Starwood Preferred Guest - W Union Square, New York 2006 onward [Master Thread]

Anyone have an opinion on staying at W Union Square in a Wonderful room at 299/nt or a Superior queen at the Soho Grand also 299/nt?

The Soho Grand says Superiors are 225 sq ft and are ideal for one person. Can 2 fit in the room?

How big are the Wonderful rooms at the W Union Sq?

One post I found said 400 sq ft (they thought)?

That is a big difference in size especially if I want another person in the room too.

Anyone have an opinion on staying at W Union Square in a Wonderful room at 299/nt or a Superior queen at the Soho Grand also 299/nt?

The Soho Grand says Superiors are 225 sq ft and are ideal for one person. Can 2 fit in the room?

How big are the Wonderful rooms at the W Union Sq?

One post I found said 400 sq ft (they thought)?

That is a big difference in size especially if I want another person in the room too.

W Union Square.

60 Thompson

Recently spent 5 nights (award) there and absolutely loved it... great location, nice staff and celebs everywhere. I now have stayed at all of the NYC Ws and my favorite by far. Never been to the Grand before, but just loved the W.

Recently spent 5 nights (award) there and absolutely loved it... great location, nice staff and celebs everywhere. I now have stayed at all of the NYC Ws and my favorite by far. Never been to the Grand before, but just loved the W.
I agree- this is by far my favourite W in NYC as well. The Grand is overhyped, overpriced for what it is, and underserviced. If you are going to spend that type of money (because if you don't book at least a deluxe room you will be in a closet) go for the Trump on Central Park West- a suite there is lovely. The staff at the Union Sq W are fantastic!

I'll go ahead and be contrarian just to point out that while the W Union Square is very nice, Union Square itself has become a bit of a chain mall . . . the surrounding ambience at the SoHo Grand is still doing pretty well (as long as you don't get a room facing the Holland Tunnel, anyway). But I don't know what the SoHo Grand's rooms are like.

My vote is the SoHo Grand.

Just noticed this>

Virtuoso benefits:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Special Virtuoso rates
Complimentary Continental breakfast daily via room service
4 PM late check-out

IIRC Lurker said as long as you do not pay the TA, you can earn Starpoints at the normal rate for the stay.

If there are specific upgrades, I will edit this post with that information.

Hi, I actually never heard of Virtuoso. Can you elaborate a bit more? Thanks!

http://www.virtuoso.com
http://hotels.dinersclubus.com/ (not a Diners Club benefit, just lists Virtuoso benefits)

Virtuoso is like American Express' Fine Hotel and Resorts (FHR) program (for Platinum cardholders) except anyone can book, just go through a Travel Agent that is a member. There is no cost or any requirements other than that.

Like FHR, there are a fair number of Starwood properties that are included.

FHR upgrades can even be better than standard SPG upgrades.
Grand Bretagne Athens - 1BR Suite > 2BR Suite
Westin St John - 1BR Villa > 2BR Villa > 3BR Villa

Those would be if available upgrades, which is always the case with FHR unless you have a Centurion card. However, with Virtuoso some of their properties do confirmed upgrades at time of booking. (You can see them on the Diners Club site) Although I don't remember any Starwood properties doing that, probably for the obvious reason that it would reduce the number of upgrades available for Plats and Golds.

edit - I'm pretty sure they just added the W US recently.

Thanks! This is indeed very valuable information... I'll look into them next time when I make a booking (can't do FHR since I don't have a Platinum or Centurion card).

So as a SPG Gold/Amex Plat what would it be best to book via Virtuoso (travel agent) @ W Union Sq? I don't think that it is a FHR property?

With the same scenario, I assume it would be best to book the St. Regis via FHR?

Cheers!

Thanks to a conference, my wife and I will be staying at the W Union Square for a night in early November. The front desk said I was booked into a "Wonderful Room," though I'm not quite sure how good that is compared to any of the other rooms (can you tell I've never been in a W before?). My wife is SPG Gold, so given that and the OP, what should we expect during our stay? (I will be paying there; the corporate travel agent booked but did not pay for the room.)

Are there any promotions I should sign up for, to maximize Starpoints? Unfortunately, we were not selected for any targeted offers from spgpromos.com...

Any "insider tips" from previous guests would, of course, be welcome. :)

cepheid,

"Wonderful" is the standard room. As an SPG gold, I can tell you that all I have ever rec'd is a higher floor room, maybe "best in same class" but no significant upgrade. That being said, they are decent sized rooms as compared to W NY, and W Times Sq. I have never stayed at the other two (where the rooms are supposedly the biggest of the NY W's)
You may want to check with your travel agent to see if they are a Virtuoso agency. I am not sure how W Union Sq. will treat it, but I have rec'd pretty nice Virtuoso upgrades at other hotels.
You are definitely in a GREAT neighborhood. If weather permits, take a few walks and check it out. SoHo and the Village are pretty close to the south, and there is plenty to do in the vicinity. There are often markets/events right across the street in the square. HAVE FUN!
IF you are looking for specific recommendations, fire away, I (and many others) will do my (our) best.

What is the layout of this property. How many floors... Rooms per floor ..etc etc.
Are there sepcial rooms to request? Also what is the closest subway access?

Also what is the closest subway access?

Union Square.

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm

-David

What is the layout of this property. How many floors... Rooms per floor ..etc etc.
Are there sepcial rooms to request? Also what is the closest subway access?

