Hotel Beacon

We were on the newly renovated 23rd floor, in a spacious, beautifully decorated, very clean room with a handy little kitchenette. The only downside was that we couldn’t work out the AC, and couldn’t get heat, so it was chilly. The location was lovely, in a less touristy area but still a short taxi ride from the main attractions. There’s a grocery store across the street and plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance. Staff made us feel so welcome and well looked after. Luc at the front desk and Jett the doorman were especially wonderful, and we even got a free upgrade.

We were happy with the stay and will definitely come back, even though we only spent one night. The room was bigger than expected, clean, and comfortable. Check-in was quick and easy, and the elevators were great compared with the 10-minute waits at our last place. We’d booked because we had tickets for the venue next door, and the man outside welcomed us right away. Two small annoyances: the toilet was unusually low and felt awkward, and the shower sprayed water onto the wall and floor when we turned it on. The pressure was great, and there was plenty of hot water. Checkout was easy too, and the man outside offered some ideas for next time to make the visit easier.

The staff apart from this issue were great and helpful, and the rooms were clean in a great location. A supermarket just across the street made it easy to get breakfast food. But housekeeping ignored our “do not disturb” sign, which we kept on the door because I prefer my things left as I arranged them and don’t usually need cleaning during a short stay. On the first morning, a printed note was slipped under the door asking us to request housekeeping if wanted, which seemed standard. The next morning, housekeeping called the room to ask; I said no, everything was fine. On the third day I told reception before heading out that we didn’t need service, and she said she’d pass it on. When we returned, the sign was gone and the room had been cleaned anyway. I don’t know if it was curiosity or a security matter, but I’ve never had this happen at a hotel before. It would make me hesitate to stay again.

There’s no breakfast, but a cafe next door and plenty of nearby options. The 1 2 3 metro stations are a few blocks away. We had a very spacious family room with two double beds, a living room with a sofa bed, and a useful kitchenette. A supermarket is right across the street. It’s not luxurious, but it was clean, quiet, and comfortable. The staff were okay. This will definitely be my go-to when I’m in NYC.