Radio Hotel

We were a family group of 12, and check-in went easily. The rooms were spacious and clean; the frosted-glass shower arrangement took a little getting used to but was fine. The hotel is beside a pretty loud intersection, though that's NYC, and the nearest public transit is a short walk away. Dunkin, Chikfila, and a pizza place are nearby too. We loved having breakfast at the cute little bakery around the block. Finding the valet parking at the side of the building was tricky. They'd tried to explain where it was in the emails before our stay, but we're Midwesterners driving in a big city and still struggled a bit.

The hotel was manageable for a short stay, though my stay was just okay and there are things they should improve. The bathroom needs more privacy if you're sharing with friends. With the glass layout, you can see each other showering, which can be uncomfortable. The sliding bathroom door doesn't shut properly. At first I thought it was broken, but after staying there twice I realized that's just how it's designed. It never closes all the way, leaving the bathroom slightly open. Overall, the place isn't bad, but it isn't that great either.

With young children, I found our stay at Radio Hotel in New York extremely disappointing. The service and basic standards were far below acceptable, and I would strongly advise families against staying here. The hotel isn't worth the money. At check-in we were charged an extra $22 per day for something I never understood. It hadn't been mentioned when we booked. There's no real room service, and one of the main lights was broken, leaving the room very dark. We reported it multiple times over several days. Each time someone said it was “fixed,” but it never was. The room had no chair or table, the beds were uncomfortable, and the lightweight mattresses kept sliding around. Housekeeping only made the bed instead of changing the sheets, which felt unhygienic. The ceiling wasn't painted and looked bad (Picture attached). The hallways constantly smelled of marijuana. People smoked openly, and random individuals came and went at all hours, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that didn't feel appropriate for families. The surrounding area was dirty and unpleasant too. One night I needed to warm food for my young child. Nobody answered the room service phone, so I went downstairs to ask whether there was a microwave or someone could help. The staff member was extremely rude and refused to help. Another night my 6 years old dropped her water bottle and soaked our duvet. I called room service for a blanket, but they brought bedsheets instead because they couldn't provide another blanket or duvet. It was December and freezing, so I covered my child with towels to keep her warm and went to bed wearing my jacket.

The room and bed felt a bit small for us, a fit, well travelled senior couple. Getting over each other to reach the inside of the bed at night wasn't ideal for a good night's sleep, especially at our age. We asked about a bigger room but the hotel was full. If you're relatively tall and senior, I'd suggest choosing a larger room. That said, we liked the hotel, its location, the good restaurant, and the very competent, pleasant staff. The mattress and linen were comfortable, and the room was serviced very well. We'd stay again if the chance comes up.