There are at least 4 different room types- Wonderful, Spectacular, Mega and different Suites

The Spectaculars can be small (263 SF & Up)-- we've never stayed in a Wonderful

Megas start at 400, but can be bigger

Our Fantastic Suite was 500 or so


Love, love, love this hotel

Thanks...any floors most reccomended?

Thanks...any floors most reccomended?


It's probably personal preference.

We like to be as high as possible.

There are really different views-- some of the park and some obscured by awnings.

Another bonus at this hotel is a really great staff

(they tie with W Poydras in my book for most helpful W crew)

Olives is a great restaurant and worth staying withinin the hotel for.

The living room bar is not as much of a "scene" as Times Sq, and the other W's, but still fun to meet folks for a drink.

The farmers market across the street in Union Square is a great way to grab breakfast and snacks.

Union Square is a major subway stop, with at least 3 different lines connecting.

I second the recommendation for this property...my favorite in NYC by far.

Well we just got back from a stay at the W Union Square in Manhattan. It was fantastic.

Great location, with excellent subway access and parking nearby is a cinch. Also, Max Brenner is nearby, a wonderful venue for any chocoholics out there!

We had booked a ...Wonderful room. When we arrived (I was on my mobile phone), my wife checked us in and I overheard that we received a double upgrade.^ COOL! So does that mean we got a Mega room? :confused:

In any case, our room was #1612, a lovely corner room, overlooking Union Square and the Farmer's Market, the bridge and Queens. The views were eoutstanding!!! The bed was uber comfortable and we slept SO well that night.

We don't have status yet, so we were wondering, what goes into deciding who or what gets an upgrade? or double upgrade for that matter?

It was a lovely surprise, considering she is in her 8th month of pregnancy and was very comfortable. In our reservation, all I mentioned in the 'considerations box' was a nonsmoking rm since she was pregnant. Needless to say, we were thrilled and thank the team at W Union Square.


Other stay details:

I love the grass on hte counter-tops at check in. nice effect. Also, the doormen were modern and just a couple of cool cats.

After dinner, we returned to the room and nice turndown, music was playing and got a pair of grape candy canes to nosh on. The curtains were drawn but we kept them open a bit longer to enjoy the view.

Olives, the lounge downstairs was hopping, but she/we were a bit tired so we'll enjoy that next time.

Yet later on, we did venture down to ...Underbar....BOUNCING MUSIC...woke us up and baby was kicking ;) after 5 minutes, we retired back up to the room and had company to tend to.

I meant to add:

There was a very loud room party going on at the other end of the hallway. It was not a bother to us at all, but I am wondering if that was the reason for putting us in a corner room, away from the action? WOuld that warrant the double upgrade?

At any rate, thank you W. Loving SPG!

Congrats. Before Christmas, I had to use extra points (17500) to snag an upgraded room. The room was great, and as you said, the people make it. I was disappointed not to get a Mega, but oh well. We didn't spend very much time in the room.

Olives, btw, was better than Grammercy Tavern (IMHO).

For all the W bashing that happens, this one doesn't deserve it.

Great to hear you had a good time too.

I'll be staying at the W Union square on a 7 day rewards stay next week with my wife and 16 year old daughter. Any feedback on expectation for upgrades at this property or advice on best room locations within the hotel?
Thanks

Try the Blue Water Grill (short walk across the square). Sit on the lower level. Enjoy the music and fabu salmon.

Expecting an upgrade on a 7 day stay usually leads to disappointment, in my experience.

The one time I did stay there with a party of 3, similar to your situation, I did ask for and receive an upgrade to a small suite, that had a separate living room with a couch, chair, tv, etc.

-David

I was thinking of staying at the W Union Square in New York, but the reviews on trip advisor were pretty negative re cleanliness, looking rundown. Anyone have recent experience there? Appreciate your help.

I can tell you that the bar is top notch on cleanliness and friendliness.

I have stayed there two years ago, and we put up our out of town speakers at the W Union Square. I loved it and since we have not heard of any complaints.
The room service was superb and the bar and Living Room areas are great... go for drinks there now and then, now that I live in NY.
It is a bit $$$$$, but if you need to be in the area, then there is no better alternative from location nor quality standpoint.

being a NY'er, i can tell you that it is a great location. and, it's quite the scene (man) if that's what you are looking for. great restaurants in the 'hood. staff seems to be very competent when i've visited for drinks or presentations.

It was very nice when I stayed there in Feb, but I arrived at 3:30a and left at 8:30a. At checkin, they noticed my very, very late check-in and changed my checkout to the day after, in case I wanted to come back and freshen up, or even get a real night's sleep. I was impressed.

The hotel is in a great area - just north of Union Square Park. Very chic bar in the basement. Very, very pricey but quite nice. I'm not sure I'd pay the premium that hotel commands myself, but if I was visiting NY and could pay with Starpoints, it would be one of my top choices.

With prices for NY hotels what they are, it comes down to what area you want to be in, the vibe you want, and what you are willing to pay for that.

Also - if paying cash, look into availability of an SPG50 rate (half rack) as it might be cheaper than the Best Available Rate and even if you don't have an SPG Amex you can still spend 1,000 points for the SPG50 rate.

PS to Lavender: Thanks for the kind words in the NYC forum... We love positive feedback :)

I stayed at this hotel in 2003 and was top notch then. I have been by it numerous times and still looks like it is going strong. As for tripadvisor reviews, everyone on that site (except myself of course) are on polar sides of the spectrum. It seems that a majority people who post on there are either miserable because of a bad experience or are so crazy in love with the property it is nauseating. Either way, I would take whatever is written on their with a grain of salt. As for the W, I liked the hotel. Not sure if it is worth the dollars (I used an award night and not sure if it was worth that either), but the area is great and more local than a Times Square or Rockefeller area. In that I mean more normal NYers go out there and there are some great restaurants. I think you will not be making a mistake staying there.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. I have decided to stay at the St. Regis this time, been staying there since the '70's. I plan to stop by and check out the W though, as my son and new daughter-in-law have just moved to NY (9th St & 6th Ave) and it seems quite convenient.

