Alexander

As a 21-year-old student from upstate NY doing an internship, I felt safe in Hotel Alexander and the area around it. No bugs, thankfully. It was surprisingly quiet, and I had no issues with the staff or my room. The rooms are small, though not absurdly so, and a big bed takes up most of the space. Internet dropped out now and then, which was annoying during my Dr. Who binge, but it came back after about 20 minutes. Lots of useful places are within a 15-minute walk, including a well-lit, fairly clean subway entrance, pizza, a cafe, grocery store, frozen yogurt, and more. The grocery store nearby was especially handy for a stay of a few months. Hauling groceries on the subway isn’t fun. I totally loved staying here.

The location is great, with shops and a metro station close by, and the staff did try to help. When I visited, they were friendly. The rooms may not be the best, and I did find a cockroach in mine, which freaked me out a little. The guy at reception changed my room without any fuss. It’s sad to see so many negative posts.

I applied for a king room at Hotel Alexander, but after sending in the forms and paying the $225 application fee, I was told by email from Evan that I’d been approved for a double instead. They hadn’t told me about the downgrade, yet still wanted the king-room rate. When I questioned it, they said all king rooms had been booked and this was the only room available. I thought the double should cost less, but they refused to change the rate. A few days later, I anonymously called and asked about king rooms for my dates. They said they had some available. Based on this and other reviews, it seems this may happen regularly. Their setup starts with a cheap room offer, then asks for application forms containing highly confidential details like Social Security Number and Passport, plus the fee. I can’t say whether this operation is a legitimate business, and I’d report it to the law if I had time. Over an extended stay, the rate difference would’ve meant several thousand extra dollars for a room advertised as much cheaper. This felt like a bait-and-switch scheme, and I’d avoid it. I can only imagine what other charges they might tack on once you’re there.

They asked me to submit application forms with all my private information, then went quiet when I asked why my requested dates and room had been changed. Booking emails got almost no response, and I couldn’t get a live person to confirm the reservation or answer questions. The whole operation felt extremely shady. If they treat customers this badly before arrival, I wouldn’t feel comfortable staying there even briefly. Anyone who does book should watch their card charges carefully and report unexpected fees to the authorities.