Wingate by Wyndham New York Midtown South/5th Ave

Fausto was wonderful. He noticed how exhausted we were after many hours of flying and let us check in early, which was incredibly generous. The location is incredible, and you can get around on foot. Our room was small but clean, with a comfortable bed. The breakfast area is small, though the 30-minute limit per guest works well, and there’s a good variety of options.

The three men who worked the desk during our stay were kind and helpful, and greeted us whenever we came in. One of them was on the 11:00 pm shift on the 28th and gave me some liquid flavored coffee creamer so I wouldn’t have to go back out to get decent coffee. The room was nice and clean, and the quick free breakfast was great. Very pleased with our stay.

The staff were friendly, and the room had useful extras: a capsule coffee machine replenished daily, toiletries, soaps, a hair dryer, plenty of towels, spares, and even a black makeup towel. The tourist sights, shops, and Broadway shows are all within walking distance, so the location is excellent. My room had a view, but I could only see the Empire State Building by bending down close to the window. It wasn’t visible from the bed, which perhaps makes sense given how close the hotel is and the height difference between the buildings. The room floor wasn’t very dirty, but there were hard patches that looked like dried cement or silicone, unpleasant to walk on barefoot. I also missed having a toilet brush. The shower pressure was very weak, especially when washing my hair. The heating was frustrating: even at the highest setting, it sometimes gave heat for a few minutes, but mostly blew cold air. The blinds on the air conditioner were hard to move, so air blew straight onto the bed. I often felt cold, and both the duvet and the spare blanket were too thin. Breakfast was very limited for me, with no vegetables, cheese, or ham for the bread and only a few fruits.

Early check-in as a Platinum Wyndham member made things more convenient, and I found the price reasonable as someone who works in hospitality. Times Square and Summit ONE were the main reasons I chose this location, and both are close by. The bed was comfortable, the room was clean, and guests can use a microwave in the breakfast area. There isn’t much room, but it can work if you stay organized. The staff were accommodating. I think one person was named Fausto, apologies if I’ve got that wrong, and the night staff were helpful too. A couple of sockets by the lamp and TV didn’t work. The maintenance employee was kind and quickly brought us an extension cord so we could still watch TV. They also provide slippers and toothbrushes on request, handy for someone like me who prefers to travel light. I had a great experience and would definitely come back to New York City.