As for tripadvisor reviews, everyone on that site (except myself of course) are on polar sides of the spectrum. It seems that a majority people who post on there are either miserable because of a bad experience or are so crazy in love with the property it is nauseating. Either way, I would take whatever is written on their with a grain of salt.
I agree about trip advisor ,and reviews on W hotels are even worse, since so many people love the W and so many people hate them.

Stayed at the W Union Square earlier this month. We were on a 5-night award stay at the old redemption rates. Arrived around 9am (red eye) and they said they could get us in a room on a low floor (4th), or we could wait for a higher floor. Being exhausted, we took the low floor. Room was large and comfortable with a king bed, leather bench, stuffed chair, huge desk. Bathroom had a bathtub shower that had some wear and tear. Overall, our stay was pretty uneventful. Front desk was very friendly and very un-snobbish. The bar area was always hopping in the evening, but the place never felt uncomfortable like TS can at times. Mrs. Goodman tried to use Whatever/Whenever to book a hair color appt. at the Aveda Institute (discount salon school), but the guy booked her at a full fledged Aveda salon with his boyfriend at twice the price. Not a huge deal…she just cancelled it. I guess when the going rate for a room is $600+, they figure you’re made of money. Our last trip to NY, we stayed at W TS, which we really enjoyed, but we preferred Union Square due to its location and lack of TS attitude. When we return to NY, this will be our hotel of choice…if we can afford it.

I'm staying at this property next week and am already quite excited! I've got a Wonderful room booked on a corp rate ($469 a night) and am SPG Gold. What kind of upgrade can I expect - just a one level to a Spectaular room? Looks like a wonderful hotel. ^

I'm staying at this property next week and am already quite excited! I've got a Wonderful room booked on a corp rate ($469 a night) and am SPG Gold. What kind of upgrade can I expect - just a one level to a Spectaular room? Looks like a wonderful hotel. ^

Not to dampen the excitement but as a Platinum all I received was a guest room on a high floor and I am a return guest.Much my experience for the W San Francisco. In seven years as a Platinum I have never seen the inside of a suite at either hotel.That said they are heroes compared to the legendary poor treatment of elites at the W on Lexington Avenue the original W New York
Needless to say I switched my loyalties elsewhere.

Other then that the W Union Square is a nice hotel in a good location that doesn't come reasonably priced at any rate.
Olives used to serve a mean brunch with some exceptional french toast.
However at 100 dollars for two at breakfast the french toast should kiss you too on departure ;)

"That said they are heroes compared to the legendary poor treatment of elites at the W on Lexington Avenue and the original W New York
Needless to say I switched my loyalties elsewhere"

W on Lexington IS the original W New York.

As golds, I'm not really sure if we got an upgraded room or not. At check-in, the CS agent mentioned we were in one of their larger rooms, but according to the map on the door, it looked about the same size as most of the rooms except for corner suites. Regardless, it was plenty nice and plenty big.

Has anyone stayed recently in a Penthouse room? Any comparisons to the other room classes? I booked a Spectacular room and was given the option to upgrade for $80/night. The amenities are listed on the website, and in addition on the 'special offer' page

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/pub/gc/1299/3585585.htm

I asked for a penthouse room in my reservation, and am wondering if they give them out to Plats... I'm not sure it is worth $80 a night though.

My wife, 4 month old son and I just spent two nights at the W Union Square. Overall, the experience was positive. The "Mega" room on the 19th floor was clean and comfortable. My only two complaints were that the view from the windows on the 19th is blocked by some decorative stonework. I was tall enough to see over it and admire the city views, but my wife wasn't. The second complaint was that my wife asked the concierge to make a dinner reservation, but we never heard back and had to call back to actually get the reservation made. Fortunately, we wanted a 6pm reservation on a Sunday night, so we got the reservation and, to the concierge's credit, we were surprised at dinner with champagne courtesy of the concierge.

All in all, it was a good experience and we'll likely stay there again.

My husband is platinum and we got upgraded at W times square at check-in. This would have been 2.5 years ago. I'm not sure if it was the penthouse suite, but it was HUGE, surrounded by glass so we had amazing views of the city, and had at least 2 rooms (a good sized separate bedroom and a work area). We have also stayed at a "suite" at the other W in NYC, and the times square one was a mansion by comparison.

We have also stayed at a "suite" at the other W in NYC,
Which other W??? There are 4

W New York - On Lex
W Union Square
W The Court
W Tuscany

W NY. That is the absolute worse hotel. The suites are tiny, and the bedroom literally had just enough room to fit a bed.

I've just written a review of the W New York-Union Square (with pics!) as part of my trip report:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9375635&postcount=32

I hope it is of assistance. :)

Cheers.

Fantastic review, and Spot On!! This is exactly why this is our stay of choice in the city!

Has anyone stayed recently in a Penthouse room? Any comparisons to the other room classes? I booked a Spectacular room and was given the option to upgrade for $80/night. The amenities are listed on the website, and in addition on the 'special offer' page

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/pub/gc/1299/3585585.htm

Bumping this post, just to see if there is any additional info on the penthouse rooms. I've got a stay coming up next month, and it's not entirely clear to me (from the "special offer" page), what I'm getting in a penthouse room that's worth the money.

