Lotus BLU Inn & Suites

We booked through airbnb, and the location made getting around easy, with several trains and buses nearby and plenty of delis. It was quite clean and seems like a good pick for a short NYC trip. The beds and pillows were okay. There was a pretty strong smell of some kind of cleaning solution, and the staff could have been friendlier.

The lobby vending machines were empty, so management should keep them stocked. Apart from that, I’d stay here again if I’m back in the New York area. The hotel was clean, service was good, and I felt safe returning to my room at night. It was also easy to get around, with Times Square relatively close by train.

The room was roomy, with a great view of the New York towers at night. The air conditioner looked old but worked well, and there was a new TV with all the necessary accessories. The toilets were very clean and had a modern design. I’m giving it four stars because of the noise from outside. Still, it’s excellent value for the money.

The restroom was the one part I really liked. It’s about a 10 minute walk to the F line, and they did clean the room every day, which was something. But the smoke smell, whether marijuana or regular smoke, was almost overwhelming, even in the “smoke free rooms.” The large rooms felt pretty bare, too. One side had a nightstand and the other had nothing, so I ended up using the ironing board as one. The walls also didn’t block sound. I could hear the neighbors laughing and yelling through the night, and it was extremely hard to sleep.