Holiday Inn Express New York City- Wall Street by IHG

The rooms are tidy and simple, as you’d expect at this price, and breakfast is quite filling and decent. There are key subway stations nearby, making it quick to get around Manhattan. You can also go for a morning jog along the waterfront through lower midtown and northern Manhattan. Highly recommended.

Nikki at the counter made the stay especially nice. She had a great attitude throughout and offered plenty of help and recommendations when we needed them. The hotel’s location is also very useful: nearby train stations let me get there late at night and during the day, which matters when NYC traffic can be ridiculous. Taking the train saved us from it. The place was clean and well kept, except for one night when the elevator was out for 45 minutes. Breakfast saves money, though it’s nothing fancy. I was able to have oatmeal as a healthier option.

The heating and air conditioning weren’t working when we arrived, with winter temperatures around -12°C. We told the front desk right away and left, but when we returned that night the heat still wasn’t working. They offered us a different room, but it had one bed and a sofa bed, even though we’d booked two beds while traveling with friends. The sofa bed was thin, small, and so uncomfortable that I’ve had to sleep on the floor. There was also a problem in the original room, 1104: the bathroom sink drain wouldn’t open or close, so water collected in the basin. This stay has been completely negative and unacceptable, especially given the weather and basic expectations for comfort and things to work.

The rooms were quiet, clean, and modern, with good Wi-Fi and AC, a working flat-screen TV, and beds I slept well on. They’re a decent size for Manhattan, not cramped. Breakfast is included each morning, with eggs, waffles, yogurt, fruit, and coffee, which made it easy to eat before heading out. There’s a fitness center too. Nothing fancy, just a solid Holiday Inn Express stay, so four stars.