Anyone have any experience (good or bad) with these?

Thanks :)

FYI virtuoso offers confirmed upgrades

from W website re "penthouse" benefits >
- coffee or a selection of teas delivered through in-room dining
- Wired high-speed Internet access
- local and domestic long distance phone calls
- MultiPot all-in-one device charging unit
- munchie box
- pressing of up to three garments per stay
- Twilight turndown service
- "VIP amenities" (?)

Not sure if this is the most appropriate place for this - but my wife and I will be visiting NYC for the first time in September.

Based on the reviews I'm liking the W Union Square, but we're also considering the W Times Square.

Is the Union Square location alright for first time visitors to NYC? We're only going to be there for 2 nights, and will want to hit some of the major sites - Times Square, Central Park, the Upper East Side, Rockefeller, etc.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks

Not sure if this is the most appropriate place for this - but my wife and I will be visiting NYC for the first time in September.

Based on the reviews I'm liking the W Union Square, but we're also considering the W Times Square.

Is the Union Square location alright for first time visitors to NYC? We're only going to be there for 2 nights, and will want to hit some of the major sites - Times Square, Central Park, the Upper East Side, Rockefeller, etc.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks

For general first-time sightseeing, the Times Square location is probably more convenient.

Union Square is closer to the "downtown" scene, and is great for someone who knows New York already and wants to focus on the latest "cool" shopping, nightlife, restaurants, and so forth, which tend to be clustered downtown.

Times Square is closer to most of the things you list that you want to see--it's in Times Square, obviously, and very close to all Broadway shows, and is a quick walk from Rockefeller Center. Central Park is also a short walk away. I'm not sure what exactly you want to see on the Upper East Side (the museums, I'm guessing), but that's more or less equally convenient from either W location. And though most of the trendier shopping is downtown, midtown (nearer the W Times Square) is home to most of the major department stores and a lot of flagship stores for various chains and designers.

The only sightseeing-type tourist attractions that are downtown are the site of the World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty, both of which would be a subway or taxi ride away from either W, so Union Square doesn't have a much advantage there.

If you do stay in the W Times Square, restaurants can be a bit of a challenge as there are lots of tourist-trap type places in that area, and even places with decent food are often overpriced since they cater mostly to tourists and businesspeople. However, you can find some gems located nearby, particularly if you wander a bit farther out of Times Square, and of course you could always make plans for a dinner that's in a different part of the city.

If you do stay in the W Times Square, restaurants can be a bit of a challenge as there are lots of tourist-trap type places in that area, and even places with decent food are often overpriced since they cater mostly to tourists and businesspeople. However, you can find some gems located nearby, particularly if you wander a bit farther out of Times Square, and of course you could always make plans for a dinner that's in a different part of the city.
Not so ;) Blue Fin at the W Times Square (available for room service) is hands down one of the best restaurants in town ;)

Personally I would stay at the W Union Square - the "atmosphere" is so much nicer. Nothing in NYC is that far away imo. Subways, taxis, WALKING :) all get you to where you want to be a whole lot easier.

The hotel at Times Square is OK but the one at Union Square seems a bit nicer imo. What are you looking to do in NYC anyway? That will help with some more suggestions.

Wow. Thanks for the incredibly useful information. Very much appreciated.

Because it's our first time we're going to be doing most of the touristy things - at least as many as we can do within 2 days:

Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, MoMA, Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Central Park, Greenwich Village. We may also do a cruise and/or bus tour just to get a quick overview of Manhattan. We won't be seeing any Broadway shows.

We'd narrowed it down to the W Union Square, W Times Square and Westin Times Square. It seems that the W Union Square has the most positive reviews, but obviously I had a few concerns about the location for first-timers.

Wow. Thanks for the incredibly useful information. Very much appreciated.

Because it's our first time we're going to be doing most of the touristy things - at least as many as we can do within 2 days:

Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, MoMA, Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Central Park, Greenwich Village. We may also do a cruise and/or bus tour just to get a quick overview of Manhattan. We won't be seeing any Broadway shows.

We'd narrowed it down to the W Union Square, W Times Square and Westin Times Square. It seems that the W Union Square has the most positive reviews, but obviously I had a few concerns about the location for first-timers.

For most of what you want to do, I agree that Times Square is going to be more convenient, but as mentioned by others, NY is very easy to get around (I like to walk a lot too). I've stayed at both properties. TS on my first visit, US on my last. Liked US better for the hotel and the location, but would probably recommend TS for most first timers looking to do the tourist run. I don't think you can go wrong with either, but TS may save you some travel time if you're trying to do a lot in a short period of time. Have fun.

Wow. Thanks for the incredibly useful information. Very much appreciated.

Because it's our first time we're going to be doing most of the touristy things - at least as many as we can do within 2 days:

Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, MoMA, Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Central Park, Greenwich Village. We may also do a cruise and/or bus tour just to get a quick overview of Manhattan. We won't be seeing any Broadway shows.

We'd narrowed it down to the W Union Square, W Times Square and Westin Times Square. It seems that the W Union Square has the most positive reviews, but obviously I had a few concerns about the location for first-timers.

IMO, the W Union Square is a great hotel with excellent service. Subway station not a far walk. Overall would be an awesome choice.

Ken in Phx

We'd narrowed it down to the W Union Square, W Times Square and Westin Times Square. It seems that the W Union Square has the most positive reviews, but obviously I had a few concerns about the location for first-timers.From somebody who lives a few blocks above Union Square, you should be thrilled, not worried, about the location.

