W Hotel Times Square New York: crazy location, like the price and the noise
NY hotels often use the word Times Square as a red herring, not Marriott's questeo W which is literally inside the world's most famous square
I am writing this review from the hotel bar. Power of jet lag.
In this article:
It is 8:30 p.m., but taking into account that I woke up this morning at 5 a.m. (Italian time), I am almost at the turn of the clock and at the moment I am still not sleepy.
Reservation
At this time, the United States is not a cheap destination. Add to this the fact that we are on the eve of Halloween and the first post-pandemic marathon (while last year's was run with borders still closed)-and that 1 dollar is worth more than 1 euro - is the perfect combination to make New York more expensive than usual, all the more expensive.
One night at W Times Square cost me a whopping 440$., there was no possibility of using points. Or rather: there was, but the required points were objectively too many.
The location
In New York many hotels, restaurants, stores have Times Square in their names. It is a way for potential customers to understand the area where they are located, and often "Times Square" is as far as 15 minutes from the world's most famous square. In this case we are literally inside Times Square, too much so.
The hotel is located between Broadway and 50th Street, in the heart of the liveliest, noisiest and most messy area in all of Manhattan.
However, if it is the first time you come to the city. this is the perfect area to stay. You are downtown, the subway lines all go through here, you walk from here to Central Park, you are 5 minutes from Fifth Avenue and the classic tourist spots of the Big Apple. If you want to, and I recommend it at least once, you can walk to Downtown, avoiding always taking the subway and discovering the city above ground. Of course, it's quite a walk, but if you choose the right route it's quite a sight.
The hotel
The entrance is impossible to miss. There is an immense W on both the facade and the tip of the skyscraper. The hotel has 57 floors over 500 rooms including 43 suites, but even though it was "fully booked" I have to say I didn't see much crowding.
As is often the case in NY, there is just a covered space on the ground floor where you can take the elevator up to the reception, which in this case is on the 7th floor.
Here is the most lively area of the hotel. In addition to the reception desk and concierge, there is a bar with a counter 50 meters long. There are various types of seating and even a DJ console. Friday and Saturday nights the lobby becomes a club, for better or worse.
The environment, as in all Ws is modern, elegant and should tend toward luxury. Honestly, in this hotel I did not perceive the usual attention to detail. Let's say it felt like a Moxy +.
Check-in
I arrived a few minutes after 12 noon, thanks to my Titanium Elite status in the Bonvoy loyalty program I can take advantage of early check-in and late check-out at 4 p.m., which is even more useful.
The reception was also not as warm as usual, but in this case I really think the problem is America and the many elite status holders through facilitated pathways: something that does not happen on the other side of the ocean or, perhaps, we should say something that does not happen anywhere else in the world.
The nasty surprise was the presence of a "destination charge" that is an alternative way of calling the "resort tax," a gabble that here means 25$ extra on the hotel bill per day. In exchange for what? Fast Internet, two Guggenheim admissions, or bar credit. In short, a way to make cash, especially since it is not very clear what this fee is.
The room
The only positive thing about checking in was the upgrade, although in hindsight I have no idea if that was good or bad. From a basic room I was elevated to the 49th floor to a corner room, that is, with double windows and a view of Times Square.
When I say I don't know if it was good or bad, it is because the noise coming from the square is enormous. In addition to the traffic and sirens, there are the screams of people, the music of street performances-an incredible mix that the windows can't keep out.
The room on the other hand is large, much larger than some New York standards, and the reason is precisely that it is a corner room.
Being on the 49th floor you have to look down to see Times Square, otherwise just wait until evening and the lights will remind us where we are. The other window overlooked the Marriott Marquise, an immense hotel of nearly 2,000 rooms. To be exact it is 1,966 rooms, one of the largest hotels in the city. If you lean out a little bit you can see the Hudson and the area towards New Jersey.
If the lobby is designer as is right to expect from a W Hotel, the room, on the other hand, lacks the soul that one would expect from this sign that aims to offer modern luxury to appeal to a younger clientele. There is a comfortable bed, but not king, the classic mega TV. A sofa under the window and a small desk.
The bathroom is also minimal, there is not even a door. In general, the room did not convince me.
Food & Beverage
Having to spend 25$ somehow., I chose to drink the beer I mentioned at the beginning. The bar is nice, the environment has the right vibe, thanks in part to the outside guests.
The hotel has no restaurants, or rather on the ground floor there are two restaurants with which the hotel has a relationship, but they are not directly operated. Breakfast is served in one of them. Dos Caminos is a Mexican restaurant chain. Not being interested in the meager proposal for elite customers, I preferred to take my points and not have breakfast
WATCH OUT FOR THE BILL
When I received the email with the pre-account I noticed a charge of over $50 at the bar that was not mine: be sure to always check all lines in the account to avoid nasty surprises.
In conclusion
Would I return to this hotel? Definitely not. Who would I recommend it to? Definitely not to families with children. It could probably be suitable for young couples or groups of young people. It is in the heart of Manhattan perfect for getting around at any time of day or night.
Pro
- The position
Against
- The position
- The noise
- The price