Stayed at this "new" (to Doubletree) hotel option for NY last weekend. Got a special of $120/night on a weekend.

It's a 1960's "modern" hotel (the old Loew's/Summit Metropolitan) which has been given a renovation of sorts and branded as a Doubletree.

Rooms are small, although not by New York standards. Room was adequate for a 1 night stay, but would be tougher for a week. As a gold, was given "an upgrade to a king room" and based on the fire-escape map on the back of the door, this was not the smallest floorplan on the floor. Given a room on the 7th floor but with access to the executive lounge (which, does not serve breakfast on the weekends). We didn't use the chits for the free continental breakfast in the hotel coffee shop, as we had other plans that morning.

The room was well appointed with LCD TV, down comforter, the "sweet dreams" pillows, all the usual Doubletree stuff. Bathroom is perfectly fine (there was plenty of hot water) although a function of the original hotel layout places the toilet/shower in one "room" with the vanity/sink in an anteroom. Fine but a little hard to figure out where the tissues and trash can were (in the toilet room, not the sink room).

One lie on the website: hotel does not have "self-parking" as the website claims, unless you believe that that means that you have to drive it to the entrance to the parking garage yourself, which you do (i.e. they do not have a valet at the hotel'ls lobby entrance). It's the more typical New York garage whereby you drive in, tell the guy how long you're going to be there, and he takes your car onto a scary looking elevator and you don't see it again. Also, note that it's $30/night for hotel guests, which is paid in CASH to the parking attendant, not part of your room bill (which, of course means you don't get points for it either. None of these are a big deal, but note that difference from the website.

THe staff was very friendly, but a bit hurried (in short, quintessential New York). T

The location is great for most midtown activities and you are literally adjacent to (or across the street from, depending on intended direction) the subway. There's a drugstore up a block on Lexington, if you need anything.

We got a great rate ($120) for this hotel, and for that rate I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. It's not the newest hotel, or the oldest, and certainly isn't the most charming (it's not even the most charming Hilton product on that block, as the Waldorf-Astoria is a mere block away), but it's perfectly adequate and nice. If the rate was double that I would think about somewhere else.

It is NOT worth Category 6 points. I know it's New York and all, but it's definitely not in the same league as the Waldorf or other NY Hilton family properties. 5 Maybe. I'd have been pretty disappointed if I'd burned Cat 6 points for that room.