You have access to two key subway lines -- the 4/5/6 and the N/R/W -- a stone's throw from the hotel. You're also still in a highly central location, but without the maddening tourist groups, neon signs and scam artists that you find in Times Square. You get to walk out onto a great park (Union Square) and two others, Madison Square and Washington Square, are only about a 10-minute walk away.

Now, your specifics:

Empire State Building - you can walk there, it's about one mile north. Plan on each block (street) taking one minute of walking time, and each avenue taking three minutes. Thus, 17th and Park (W Union Square) to 34th and 5th is about a 20 minute walk.

Rockefeller Center, MoMA, Fifth Avenue - take the 6 subway to 51st. You can then walk a couple avenues west to all three.

Times Square - take the NRW subway to 42nd / Times Square.

Central Park - take the NRW subway to 5th Ave and 59th. This will put you at the southeast corner of the park. You can also just walk north from Rock Center / MoMA / 5th Avenue (about ten minutes, 59th is the southern edge of the park).

Greenwich Village - walk. I mentioned Washington Square Park earlier. That puts you right in the thick of Greenwich Village.

Since you're going for two days, you'll have to prioritize. I would spend one day focused on Rock Center, MoMA, 5th Ave and Central Park. If you go to the Top of the Rock, you can skip the Empire State Building (and the associated lines, which can be well over an hour).

You can spend the second day going south. Check out Greenwich Village, SoHo, WTC, etc. If you really want to see Times Square (and I suppose I'll agree that it's something a first-time visitor should see), you can easily ride the subway there and back.

Do make sure you spend some effort securing good dinner reservations. Spend some quality time at nymag.com. Not sure what your budget is for dining out, but it doesn't need to be anything terribly extravagant to have two phenomenal dinners. There are also some great wine bars around Union Square if you want to go out after dinner.

Do rates at the W Union Square ever drop significantly as a check-in date approaches?

I'm trying to book a six-night stay beginning Friday. Using the Z6H promo, it's $406/night - despite the fact that there appears to be a ton of availability. (Recession, anyone?) A three-night stay is $330/night, but I don't want to split my stay.

By contrast, a six-night stay at the W New York is $286/night, at the W The Court is $293/night, and at the W Tuscany is $313/night. (Three nights at the W The Court is a mere $232/night.)

Any ideas as to how I might find a better rate? I'd prefer to stay in Union Square, but I'm not going to pay a ~$115/night premium, especially with the Platinum recognition I'm likely to get at the Court/Tuscany.

Union Square always seems more expensive, I would do the court as your upgrade probability is good. I'm writing this from my Fantastic Suite (which is actually really nice) in the court.

Union Square always seems more expensive, I would do the court as your upgrade probability is good. I'm writing this from my Fantastic Suite (which is actually really nice) in the court.
Yeah, the rate difference is kind of crazy. If I could just get a decent rate for the last three nights, I'd go for it...

Otherwise trying to decide between Westin Times Square and the Court.

Just had a great stay at the W Union Square, my first ever visit to this property. Booked a $296 AAA rate for a wonderful room. Was given a double upgrade to a mega room on the 15th floor. Upon check-in: "we are pleased to offer you a 4:00 check-out so please take advantage." Breakfast at Olives was good and not too outrageously priced. I'll definitely be returning.

Very nice upgrade for being a Gold, I got a mega room at the 21st (top) floor at thanksgiving after booking a $299/night wonderful room. Reeealy nice :D

The hotel was great with great service and atmosphere, Olives was a nice restaurant.

We've skipped a few years so it's nice to see that our fave NY hotel is still
garnering positive comments.

We've got back-to-back weddings in NYC next summer and have booked a long stay there.

It's our ideal location in NY- bc it's so easy to get to all parts of the city. Plus it's walking distance to many great spots to eat.

The hotel is in a beautiful beaux-arts building- the mega rooms are a decent size. The staff is typically friendly and efficient.

It's our home away from home in NY.

I had a great stay here in November. I was upgraded on the cheapest possible Z6H booking to a very nice Mega Room. I experienced top-notch customer service, by and large, and when I didn't, they made it right. I'm not much into the W concept, but this hotel is the real deal, and not nearly as in-your-face hip as I had feared.

I'd add that the admittedly expensive nature of this hotel is largely offset by the comparatively inexpensive restaurants in the area and the general convenience of the location. I don't know if I would pay hundreds of dollars per night more to stay here, but for an extra hundred bucks over a lesser hotel in Times Square, it's almost a no-brainer.

My only real complaint: the fitness center, while well equipped, is way, way too hot to be usable for a cardio workout. This needs to be fixed.

Auch, I never tried the fitness center, but to warm is a no-go. Was this only a one time experience or has anyone else experienced the same thing?

I'm not much into the W concept, but this hotel is the real deal, and not nearly as in-your-face hip as I had feared.


I couldn't agree more.. It's still "trendy" and "hip" but not over the top, and there's a quality to the materials that some of the other properties don't have. I think the other W properties I've stayed at (especially in New Orleans and Atlanta) just try to hard.

I'm surprising my girlfriend this weekend with a stay at the W Union Square for her birthday.
I cashed in some award points for the one night stay.
I also made reservations for brunch at Olives the following morning.

Can anyone advise a good place to park overnight? Is there a garage nearby?

