Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel by Marriott

We spent one night in NYC for my wife's birthday and got a really nice surprise. The young woman at the front desk was warm and courteous, checked us in quickly, and asked what brought us to town. She upgraded us for free to a suite on the 25th floor, then sent up complimentary champagne and water. The room had a living room and two bathrooms. Great service and a lovely stay.

The room was fine, aside from the previous guest's food smeared on the nightstand and their shampoo still in the shower. A very personal welcome. At night, you’ll hear city noise, and in the morning the doors slam like an Olympic event, especially once housekeeping starts its percussion routine while you’re trying to sleep. The location is “great” if you enjoy stepping straight into a tourist obstacle course in Times Square, dodging bus tour pitches before you’ve had coffee. If you want to be right there, the hotel delivers. For peace, quiet, and spotless cleaning, look elsewhere.

The hotel team made a stressful winter storm much easier to handle. We were trying to secure a flight out, and they helped us extend our stay for two extra nights and arrange a late checkout. Every person we met was friendly, professional, and helpful, and that flexibility meant a lot. We’re grateful for the experience and will definitely return. One detail to clarify: downstairs, what looks like a full restaurant is actually a bar with light snacks. They do have a fabulous breakfast bar and a handy coffee and snack shop, both of which we enjoyed.

The room felt unfinished and poorly maintained. Its sliding bathroom door had no inside handle, making it awkward to open or close. For the price, that carelessness was hard to accept. The hotel advertises a restaurant, but it only has a bar with extremely overpriced hot dogs and barely edible chicken tenders. That isn't what most guests would expect from advertised on-site dining. Things started badly before we even checked in. My car was left double parked in Times Square while I waited for valet, with families squeezing past and buses uncomfortably close. When I asked them to move it, I was told the doorman, who had the keys, couldn't be found. Then the bellman told me to “learn to relax” about the risk of damage. That set the tone for the stay. This used to be a nice hotel; now it feels overpriced and poorly managed. I wouldn’t come back.