Holiday Inn New York City - Times Square by IHG

For a quick trip, the location was hard to beat. We arrived at about 5 PM, walked from Penn Station, checked in, and dropped off our things. Then we headed a couple of blocks to the Lyric Theater for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, grabbing food at a restaurant on the way. We were in line by 6 PM, saw the excellent show, then walked back. In the morning we ate breakfast at the on-site restaurant. It was good, though the sausages had cooled a bit, and then we walked back to the station and caught our train home. The room was functional and seemed reasonably clean. It did the job. The hotel’s a few blocks from Penn Station and only a couple more from the Broadway theaters, which made this trip really convenient.

Sheree made a booking issue at check-in much less stressful. She was helpful, understanding, friendly, and had a great sense of humor. The service was fantastic, and we’d especially like to thank her. The hotel is well placed for seeing NYC sights on foot, right by Times Square. Our room was a bit dated but exceptionally clean, larger than we expected for New York, and quiet at the back of the building. We couldn’t tell we were in Times Square. The lift waits do get busy at rush hours, as other reviews say, and the posters explain when to avoid them. We were on the 19th floor, but taking the stairs down wasn’t too bad. Clean and comfortable, with no tourist tax, and it does what it promises. We’d recommend it.

I left feeling misled by the security staff. At checkout I asked to store my small travel handbag for half a day and collect it at midnight. A guard said he’d need to move it to another room for the late pickup, and used that as a reason to ask for a tip. I paid, assuming the transfer meant extra work. But when I came back, the front desk got my bag from the same storage room, so no transfer had been needed. It felt like I’d been taken advantage of. The room also didn’t match what I booked. I reserved a standard king room with a city view, and had called the day before to confirm it, even though I’d be checking in late. Instead I was given a second-floor room with only a limited street view. The bed didn’t seem king sized either. My feet and ankles stuck out unless I pressed against the headboard, and it was shorter than my friend’s full-size bed, which fits me well. The hotel may be acceptable for its price and location, but these issues left a very negative impression.

I only stayed one night after an Amtrak electrical problem shut down all the trains and left me needing a room fast. Check-in and checkout were simple, and the hotel is about a ten-minute walk from the Amtrak station. From my room on the 35th floor, the city views were impeccable. There were some frustrations. I couldn’t get the Wi-Fi to work: the login details on the card were hard to read, and using my last name and room number didn’t connect. I didn’t call the desk since I was there for just one night. The bed, advertised as full or queen, felt too short for me at 5’9”. My feet hung over the end, so I had to sleep diagonally. The AC wouldn’t keep the room cool; only the fan worked, and I had to adjust it several times overnight. Four stars for a one-night stay that worked fine, but a longer visit would probably bring my rating down to three. Better Wi-Fi, a longer bed, and working AC could make this a great short-stay option.