I have no plans for a workout during our stay, but regarding the comments on the heat in the fitness center...warm is good if you are looking to burn those calories and fat! Thats why you see hardcore trainers bundled up with sweat outfits...the idea is to raise your core temperature and get your furnace working!
Enjoy the sweat!;)

Any other tips I can use for my stay will be appreciatted.
I'll report back in on Monday about my stay^

I'm surprising my girlfriend this weekend with a stay at the W Union Square for her birthday.
I cashed in some award points for the one night stay.
I also made reservations for brunch at Olives the following morning.

Can anyone advise a good place to park overnight? Is there a garage nearby?

I have no plans for a workout during our stay, but regarding the comments on the heat in the fitness center...warm is good if you are looking to burn those calories and fat! Thats why you see hardcore trainers bundled up with sweat outfits...the idea is to raise your core temperature and get your furnace working!
Enjoy the sweat!;)

Any other tips I can use for my stay will be appreciatted.
I'll report back in on Monday about my stay^


We typically don't like "trendy" bars but we've had some great times in the private booths at the Underbar. I wouldn't go there if I couldn't score the private seating- but the booths with their own curtains are a great place to have a romantic nightcap.

You can also sometimes catch good jazz across the street at the Blue Water Grill.

Happy Birthday to your girlfriend! I'm a big fan of "destination" gifts and the guys who give them.
Enjoy.

Stayed at the hotel over the weekend.
Overall, a very enjoyable stay.

We were greeted warmly at the door and the service continued at the front desk where we were taken care of by Nelson...who graciously upgraded our award stay reservation to a room on the 21st floor.

The room was a decent size for a NYC boutique style hotel.
Gorgeous bathroom with plenty of lighting and Bliss cosmetics supplies which my girlfriend was very excited about.

The lighting in the main area was a bit dim, but that was about the only complaint. The bed and linens were fantastic, nice flat panel tv, and a cool view of Union Square.

In the morning we ate brunch at Olives downstairs.
If you go, have the Nutella pancakes!
Again, fantastic service!

We were also granted late check out, which allowed us to take our time at brunch and head back up to the room to get a few last minuted of relaxation before getting back on the road to head home.

I had previously asked about parking options in this thread...the W will valet your car for $65, which I thought was outrageous.
Instead, I parked in a garage one block away and was told it would be $40.
I guess the late check out was after the garages "overnight" time parameter and I ended up paying $70. Guess I should have just used the valet service, haha.

Great stay and GREAT service! I'd return to this hotel in the future for sure!

GINZ - glad to hear that you had a great experience. Mine was not 100% satisfying.

Stayedon New Year's Eve, award stay using extra points to book a Mega room. When I checked in, was told that I was "getting a double upgrade" for being a platinum member. Walked in, and it was a.. you guessed it.. a Mega room and not the penthouse suite. Well, should've known it's not the penthouse since we're on the 4th floor. :rolleyes:

I called the platinum concierge to double check and make sure that I didn't lose my mind and used less points for the Spectacular room. Sure enough, the reservation was for a Mega room. Called front desk to confirm the "upgrade". The front desk agent who checked me in insisted that I had a reservation for a Spectacular room, and suites were all booked, but a SPG manager will get back to me.

The room was good size for NYC. Besides the view into our neighbors in the building next door (since we're on the 4th floor and not higher), the room was nicely appointed, with a bubblejet printer/fax machine at the desk. The bathroom is showing its age, as there were rust stains, and water temperature and pressure were uneven at times. Consistent with other W's that I've stayed in the past, only 1 bar of soap was provided :rolleyes:, but the sinkside 6 was all there.

Checking the goodies at the minibar, I noticed that there was a bottle of partially consumed orange juice. Since I didn't order that service to be an amenity, and who knows what else is missing/consumed, I called whatever/whenever and alert them of the issue. They said they'll send someone up to reconcile and restock the mini bar.

When we returned from dinner, I noticed that although the room was turned down, the minibar was untouched still with the half bottle of OJ. I called and asked for the manager on duty, and had to relay the same story twice -- once to the alleged MOD, and second time when he couldn't help me and had to get me another person who was the real MOD. After getting the details, the manager said that I would not be charged for the minibar, and someone would get back to me in the morning regarding the room size issue...

...and the morning came and went, and no one called. At checkout, the same agent who checked me in waved me over, recognized me, and apologize that he didn't call back because he couldn't get through the line :confused:, but said that he talked to the manager, and as a goodwill gesture they will refund the difference between the standard room and Mega room. I asked him about the minibar issue, and he said since it's a hotel issue, I don't need to worry about it and they will take care of it.

3 days later, there was a charge for $26.01, which I just confirmed with the hotel it was for minibar consumption. :mad:

Although the hotel promised they would refund the charge, it's still annoying to deal with all these small issues. A file is open with Corporate Customer Service, so we'll see how will the hotel respond.

GINZ - glad to hear that you had a great experience. Mine was not 100% satisfying.

Stayedon New Year's Eve, award stay using extra points to book a Mega room. When I checked in, was told that I was "getting a double upgrade" for being a platinum member. Walked in, and it was a.. you guessed it.. a Mega room and not the penthouse suite. Well, should've known it's not the penthouse since we're on the 4th floor. :rolleyes:

I called the platinum concierge to double check and make sure that I didn't lose my mind and used less points for the Spectacular room. Sure enough, the reservation was for a Mega room. Called front desk to confirm the "upgrade". The front desk agent who checked me in insisted that I had a reservation for a Spectacular room, and suites were all booked, but a SPG manager will get back to me.

