Originally Posted by pinniped

Wow...this thread has me a bit spooked!! Wife and I are doing three nights in NYC in January and I noticed some $152/nt. non-prepaid, direct-booked rates at this hotel. I also see an opportunity to pay $179/nt. for 2 nights and receive 5,000 bonus points plus a guaranteed upgrade, which I assume would be worth it since the points by themselves are worth roughly that.

But seeing these horrific reviews I'm a bit hesitant to pull the trigger... I kind of like the idea of avoiding the huge mega-Marriotts in NYC and all of the Starwoods require a hefty (about 50%) premium for the right to cancel 1 day prior to the stay. So I'm crossing my fingers...hoping this 57 was going through some early growing pains...and wondering if any FTers have had good stays here in 2011???

I'm a Plat if that matters much...