Sleep 5 minutes from Wall Street and 10 minutes from One World Trade Center: review Doubletree Downtown

Every time I pass by New York I try to stay in a different hotel. The motivation is simple: it is one of the most visited destinations by Italians, perhaps the most visited intercontinental destination ever, and because of this I try to try different hotels in different parts of the city, To be useful to all kinds of readers.

The position

I have never slept so low in lower Manhattan. In fact, it's probably one of the absolute closest hotels to the end of Manhattan. In this area, I have already stayed at the Moxy Downtown, at Millennium Hilton (now no longer Hilton) and at the Conrad Downtown.

As I have had occasion to say in other articles, I like this area of NY very much. You can move anywhere from Jersey to Brooklyn, to - of course - all of Manhattan by any means.

Reservation

Hilton's first 2023 promotion is not the best. The only interesting thing is the 1000 extra points for each sign visited, so after staying at the Motto I set my sights on this Doubletree.

As always, Booking made through APP, the only valid way along with the website to get points and benefits. Using points in NY may be a right choice, but in January it is very low season and cash prices drop significantly. That is why I preferred to pay 150$ and accumulate points rather than use points.

Check-in

As (almost) always in NY, the lobby is not on the ground floor. The only public area in the facility is on the second floor. It is very small and it is evident how it has been renovated recently. Even in the Hilton app, the photos that are shown are from this area, and, I say this as a warning, the redesign stopped here.

There are two counters. The paperwork is still the same, only here there is a little game at check-in, you can choose wheel of fortune or free fall.

As prizes you can get snacks, credit to spend at the hotel or points. I had to settle for a treat, which was in addition to the chain's iconic hot cookie.

The room

I did not check in with the app (big mistake), so I could have chosen my room instead when I arrived late in the evening I had to make do with the leftovers. The tower has 44 floors and I ended up in the middle, on the 22nd, with a view of nothingness from the other skyscrapers surrounding the hotel.

The room has not been renovated like the front desk, indeed. However, if you book a double room, the nice thing is that the beds are full-size, so even if you're traveling as a family, it can be a fair compromise, considering also that this hotel does not charge surcharges such as the disguised "resort fee" that here in NY is called a "destination charge" and that in exchange for an amount around 30/40 $ gives little or nothing.

The equipment is classic for these facilities: TV, kettle, a small closet. Nothing more or less.

The bathroom is basic, but it has a large, recently renovated shower and not the dreadful 1970s curtained tub that is still found in so many hotels, even the more emblazoned ones.

Common spaces

I make amends, I did not go to see the gymnasium: I know. 3 out of 4 Italians train on the road, but I am in the slice that doesn't even think about it.

All that this hotel offers is the second floor. In addition to the lobby, there is a small galley where you can buy some snacks or sodas at a premium price.

There are a variety of seating and two PCs available for guests, that's all. It is the classic cheap hotel in NY. You spend time here to sleep and shower. There is nothing else because nothing else is needed.

Food & Beverage

As we have written several times, unfortunately, In the U.S., free breakfast at Hilton hotels has disappeared With the advent of covid. In return you receive a daily voucher to use in the hotel's bars and restaurants. In my case 18$.

If you have never been to America, you might think that this amount would be enough to eat breakfast. But here there is no such thing as a cappuccino and croissant, or rather this is not the kind of breakfast people eat.

The hotel does not have a restaurant and relies on the one on the ground floor of the facility, which is an Italian restaurant. This was the first time since the voucher was entered that the amount almost covered the cost of breakfast.

My plate cost 20$, plus tax and service, so in the end I got away with about $5 difference. If I wanted to, I could also have stayed in the 18$ range by choosing something else, but to get around NY you need to get your fill.

In conclusion

You could say that you pay for what you get. The location is great 2 min from the subway and boat boarding to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Walking is easy throughout Downtown, you take the subway from Fulton Center and after one stop you are in Dumbo, or a Lyft (so you get Hilton Honors points) And you get taken to Central Park or anywhere in NY.

• Hilton Honors

The verdict

I did not have high expectations and I was not disappointed, this hotel fulfills its promises and I would recommend it to families with children , of course you are far from Times Square and Central Park, but it is better that way. Away from the chaos and in an area where you can also play in the green and relax.

7

Pro

• The little game that rewards those with the status
• Low breakfast price

Against

• Zero view from the lower floors