Staying here tonight. Booked it because I plan to visit the reopened Museum of the Motion Picture a few blocks away and the rate $119 was pretty good too. I did get upgraded to one of their 16th floor suites, the Bronx. Have a view of Manhattan and the 59th Street Bridge, though the weather is starting to close in. Room is very large and confirms other reports. Too bad the huge balcony overlooking the Bronx (north) is covered with snow. (Sloped wall to ceiling windows in the bedroom are interesting today as the ice has built up over night and it is slowly melting and sliding down the windows.)

Friendly staff, got a bottle of water and box of chocolate truffles at check-in and told I could have a late check-out tomorrow (overnighting at the HIX Madison Sq Garden tomorrow but spending the morning at the museum). Short walk from the subway. Actually flew into EWR this morning and took the Airport Express to the Port Authority Bus Depot, then walked through the underground Metro maze to catch an N train uptown. Took about an 1-1/2 once the bus pulled out of the airport to when I checked in. (Lots of stairs to navigate on the subway, so pack light!)

Plats and Golds also get a 20% off voucher in the 39 Below restaurant for dinner. The dining room is probably the most disappointing aspect of this property as it is in the basement and somewhat bleak. Looks like a 1960s Communist block hotel restaurant. (Maybe it gets more appealing when the glass wall is opened up into a courtyard.) However, the food is well prepared and large portions. Had a garden salad with my pasts dish and it was huge and fresh with mixed greens, tomatoes and cucumbers. The mushroom ravioli was plump with various types of mushroom and a reasonably good cream sauce with more fresh mushrooms mixed in. (Also free dessert for PC elites, cheese cake which was fine but would have been better with a fruit compote.) Breakfast is the standard HI menu and pricing. Again, large portion and with tip was under $15.

Also received a huge cheese plate, along with strawberries and grapes, and a plate of crackers!

All in all, I would say this is one of the best HIs in the chain. They really do treat Plats well. While I am not sure I would rank it up with the IC Barclay, by HI standards it's a 9-1/2 (no bathrobe available, biggest drawback!)