The Leo House

The rooms and service were more like what I’d expect from a standard three-star stay, and the location was a little farther out than I’d expected. Even so, I had a fantastic time at The Leo House. The atmosphere and value made it a perfect stay for me, and I’d highly recommend it.

The staff were so friendly and helpful. It’s also well placed, close to the subway and uptown Manhattan. My lad loved making his own waffles at breakfast, which was great. For the price, there’s really nothing to fault.

The location is the only plus. My grandparents’ stay was a total disaster: cockroaches, freezing rooms, a broken TV, no Wi-Fi above the third floor, and a filthy hotel. They don’t tell you about the Wi-Fi limits. Customer service was appalling, and I was told staff turn over every three months because of how bad things are. The front desk was vulgar and disrespectful, and the “Executive Director” was even worse, an embarrassment to hotels. Avoid it.

Clergy, beware. I won’t try Leo House again, and I’ll discourage colleagues from staying there. The $94 nightly clergy rate sounds tempting, but only if you follow their rules precisely. I’ve served as ordained clergy and a university chaplain for 19 years, but my official Episcopal record of this year’s appointment, combined with confirmation of my ministry, still wasn’t enough. They required a specific letter from my church. I was told I could keep the room at three times the clergy rate, with no flexibility or consideration. The requirement was buried in a footnote on the reservation confirmation, and with little notice, including two weekend days, I had little chance of getting the letter. After spending a day trying to find a solution and repeatedly being told no, I canceled less than 72 hours before the stay and lost my one-night deposit. Read the fine print. Don’t expect coordination or collaboration from Leo House.