Crowne Plaza Manhattan Times Square by IHG

The location is excellent, close to restaurants, shops, and the subway, which makes getting around easy. The room was clean, and the sheets and towels were fresh and well kept. But the hotel is very dated and under construction. We could hear tools during the day and sometimes into the evening, which made it hard to relax. My room was near the elevator, and its thumping every time it moved added to the noise. Several things in the room felt worn or broken: the TV had no signal on any channel, the bathroom was tiny, one sink handle was loose, and the lampshade looked damaged. The place clearly needs updating. It’s an okay stay if location is your main priority, but the tired interior, maintenance problems, and construction noise weren’t what I expected.

The woman from housekeeping who helped me was kind, professional, and genuinely useful. The location is great, but the rooms, service, and experience didn’t feel worth the price, especially with construction going on. I started in a standard room and later paid another $300 to upgrade to a “premium” one. Neither felt well maintained, and the upgrade didn’t feel premium. In the standard room, the carpet was dirty and worn, the mattress springs were noticeable, and the room felt tired. I regretted paying extra for the premium room, which still had multiple problems. Going forward, I’ll stick with familiar NYC chains like Hilton or Courtyard. The Wi-Fi dropped every few minutes, so I couldn’t work remotely. The shower pressure was so poor that washing my hair was uncomfortable. The remote barely worked, channels weren’t listed, and the TV guide didn’t work. Neither bedside light worked, and there were no bathroom towel hooks. The room was generally clean, but the shower area on the first night was absolutely disgusting. The front desk was unfriendly. I was told I was “paying for the location, not the room,” which says a lot. Security also felt lacking for such a prime spot. Someone outside was swinging a large metal chain when I arrived, and even my Uber driver suggested waiting until we felt safe. Anyone can walk into the lobby, there are no elevator restrictions, and I didn’t feel confident about security. The included paid breakfast was very basic, just pastries, fruit, coffee, and tea. With so many diners nearby, I’d eat elsewhere.

My room changed my mind about this hotel after I’d read reviews that made me dread the stay. It was huge, with two very comfortable double beds, a large bathroom, and a great view. It seems the rooms on floors 19, 20, 21, and 22 have been upgraded. The location was perfect, and I’d definitely stay again. I didn’t interact much with staff, but when I did, they were always polite and friendly.

The room was dirty, including the floors and carpet, and boiling hot with no way to adjust the temperature or open a window. It was one of the most uncomfortable nights I’ve had, and I’ve had cleaner, more comfortable stays in budget motels. I was only there overnight and had to leave early, so I can’t say how staff would have handled it. People should know the rooms are lacking. I won’t stay here again and would steer others away too.