Adding another experience from last week:

NYC was sold out solid the week I was staying - or rather, only if you are willing to pay rack rate and then some, such as $1,400 for a Courtyard, or $10,000 for the Presidential Suite at Edition. As such, the only place left in Manhattan for points redemption was here, and only room available was high floor, which means it was 60K per night + $60/night upcharge, or additional points. Given the alternative (they are charging $1,200/room), it was not a bad deal, so to speak.

CHECK-IN

There is a separate elite line. The person who checked me in probably worked at the DMV at the past, because that's the level of friendliness I received. She did note my Titanium status, and asked me whether I want "point or breakfast". I got points, thinking that the $30/day destination charge credit would cover most of the breakfast charges. (More on that later) The first floor lounge is closed. No upgrade to a suite, and cannot switch bed type from 2 double to 1 king, without even looking up the inventory. Again, DMV-level friendliness.

The elite line can be a saving grace, as I noticed a few groups at check-in and check-out, as well as airline crews. The regular line can be as long as 20+ people deep.

Also, my room cards worked through 4pm check-out, which is a plus.

ROOM

The hotel uses the smart elevator system, which means you put in your destination floor before the system directs you which elevator to use. The elevators were not so bad during my stay.

I got a room on the 47th floor, with a view to Central Park between buildings.



The room itself was unremarkable, with worn furniture and mattress where you can feel the springs when you sit down.



The bathroom features the dated Speakman 3 setting shower head now that's now common at Holiday Inn Express, which means it was never updated since the curved shower rod was installed back in early 2000's. Pharmacopia bath amenities were provided, but no shower gel.



There is no refrigerator in the room. There is no complimentary bottled water in the room either (or any bottled water), although you can get as many of the baby sized bottles from the bell stand. Going green indeed, as there is no separate bin for recycling rubbish. The space where the mini bar would have been located is locked. There are plenty of drawers and closet space. The fancy circular desk lamps provide plenty of power plugs, although there are no other source of lighting other than the overhead light at the entrance hallway.

Can't speak about housekeeping since I had the DND sign on the entire stay.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

There is grab and go breakfast at the bar in the morning, along with Starbucks coffee beverages - no free coffee is provided other than the in-room coffee maker. Just note the long line, with only two people working. Hudson Market only serves breakfast, and has only 2 options: Continental buffet ($30+tax+15% tips) or Full buffet ($38+tax+15% tips). The full breakfast is basically what they would have offered in the lounge - bad scrambled eggs and egg whites, diced breakfast potato with peppers and onions, sausages, bacon, waffles, cut fruit, overnight oats and hot oatmeal, breads (I don't recall any pastries), and yogurt cups. No egg dishes to order, and no a la carte options available. Not even smoked salmon on bagel. At basically $48 per person all in, it would have been a better deal to take the free breakfast instead of the points. Then again, YMMV....

...because on the second night of my stay, the bar was closed for a private function, which means that there are no other venues to use up the $30 F&B credit that evening. C'est la vie.

OVERALL

I'm just annoying that this is a basic level hotel, and the $30 credit is just money grab (after all, they charge you a total of $34.42/day for destination charge after all the taxes). Location is great because it's close to most of the touristy stuff without being in the middle of Times Square. I would stay here as last resort if this is the last full service hotel available in Manhattan.