What is your IHG One Rewards status?
Diamond Ambassador

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
No, completely overpriced even by NYC standards given (a) location and (b) the actual value obtained

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
1 bed queen standard city view (the entry level room), upgraded to 1 bedroom freedom tower view suite with patio

How are the rooms?
340 sqft for standard room. Upgraded suite was 650 sqft with 1 bedroom, 1 lounge and a gigantic patio on 21st floor

Couch, armchair, TV in living room
Shower & Tub separate
Comfortable bed.
USB charging next to bed
Kettle and Capsule coffee machine.
Minibar

How is the exec. lounge?
N/A

What was good and what was bad?
GOOD
The upgrade was nice… that as about it

BAD
Diamond Breakfast - given a $15 USD voucher for their in house “bar/cafe” (usually a bad sign). Breakfast had 2 food items to choose from - $8 turkey cheese muffin or a $5 oatmeal cup you would get from the supermarket (open and add water variety) plus 1 coffee. The Muffin tasted like trash and in fact worse than what I would get from McDonalds which is saying something. there was also a croissant which was wrapped up for $6 I think (see photo)

Amenity Fee - $40.13 USD, absolutely bloody bogus amenity fee that basically is a scam. This consisted of
$10 for minibar (where a bottle of water was $8)
$10 for in room dining credit which had the same exact options as the dreadful breakfast above PLUS $4 delivery fee and gratuity
2 x 30 minute citibike passes (I guess could be useful)
$100 credit for toll calling (who the hell uses this)
Complimentary Keurig Machine (I Kidd you not, this was listed)

The location is … rustic. Trying to commandeer manhattan prices for something that is much more …. Interesting.

Value for $ or IHG One Rewards Points? Would you return?
Absolute not - terrible value especially with the scam amenity fee (at least IC Times Square amenity fee of 40 USD has 25USD you can spend in the freaking restaurant)