Wellington Hotel

The hotel was clean and the staff friendly. However room check in was very late in the day, not until 4pm and even then our room was not ready so they asked us to come back in an hour. Not the end of the world but then when we arrived back we were given a room that had not been cleaned and our porter had to get our things, go back to reception and then were shown to another room. This room was a suite, we had booked one so not an upgrade and it was clean and airy but after and already long day not at all helpful. We then found the air conditioning unit in the lounge and the bedroom was not like the modern versions here in the UK and some sort of prehistoric thing. It made the most awful and loud banging noises. Seriously loud, It was like someone taking a scaffold pole and banging it against pipe work and there was no way of sleeping through this. So we called reception who sent Maintenance. Nice guy turned up and explained this is just the way it is, it not faulty and the only way he could stop it was to turn it off completely, not with a simply switch on the wall but buy removing a huge metal plate to the front of it and shutting off the gas valve. Like the main stop valve in your house. Needless to say this helped a little but certainly did not stop the banging. We took to having to sleep with earplugs in. The beds though were comfortable, shower hot, lounge and kitchenette all that was needed on a city break, we had to ask for a kettle but did get one. Sadly though no mugs, knives or forks which was odd given we have a fridge and microwave as well. No plates either?? The other thing you have to be aware of is the scam the hotel run. You arrive, having paid for your hotel and have to leave a $100 dollar credit card deposit at reception. Nothing unusual about this though. What they also do however and was not ever told when we booked or in any documentation is charge a mandatory facility fee. $20 per room per night. This allows you access to the non secure publically accessible WIFI, access to the GYM and to the Nail Salon. Neither of which the hotel actually have. They are at a different location -- Yes you got it they charge you and tell you to use the facilities you have to go elsewhere. So for our 5 nights we paid an extra $100 dollars to use things that don't exist or you can stand on the street outside and connect to because its an open network. Knowing this in advance would have meant we could have looked at other hotels for the same money. Location is great though. less than 10 minutes walk from Central Park and 10 minutes in the other direction to Time Square. Subway just a few minutes in each direction depending on where you are going. Unconnected to the hotel, 2 other things to note in NYC at the moment. Its basically a construction zone, almost every street has road works on, scaffold outside and because of the heights there is a solid floor above the pavement/ sidewalk. To see a lot of NY you have to step outside of this. It may sound like and odd thing to mention but when you go to see the skyscrapers and the high rises only to actually see scaffold platforms its a bit disappointing. 2nd, save yourself the bother and DO NOT eat in a bar called Rumours which is a bar/ steakhouse/ grill not far from the hotel. The bar is fine, the food is awful, the beer cold but absolutely flat, and apparently that's how the Europeans drink it! I sent back my flat Stella to have it sent back to me saying there was nothing wrong with it. So it went back again to which finally the bar man changed it and pored me another flat one. It had a head, it was cold but it was without a bubble. The food then arrived and was possibly cooked but only just about warm, my veg had clearly been taken out of the fridge and they had forgotten to warm it, no joke it was stone cold. We paid for the drinks, explained and walked out. Best beer of the trip -- easily at "Tavern on the Green" Central Park. The food is pricey but Amazing. The beer is well priced and you can just sit in the beer garden with one. PS. If you are going to Liberty and Ellis Island get a guided tour. Yes it costs bit more but seriously they will help you through the lines and on and off ferries etc so fast it will be worth it. We used Get Your Guide. Jim the tour guy is funny, helpful and worth every penny. PPS. if you are going to do Liberty and want to go up the torch there is a 6 month advance booking for it, but it then limits you to that day. If you have an open ticket you can go any day and to the museum and inside the pedestal right up to the viewing platform, just not the torch.

I stayed here with my husband for our honeymoon, 22nd - 27 April for 5 night, and we were pleasantly surprised as I had read a lot of reviews about how small the rooms. our room was on the 24th floor and we had a walk in wardrobe separate kitchen which doesn't have coffee facilities but you can request a kettle and you do have the use of a fridge and microwave, the bathroom was a little small but you can't have everything.. The hotel is in a fab location close to Central Park and Time Square, the only improvement i would suggest is an update of the room as they are dated. also the hotel is having some renovations in the reception area which should be told to guests before they arrive. The girls on reception are great too, very helpful with whatever you ask.