Thanks for the tip. Do you remember what's the lowest floor number that has the extra windows (so that I can request floor XX or higher)?

I don't, but it's clearly the top 4 floors so you can request that. However even then, it's only the 4 corner rooms that have the extra windows. (8 rooms per floor.)

Another TIP: I recall from elevator stops that even single digit floors had the "SPG Member Floor" sign, then again maybe all the floors do?

New restaurant a block away from the hotel (from http://www.timeout.com/newyork/artic...urant-openings)

"Archipelago -- Though the far-flung West Soho location of this new fusion spot posed some problems for the space’s previous tenant (the ill-fated Dani), chef Hisanobu Osaka (Morimoto) hopes to draw a crowd. His fish-focused menu melds French technique with Japanese ingredients—roasted flounder is garnished with a miso-based salsa and herbs; thinly sliced fluke is plated with shiso, yuzu pepper and clam gelée. 333 Hudson St at Charlton St (212-243-3345) "

Just stayed there. Here are my additions to the previous reviews:

Pros
- Comfortable mattress, pillows
- Very well lit, bright
- Purell hand disinfectant as an amenity ^
- TV is has good choices and carries channels in HD. It will remember when you turn off the crappy "distort all non-HD channels" setting.

Cons
- Door has TERRIBLE insulation. Was waken up by neighbor walking out of the room. This is inexcusable on a brand new hotel and earplugs should be part of the amenity kit. No kidding; unless you sleep like a rock or have to get up real early, don't fall asleep without earplugs. Had no problems with walls/plumbing noise insulation.
- Found only feather/down pillows in the room even if both my SPG platinum profile and reservations notes told them to replace them with nonallergic/foam ones.

Comments
- No Wall Street Journal in the morning (only USA Today, not delivered to the room).
- King room is way "compact", would be very difficult to share with another person (walking over luggage etc.). Design is very efficient and works well for one person. I did not get one of the "skyline view" rooms that nroscoe did, but one with a much, much smaller window, and none in the side)
- No black-out shades but the one here does a far better job than the one at the Chelsea location (small slits on each side).
- Caswell-Massey amenities are real, not faux, but the brand seem to have seriously gone downmarket.
- CNN on TV is analog, not HD.
- Got the platinum jacket and amenity choice.
- No noise from streets in my south-facing 16th floor room, but did hear construction noise (jackhammers) during the day (lots of projects going up in the area)
- Very impressed with management--this hotel feels like it's been running for years, not like it just opened
- Found a flier where they advertise 3 levels of rooms: 48 are "standard", 50 are "superior", and 50 are "extra comfy". Don't know what's the difference between them, or what type of room I was assigned. They also have 2 suites, and some rooms are called "skyline view"

I was worried about food choices, and indeed there's nothing except for the hotel "restaurant" on the block itself (bad for arrival nights in freezing storms) but Archipelago (see previous post) is a block away (BUT it closes at 10pm, so wasn't able to try it). However, the choices 3-4 blocks away either to the Northeast (West Village) or to the east/southeast (SoHo) are absolutely amazing and many of them are open real late. And the crappy McDonald's is a couple of blocks away and is also open very late. For breakfast there's a Dunkin Donuts 50 yards away on Varick St (take a right and then the first left) or a Starbucks 100 yards away on Hudson St (take a left from the hotel and then the first right).

I agree with nroscoe: "I honestly think this is one of the better located Starwood props in NYC. I will definitely be staying there again."

Thought I would add my $0.02:

After staying at this hotel for a week, I have to say I am impressed. The staff was pleasant and always greeted me with a smile. The rooms by NYC standards were a decent size and the décor was brand new. The furniture looked new; the TV was a nice new 32’ LG flat screen. There is a lot of construction going on around the hotel, I was on the 12th floor and I was only at the hotel one out of the five days during the day and I heard a lot of jack hammers construction vehicles etc. I lived near the hotel for over four years right after I graduated college and I think the area is fine. It is somewhat industrial but if you go up a few blocks and go either east to 6th or west to Hudson the area becomes very commercial. This is NYC so if you walk north within a 3 block radius there are a bunch of great places to eat: blue ribbon, steak frites, ‘ino, etc.

So overall:

Pros:
• New, well furnished rooms
• Bathroom looked brand new, well laid out
• Pleasant Staff
• Cheap rates (I paid $215 a night)
• Great Desk for getting some work done, plenty of space and plenty of power outlets
• FREE Internet
• Convenient location, close to the subway (1, C, E, W4th subway)


Cons:
• Gym is a joke, 1 treadmill, 1 elliptical & two exercise bikes
• Slippers were a nice touch until I saw some women’s hair all over them
• Construction could be inconvenient if you are going to be there during the day

Regarding those slippers :D
I overheard the FDC telling a woman as she was checking out that those slippers are like the robes=for use during your stat only and there would be a charge if they are removed.I thought he was either nuts or kidding(or more likely very ill informed)but maybe they are reusing them :eek:

Even cheaper on 11/23 & 11/24: $165.75 per night. ^^

this property sounds much like the new 4 points chelsea which i just stayed at this week. if so, imho they are a very welcome addition to starwoods nyc properties.

South of Houston - can't be Village
North of Canal - can't be TriBeCa

Technically it's Hudson's Square (the subset of SoHo west of 6th ave/Ave of the Americas).

Not just a technicality. It is in Hudson Square ^ which isn't really a marketer's dream :p Walking distance to Tribeca (not a pretty walk), West Village, and Soho. Also very close to Jacque Torres Chocolate, which is worth a visit if you enjoy such things. :cool:

I've been staying at this property a few weeks.. (with a few more weeks to go!) and I have to agree with other posters -- this is a great addition to the NYC portfolio of properties.

Pros (from a business traveler perspective):
+Room layout compact but functional.
+Walk-in shower with decent water pressure.
+Free wi-fi *and* free hardwired internet connections!
+Power strip for charging conveniently located on desk
+Wake-up calls are easily programmed into system and do not depend on staff
+Close to the subway
+Great customer service

Cons:
-Sink is small, no room for toiletries unless you have a hanger / hook device
-Door is a little thin.. but noise only comes from next-door neighbor traffic.

This property was clearly designed for singles, couples, and business travelers... and not families with small children. ^^ Hopefully rates will stay relatively low during the week.

Good to hear the positive reactions. Have they outfitted the fitness room with a TV? water cooler? towels?

12k points for this property or Sheraton Midtown?
 

If you had 12k points to spend over the holidays, would you reserve this property or one of the Sheratons in midtown?

Thanks.

Since you are a plat. I would go with the Sheraton-better chanc of an upgrade and there is a lounge.

Did you check to see if cash and points are avail for your dates?

Figured I'd add a note since I've stayed here twice now. It's walking distance to my office, so I think this is my new hotel of choice.

There's a Chipolte just up the street, which is good for a cheap and quick dinner. And the CE Spring St station is very close, just down Vandam. The noise hasn't bothered me much, but I can pretty much sleep through everything.

At the corner there's a Dunkin Donuts, next door to a Subway. Also very close by is "City Girl Cafe" which has wonderful coffee (and I lived in Seattle for more than 7 years, I know what real coffee is and how hard it is to find in NYC!).

http://www.yelp.com/biz/city-girl-cafe-new-york

It's on Thompson, so maybe a 3 minute walk from the hotel if you're walking slowly.

Anyway... glad to have this place here. I had been heading up the Chelsea 4 pts on my late nights, glad to have a closer starwood option. :D