Hampton Inn Manhattan-35th St/Empire State Bldg

The lobby couch needs a proper cleaning. It looked so unpleasant that I wondered what it was like underneath, and there were lots of people waiting around with no visibly clean spot to sit. The location is excellent, right by a subway entrance. The room was small, as expected in NYC, and a little dated for the price. The very firm spring mattresses made an aluminum-like sound whenever I got up or lay down. Breakfast was basic, but probably enough to get you through the morning.

I spent seven nights here in September and felt safe and comfortable the whole time. I'd happily stay again. The staff were kind, friendly, and helpful, which means a lot when they're dealing with tired, confused travelers day and night. My sixth-floor room was small but clean, with a very comfortable bed, plenty of charging ports, hot water, and better-than-expected pressure. Dimming the lights would've been nice, though that wasn't a big deal. The main hassle was the slow elevators, especially at breakfast and checkout. I often waited quite a while. Breakfast was the usual predictable free hotel spread, and my boyfriend liked the waffles. For food and drinks, head outside and turn left, east. The Liberty is just a few doors away and has amazing drinks, food, and service. A burger place even closer in the same direction had fantastic burgers. I'm pretty sure Burgers is in its name. We didn't dine in, my friend picked up takeout, and it was really good. The subway stations are pretty close too.

Of all my Manhattan stays, this one was easily the best. The daily breakfast and seating area were a lovely way to start the day, and the location suited me well. I also liked having water and coffee available around the clock and finding cookies at the front desk each day. Everyone I met, from reception and housekeeping to maintenance, was welcoming and kind. The room was very clean, and a mini fridge was already there without me needing to ask. The standard Wi-Fi handled my online course better than I expected. I'll definitely come back.

The location was spot on, with lots of places within walking distance. The room was clean, but looked smaller than the website photos and was dimly lit. Breakfast was all right. Most of the reception staff were warm and friendly, though one person wasn't welcoming. Despite leaving our luggage in the morning, check-in was delayed. The man brought back one suitcase from storage and insisted that was all, apparently missing that the tag was for five bags. He also wasn't very helpful when I called about the Wi-Fi. The hotel seems understaffed, and what we paid didn't match the experience.