I am currently staying in an entry level suite at the Carlyle hotel on the Upper East Side.
This is a luxury hotel that was built in 1930 and it shows its age in the usual ways, such as tiny, tiny,
tiny bathrooms. You literally have to do a bit of contortion to exit the shower/bath and if you forget to put the top of the seat down, you may find yourself stepping into the toilet. It is a genuine suite -- two rooms, ample closet space, and a guest lavatory with sink and toilet (which is more spacious than in the main bathroom). The noisy a/c is clearly a more recent addition and cycles on and off with apparently no way to leave the noise level constant. Rooms do have adequate lighting. Furnishings are well-aged and not overwhelming in quality to begin with. TVs have been updated to flat panels.
There are 3-4 lifts but only two are usable during the day and only one at all other times, because the hotel chooses to require lift attendants in the small, but automatic, elevators and they don't have more attendants on duty than noted.
The included virtuoso/FHR buffet breakfast is nothing special with a smallish selection; overall decent. For Virtuoso, you can choose room service but only get a $50 room credit. As two continental breakfasts cost $72++ through room service, your credit won't go far.
On the plus side, staff seems quite anxious to help, with the exception of some gnarly front desk staff.
The hotel seems to encourage lots of pets, kids, and long term residents.
I don't see peeling paint as reported by folks at the Waldorf-Astoria Towers but I suspect the vintage is about the same.
Internet access is $15 a day plus tax.
I likely will pick somewhere else next time. It's really remodel time here.
Looking back at DavidO's review three years ago in the following thread, it's hard to believe we stayed at the same hotel -- maybe other rooms had been renovated and mine wasn't? However, my room is ivory colored; if it has been renovated, it hasn't aged well. Note that Virtuoso amenities have been significantly degraded since David's stay. The additional amenity is now a $100 spa credit; it's hard to know what this is really worth without hassle as the in-room spa catalog doesn't list prices!
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