Doubletree by Hilton New York Times Square South

The thermostat was my only real issue. During a February blizzard I set the heat to 82°, but the room stayed around 66-67°. Maybe the extreme weather was a factor, but I kept coming back to a colder room than I wanted. Otherwise, I had a good stay at DoubleTree by Hilton. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the service and accommodations were solid. My bed was great, the shower was amazing, and I liked the lighting. From the 18th floor I also had a pretty cool view. Being in central Manhattan meant some city noise during the day, though nights were fairly quiet, and I was usually out anyway. David and Crystal at the front desk were especially hospitable. I’d consider staying again.

Marlon Foster, the assistant front office manager, made my stay smooth, relaxing, and memorable. He was warm and professional, took care with special requests, offered useful recommendations, and checked that I was comfortable. From the moment I arrived, he went out of his way to help. It’s unusual to meet someone so proud of his work who makes guests feel this welcome. I hope management knows what an asset he is. I highly recommend the hotel.

It was our first visit to NYC, and we stayed two nights. We got a room on the 26th floor with an amazing view of the Empire State Building. The room was clean, the bed was good, and the location made sightseeing easy. Penn Station was a short walk away, and so were the places tourists want to see. There was plenty of noise outside at night, though maybe that comes with staying in this spot. A very nice woman greeted us and gave us complimentary drink and appetizer vouchers for a birthday. We went to the rooftop bar both nights. The drinks were good, the food was alright, and the woman working there was nice too. We didn't have breakfast, so can't comment on it. The room was a bit small, my only complaint.

Service was awesome. I arrived around 8 am and could get into my room at noon. If you want a room before noon, you can pay an extra $100. The rooms may seem small to some, but for NYC I thought mine was bigger than most. The location is the key, with everything walkable. Madison Square Garden is a couple of blocks away and Times Square is about 10-12 minutes on foot. There are lots of places to eat nearby. Breakfast at the hotel restaurant costs over $20 per dish, and with so many options around, I wouldn't spend that much.