mikeef

As the parent of a couple of curious kids, I'd implore you to mention the broken latch to them.

Under $600? Believe it or not, not too many right now. NYC is booked solid and they can charge pretty much whatever they want.

Mike

Totoro

Was this a buffet style breakfast inclusive of beverages?

Another post in Platinum continental breakfast thread suggests a pre fixe continental breakfast that sounds very skimpy. I will probably opt for the Sheraton with rate inclusive of breakfast if this property does not offer a good Platinum breakfast option. I recall the Sheraton restaurant buffet being quite tasty.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19033987-post753.html

Thank you!

travelmad478

The trouble with that is that the broken latch had nothing to do with the fact that the window opens fully--they ALL open fully. The broken latch just meant that the top sash on mine didn't close properly. In other words, it's a feature, not a bug. If the NY Buildings Dept. didn't catch this, I doubt the hotel is going to do anything about it. And this was probably a holdover from the previous hotel, too (I had never stayed there, and to be honest, I don't normally test windows in hotel rooms).

LIH Prem

What did you want the buildings department to catch?

I don't know what the regulations are regarding NYC hotel windows. Does anybody have that info?

For NYC apartments, windows can open fully, but the landlord is required to provide child guards if there are children in the apartment (by tenant request/notification to landlord).

Maybe the hotel will provide some sort of child guards or lock the windows if you request it? I don't really know, but I don't think anybody else does either.

I left a hotel once after checking in with the toddler at the time because the window opened fully on the 4th or 5th floor, so I understand the issue when there are kids present. (it was a cheap disney outside the park property, and they couldn't do anything about the window, so we left because of our safety concerns).

But the people that stayed at this property haven't contacted the property or Starwood to even ask about it or tried to get them to do something about the non-closing windows, the latch issues and the guard issues if/when there are children present in the room.

If it's really a concern, I think you should check with property management, and hopefully the people that stayed there and had an issue with the windows will report it.

-David

Flews

Based on all the reviews I am reading this weekend, I am starting to wonder if thre is a decent SPG option in NYC for OVER $600/night?

Happy to pay through the nose for a great stay, but so many 'fails' being reported in so many of the reviews, for so many of the NYC SPG properties, is quite alarming.

I shall keep on researching...

Cheers,

hotelfanatic

I did not find the reviews in this thread to be overly negative. In fact, most of it has been positve since the renovation. I do agree the breakfast is skimpy but other than that (and the borken lock in one room), this is a great spg NYC property which I have stayed a number of times and will be back soon. Not sure how the $600 was selected as a rate to compare against (maybe during extraordinary periods of high demand such as UN conference or Fashion week??). But this property can be had for much less if available.

McGoogles

My stay was good and I think most others who have written up their stays have had positive experiences. The fun of the internet is that all the "little" things add up and negative reviews stand out. If you take a step back, this has been a positive thread (and even the LM one if you take out a few overactive conversations).

mikeef

If it makes you feel any better, there are no better options for Hilton, Marriott or Hyatt.

Mike

TRAVELSIG

I just received some offers from the Taj Pierre for 475 to 600 a night including breakfast. If the big chains are charging prices over 600 it is quite easy to decide where to stay.

mikeef

^

Needless to say, I'd grab that one in a heartbeat.

Mike

abcx

I'm here right now. It's a decent hotel if you're willing to overlook the typical indifferent NYC service. I live about 10 blocks south and right now 'm just grateful to have power and water.

AZ Travels the World

I just completed a two-night weekend stay. Not having any idea what to expect in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, I was very pleasantly surprised.

I was upgraded to a two-room suite which was very nice. Pretty standard-issue Westin, but a nice amount of space and I liked the fact the living room was separated by door. The bathroom was accessible from either room, which would have made it nice had anyone been sleeping on the sofa sleeper in the living room.

I found the staff very helpful and pleasant in every interaction I had -- in spite of very difficult circumstances. The hotel was filled with angry marathoners (not all, of course) and locals with no idea when they'd be able to return to their homes. People were over-staying their reservations (with consent by the management) and they were trying to balance who was coming in with who was going out. It had to be a very trying situation for the staff. I thought they handled it gracefully.

Reports here thus far have seemed average-to-poor, so given the situation in NY right now, my expectations were quite low. The staff blew them away.

I would stay here again. Very convenient mid-town location and a solid Westin product.

hotelfanatic

Glade to hear the hotel is handling the difficult situation in NYC. I agree that this is a solid spg property and probably the best in its category in NYC.

You may want to review the earlier reports (in 2012) as they are very similar to yours.

Totoro

Was the Platinum continental breakfast a full buffet inclusive of beverages?

Another post in Platinum continental breakfast thread suggests a pre fixe continental breakfast that sounds very skimpy.

Thank you!

hotelfanatic

Very Skimpy. I would even recommend going across the street to get ur breakfast.