The room was good size for NYC. Besides the view into our neighbors in the building next door (since we're on the 4th floor and not higher), the room was nicely appointed, with a bubblejet printer/fax machine at the desk. The bathroom is showing its age, as there were rust stains, and water temperature and pressure were uneven at times. Consistent with other W's that I've stayed in the past, only 1 bar of soap was provided :rolleyes:, but the sinkside 6 was all there.

Checking the goodies at the minibar, I noticed that there was a bottle of partially consumed orange juice. Since I didn't order that service to be an amenity, and who knows what else is missing/consumed, I called whatever/whenever and alert them of the issue. They said they'll send someone up to reconcile and restock the mini bar.

When we returned from dinner, I noticed that although the room was turned down, the minibar was untouched still with the half bottle of OJ. I called and asked for the manager on duty, and had to relay the same story twice -- once to the alleged MOD, and second time when he couldn't help me and had to get me another person who was the real MOD. After getting the details, the manager said that I would not be charged for the minibar, and someone would get back to me in the morning regarding the room size issue...

...and the morning came and went, and no one called. At checkout, the same agent who checked me in waved me over, recognized me, and apologize that he didn't call back because he couldn't get through the line :confused:, but said that he talked to the manager, and as a goodwill gesture they will refund the difference between the standard room and Mega room. I asked him about the minibar issue, and he said since it's a hotel issue, I don't need to worry about it and they will take care of it.

3 days later, there was a charge for $26.01, which I just confirmed with the hotel it was for minibar consumption. :mad:

Although the hotel promised they would refund the charge, it's still annoying to deal with all these small issues. A file is open with Corporate Customer Service, so we'll see how will the hotel respond.

Uggg, those "little" things would have annoyed me too:(
I hope they do the right thing and "take care of you" on a future stay.:D

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i143/ROE_2006/Picture.jpg

I continued my W Hotel NYC wanderings...this time at the Union Square where I was upgraded to a Mega Room on the top floor (21st).
Very modern and plenty of room which made it no real difference to a suite.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i143/ROE_2006/Picture019.jpg

Loved the bar area in front of the restaurant to the right of reception.
I did wander around to the UNDERBAR (sorry QF009) but not my scene...a bit dark and a bit young for me.:p
Great stay and was well looked after...nothing was a problem.
Some interesting shops nearby but not as good as 3rd Avenue when staying in Lexington Ave.

The place is great. And I am very difficult to impress. I stayed a week in a Fantastic Suite with a Union Square view. It has two rooms (living room and bedroom) with a bath room in between. The bathroom has a large picture window overlooking Union Square. There is lots of natural light. The room itself had minimal wear and tear. The floor area outside also had minimal wear and tear. The bed was not their signature product but was a nice firm mattress, which I prefer over their pillow top, which I have never been happy with. However it was not a premium mattress by any stretch. The service was excellent. The big plus is that it is so easy to get in and out of the room and the hotel. No double elevators. The building was built in 1911 and much of the originality has been retained. There is an excellent Asian deli next door and an excellent Whole Foods nearby. Many transportation options are close. Union Square pulsates. No tourists. The fitness center was lousy. It has two or so tread mills and a limited assortment of dumbbells. I wrangled a guest pass at the nearby New York Sports Club. But I can't wait to stay there again! I can't believe I stayed there a week and had absolutely nothing to complain about.

Considering a week-long stay June 28 - July 5.

As a platinum, i will be accompanied by 2 others and looking at using cash and points (150 bucks + 8k points/night. Can anyone comment on the best chance for scoring an upgrade or any of the other perks that Platinums typically get (e.g. free breakfast, lounge).

Should I break up my visit to 2 different stays or find a different property to try out for a few days (such as W The Court) to increase the likelihood of an upgrade?

Cheers!

The bed was not their signature product but was a nice firm mattress, which I prefer over their pillow top, which I have never been happy with. However it was not a premium mattress by any stretch.

I had this exact same issue at the other NYC Ws (Lex, Court, Tuscany). So I can't say I have slept on an offical "W" bed when staying at these hotels. In fact, I don't really know one if I see see it. The only *wood bed you can readily rely on is the Westin Heavenly bed and Sweet sleeper. Both great beds.

Does anyone know of an email address I can use to contact the hotel guest relations manager about an upcoming stay? I looked on the website but I can't seem to find one.

Thanks in advance.

The address on the customer satisfaction emails is Christophe Thomas, General Manager GM.Christophe.Thomas@whotels.com. A message to it was replied to by someone else.

Our experiences on a recent three night free weekend (great promo) match those of the posters above. "Double upgrade" to a nice but not amazing decently sized Mega room with a square view. The breakfast was good value for starwood (couple of bucks cheaper than the lesser NYC Ws), although they brought sausage instead of bacon and then fetched some totally frazzled bacon. Lobby bar closed at midnight, suprisngly early.

In general it just seems a little more solid and less pretentious than W The Court or the original W. Also a great location -- Whole Foods, Maoz and Trader Joes right there (travelling with a baby and need quick, easy options, fresh fruit and organic milk). Washington Square and the East Village both a short walk.

Two main gripes. First is that at 11:30 am on the 8th floor we watched with about four people with luggage as three lifts went came and went too full for anyone to get on. We didn't have luggage and took the stairs.

Second is that we got two DVDs from the hotel library to watch during thunderstorms. I returned them to the front desk when checking out, but we were billed $150. I've queried this, and trust it will be removed.

As a Platinum this will be my first stay at a W on Aug 27-28 using the free nights from the recent Promo. I am really looking forward to it.:D
-UFFA

Well I just checked out today from 2-night stay using FWN.

