Nuru Binghamton Downtown

The charm is still there, even with the cracks and faded bits. It feels like a grand old lady with traces of her former beauty, and I enjoyed myself emensly. The staff were great, and the hotel is right downtown with shops and food an easy walk away. It was inexpensive and could work well for a longer or working stay. I couldn’t get the microwave going and got locked in my room for a few minutes, but it was clean and comfortable.

The staff member at the counter seemed expressionless when I reported the problems, but said housekeeping would come up. The room smelled like an old rug, there was mold in several spots in the bathroom, and the toilet and bathtub were dirty when I checked in. Housekeeping arrived without supplies and asked what was wrong. I pointed everything out, including things I thought would be obvious, and they wiped some grime with toilet tissue and said it was gone. That was nowhere near enough for me to feel comfortable sleeping on a mattress that may not have been changed or cleaned after previous guests. The place was disgusting. With mold and such poor cleaning, I think it should be inspected by health officials and shut until the issues are fixed. The owners need to rethink how they run it if they want the grand royal to succeed.

I loved the room, it was spacious and clean, with excellent shower pressure. The architecture and atmosphere of this renovated former city hall are wonderful, and the staff were awesome. There wasn’t a Keurig in the room even though it was listed as an amenity, but fresh hot coffee was always available at the front desk. I didn’t ask them about a Keurig, and I’m sure they would have brought one if I had. The rooms aren’t Ritz Carlton quality, which I wasn’t expecting. Kudos to Salim, the manager on duty at check-in, for excellent customer service. I found the place by accident late at night, and I’ll definitely be back.

The front desk staff are friendly and helpful, and the historic building has great architecture. There’s a small bar, a little complimentary breakfast, and a red lounge smoke room. Our room was clean, though the products weren’t eco-friendly and housekeeping weren’t the friendliest. I feel the owners will address that soon. This was our second visit, and we’ll return.