writing this from the hotel to share first impressions. Our room is overlooking 42nd street on the corner of the 5th ave. The room is nice although it's not love from the first sight: the ceiling is very high, and the window is huge, the layout and design pretty well thought out with distinctive Asian influence, such as low working desk, very understated side tables with about the only drawers in the whole room, and uniquely - a soaking bowl for your feet in the bathroom. Unlike Wall St, the bathroom does not have a tub, but the shower is pretty nice and there is a double sink which actually works (unlike in downtown, thanks a million Tony CHi)!!! Toiletries from CO Bigelow: different shape bottles and smell than Andaz WS. Diamond amenity is points, food credit or 15$ credit a day to use their "roomlinx" TV system including unlimited movies (Starz selection - not that huge). Diamond breakfast this morning at the restaurant was fine, the menu is pretty varied. Althgouh there was barely anyone at the restaurant coffee service was slow, hopefully this will be straightened out in the future as people would not sit waiting for their morning coffee 5-10 mins! I am not sure if that is due to their coffee machines, because although they can make you coffee in the lobby, it took him a while to brew a cup. Basement has a gym, which is nicely thought out with lots of mirrors making it seem more spacious and open.

Our room also features two glass cabinets by the door- one serving as a wardrobe and one for the in-built fridge and safe and a couple of shelves. And yes, there are two robes and slippers in the room! The lighting is pretty high tech, even though lights do not seem to dim, and the window shade is automated. The automated lighting seem to work, even though bright lights in the room came on by themselves a couple of times last night.