Check-in was very fast. I arrived around noon on Fri and checked to see if they had a room with 2 beds. I was not called by name and my platinum status wasn't acknowledged, but he told me he had a suite available with a king and he could have a rollaway bed sent up for me. I thanked him and accepted that offer. So less than 10 mins later, I was in my room (not sure if it was a Fantastic Suite or a Wow Suite, xx05, but it was very spacious and comfortable).

Now I get into the litany of niggling little issues that by themselves aren't really a big deal, but all together were enough to be annoying. Firstly the rollaway bed that was offered at check-in didn't arrive. The sofa was comfy though (and our 3rd person was only staying 1 night), so around 9pm I called to ask for pillows and bedding. Those arrived quickly so I didn't think too much on it.

Around 8am on Sat morning, room service tried to deliver breakfast. However, since we didn't order it, we were all still asleep. When my friend told him that we didn't order breakfast, he insisted that we filled out the door card and pointed to my last name and the room number. So she woke me up and I went through the whole spiel with him. He left and I tried to go back to sleep. 10 mins later, the In Room Dining Manager calls to ask if I still wanted my breakfast. I explained again that I didn't order this breakfast and she apologized and said that he didn't tell her that was the reason I sent it back. About 30 mins later, grouchy from being woken up early, I called down to a Guest Relations Manager and talked about the incident, specifically that I felt the room service person should have explained properly to the manager. He also apologized and insisted that something be sent up to me from room service for free. He asked me when I was leaving for the day and I said 11am, and agreed to have some coffee and pastries sent up before then.

Just before 11am, the In Room Dining Manager calls to confirm whether I wanted coffee or tea with the breakfast that were ordered for an 11am delivery. I said that I told the Guest Relations Manager that I was leaving at 11am and therefore would not be here for this breakfast. We agreed to have it delivered the next day instead.

Sunday morning, breakfast was delivered with a bill for about $55! Cue explanation that breakfast was supposed to be complimentary, etc etc. Then when I got back after lunch, the invoice for my stay was waiting under the door... with a charge for internet, which I did not use! I had this taken off at check-out of course.

I feel that while the staff were all friendly and responsive, and their instincts seem to be good, there is a lack of attention to the execution. All of which turned what could have been a great stay into merely a fairly good stay. While I wouldn't avoid staying here in the future, I certainly wouldn't try very hard to return either.

Well I just checked out today from 2-night stay using FWN.

Check-in was very fast. I arrived around noon on Fri and checked to see if they had a room with 2 beds. I was not called by name and my platinum status wasn't acknowledged, but he told me he had a suite available with a king and he could have a rollaway bed sent up for me. I thanked him and accepted that offer. So less than 10 mins later, I was in my room (not sure if it was a Fantastic Suite or a Wow Suite, xx05, but it was very spacious and comfortable).

Now I get into the litany of niggling little issues that by themselves aren't really a big deal, but all together were enough to be annoying. Firstly the rollaway bed that was offered at check-in didn't arrive. The sofa was comfy though (and our 3rd person was only staying 1 night), so around 9pm I called to ask for pillows and bedding. Those arrived quickly so I didn't think too much on it.

Around 8am on Sat morning, room service tried to deliver breakfast. However, since we didn't order it, we were all still asleep. When my friend told him that we didn't order breakfast, he insisted that we filled out the door card and pointed to my last name and the room number. So she woke me up and I went through the whole spiel with him. He left and I tried to go back to sleep. 10 mins later, the In Room Dining Manager calls to ask if I still wanted my breakfast. I explained again that I didn't order this breakfast and she apologized and said that he didn't tell her that was the reason I sent it back. About 30 mins later, grouchy from being woken up early, I called down to a Guest Relations Manager and talked about the incident, specifically that I felt the room service person should have explained properly to the manager. He also apologized and insisted that something be sent up to me from room service for free. He asked me when I was leaving for the day and I said 11am, and agreed to have some coffee and pastries sent up before then.

Just before 11am, the In Room Dining Manager calls to confirm whether I wanted coffee or tea with the breakfast that were ordered for an 11am delivery. I said that I told the Guest Relations Manager that I was leaving at 11am and therefore would not be here for this breakfast. We agreed to have it delivered the next day instead.

Sunday morning, breakfast was delivered with a bill for about $55! Cue explanation that breakfast was supposed to be complimentary, etc etc. Then when I got back after lunch, the invoice for my stay was waiting under the door... with a charge for internet, which I did not use! I had this taken off at check-out of course.

I feel that while the staff were all friendly and responsive, and their instincts seem to be good, there is a lack of attention to the execution. All of which turned what could have been a great stay into merely a fairly good stay. While I wouldn't avoid staying here in the future, I certainly wouldn't try very hard to return either.

I had a stay earlier this year where I paid cash (USD) at checkout.
My AMEX was later billed for minibar charges (AUD) that I did not use.
The Manager remembered me from checkout and applied a USD credit but as the exchange rate had changed it did not cover the AUD amount after conversion. Messy and completely unnecessary.Otherwise my stay was fine and I really enjoyed the Bar area off reception (as opposed to Underbar).Staff were great.

I've stayed there about 8 or 9 times in the past year. As a Platinum I've always had my status acknowledged and been welcomed back by name. I think I've been upgraded almost every time too. My next stay's for about two weeks in the second half of September, so I'm not sure if there'll be an upgrade this time due to the length of the stay - fingers crossed though.

I've always had a great time at this hotel and love the location. The staff have always been fantastic too. Not a huge fan of Underbar, but have ended up there on occasion :-)