Holiday Inn NYC - Lower East Side by IHG

I chose Holiday Inn NYC - Lower East Side because the rate was less than half the prices around Times Square. The room was small but clean and fine for a business trip, and it was quiet, which is a big plus in NYC. The staff were excellent, friendly, helpful, and experienced. There are good restaurants nearby, including wonderful Ivan Ramen, and Chinatown is walkable. Multiple subway lines are close, so it’s convenient if you’re happy to use the subway. Great value when you can get a good rate.

We were visiting with the kids while they toured NYU and Columbia, and had a fantastic stay. Every employee was friendly and helpful, the room was incredibly clean, and the location made things easy, with a subway and lots of food choices nearby, plus Target and Trader Joe’s. They also held our luggage for free before our flight, and I liked having filtered water available for guests in the lobby. A guest laundry would have helped, since the three laundromats I tried within walking distance only took cash. Complimentary breakfast would have been nice too. Still, I have nothing but good things to say about our stay.

The reception staff were very kind, and the room size was fine. I was on a higher floor, but kept getting cigarette smells through the vents. There was also a sharp blue blinking light from the fire alarm right in front of the bed, which could bother light sleepers. I appreciate that the property supports people in need, but I was traveling for business and booked through our company platform. I would have liked to know beforehand that the hotel also operates as a shelter.

The room and bed were clean and comfortable, and the staff were friendly, polite, and helpful. The hotel is handy for the subway and offers good value in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, though the place feels a little dated. I’d skip the oddly decorated restaurant. The food wasn’t good, and there are plenty of better places to eat in NYC.