The Maxwell New York City (formerly W NEW YORK)

We got to the hotel around 6 pm and our room still wasn’t ready. Luckily, the cleaning staff only needed a few minutes to finish. We were allowed to extend checkout until 1 pm, which was nice. For the price, it was quite good compared with other hotels nearby. The lobby and decor looked great, and our suite was a good size, though the bathroom could have been larger.

The room was so tiny it felt like a little cell, and the bed left me with back pain after one night. The shower head was moldy, and there was no fan in the bathroom. Staff seemed unhappy to be there. Room service was the friendliest, more so than the front desk or bar. Amenities were ordinary. They also charge a nonrefundable service and destination fee, which I wasn’t told about until arrival. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re claustrophobic.

The gym was spacious and had state of the art equipment. I also liked the comfortable beds, the fridge and microwave in the room, and the strong shower current, just how I like it. The room itself was a bit small, though. And the complimentary breakfast was so skimpy I’m not sure why they call it breakfast. I stayed with a friend the weekend before Christmas, and the experience wasn’t bad overall.

The location suits me, and there are some good restaurants in this part of town. Rooms are basic, but the beds were fine and the shower was solid, better than average. The staff, though, were rude. Check-in took ages with one person working while three others watched and commented on her. There was no customer service to speak of. I probably won’t book again because of the staff.