Hotel Riu Plaza New York Times Square

Breakfast was hot, quickly restocked, and never a problem for us, even though we went at different times. The hotel shares the busier breakfast hours at check-in and in the lifts, and with a place this large, some crowds make sense. Having it included was useful: it got our day started, and sometimes meant we could skip lunch and save a bit. The location, a block from Times Square, made a great base for the subway and main sights. Service and food were both lovely, and our first trip to New York was a pleasure. My partner was especially happy to find chocolates and a little birthday card in the room. I only wish we'd had a higher floor than the third, where there wasn't much of a view.

A bellboy spotted us getting out of the taxi and offered to take our bags up the road, then arranged for them to reach our room before we'd even checked in. The door staff and everyone else we met were professional and friendly. We'd emailed ahead to ask for a higher floor and got quick, accommodating replies; they put us on level 20, with a lovely view of The Edge, and left complimentary fizz for our wedding anniversary. The room and bed were very comfortable. Breakfast had a good range for a quick start to a busy day, though it was crowded. The bar and cafe prices felt reasonable for a Times Square hotel. It's around the corner from Times Square, and we felt safe in the busy city. It wasn't luxury, but we hadn't paid a luxury price and were completely happy with our stay. We'd come back.

We came for one night to see Ricardo Arjona at Madison Square Garden and mark Valentine's Day a little early. It was our first time at this hotel, and the location worked perfectly: a subway station is close, Times Square is a block away, and there's plenty nearby. The room was spacious and comfortable, with a mini fridge, safe, shower, and good internet. Breakfast had lots of hot and cold choices, and the front desk team and the staff who looked after our bags after checkout were kind. There's also a large lobby with a bar and grab-and-go area. It's not cheap, by New York standards, but the location and quality felt worth it. At about 10:00-10:30 in the morning, checkout traffic made the lifts crowded, though the five elevators kept things moving quickly. Breakfast was busiest around 09:30-10:30 too, but tables turned over fast. I'd recommend staying here in New York.

I had the family suite, which the website lists as ‘suite familiar’, so the wording could be confusing. The suite itself was really nice, with a big bathroom and a roomy entrance where I could leave my suitcase and other things. The hotel service was great, as were the food, friendly staff, and atmosphere. My one service gripe: with six of us sharing a room, we asked for more coffee, but they brought only three cups and we had to ask several times. The location is hard to beat for getting around New York. Times Square is just around the corner, Rockefeller Center is 10 minutes away, and Central Park is a pleasant 30-minute walk. It's a very convenient base for the city's sights and activities.