they usually provide shuttle buses.

</font>

Chances are, you won't have to sit next to John Rocker, either. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Mike

As a tourist, Time Square is a much better place to stay because it is more centrally located. However, if you limit your stay to a weekend, you can probably get a much better rate downtown. A cab ride between the two is probably $10, so consider staying downtown if you can save $30 or $40 per night.

I prefer Time Square or midtown to downtown because downtown becomes a bit of a ghost town after work hours and on weekends, just because far fewer people live there. Also, there are fewer restaurants, shops, etc. So I would stay in midtown/Times Square unless you are going to save a lot by staying downtown.

You need a car to get from New York to shopping in Woodbury. There are plenty of busses that run up for shopping, but you will probably buy so much stuff that you will want a car to haul it all back in, and not worry about the busses schedule. There are days I feel a car is necessary just to get from one end of Woodbury to the other (it's one of my wife's favorite spots).

They do have a sony outlet store up there that may or may not have noise canceling headphones, and at least five luggage outlets (Tumi, Tourister, Samsonite, and a couple of others) if you need luggage to haul all the stuff you end up with.

Good diner a bit less then a mile down the road (take a right when leaving woodbury), much better food then in the outlet mall itself.

Their website with train, but and driving information, sales, and sometimes coupons is www.premiumoutlets.com (http://www.premiumoutlets.com)

I am going to NYC in early november and thinking about ES. I did find a rate of 189$ which I think is pretty good for NYC.

The rate is Suite Retreat. Anyone knows what that means? The dates are 3-4/11 if anyone wonders.

Sorry no, Martin, but hopefully we'll connect this time around, somewhere, so please keep me posted! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW, (OMNI) saw the Social Democrats won again! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

-Mark

Did they won? I didnt have a clue http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Well, not we have to wait another 4 years for a change....