For some reason this hotel has been on my list for a long time. Good branding? The Waldorf~Astoria, in the New York City. Or probably a video I saw once of the lobby. To sum it up, the lobby was amazing and the rooms were 3 star. Let me start optimistic though.
The Waldorf is 50,000 Hilton HHonor points a night (here’s a post about all the credit cards that earn HHonors points). Easy come, easy go. Although, now their reward categories are about to change, I thought I’d post now while the prices are current. But the cash price ranges from $299 – $899, according to the notebook in the room. That is a huge spread, only in New York. However, this was a peak time so it felt like good value.
This seems to be a theme for me, but the location is probably perfect for most business people and for me, it’s just nice to try different areas of New York.
The lobby is so huge that it takes up one entire long block – from Lexington to Park Ave. It’s 500 feet long. It is as grand as grand can get. The first impression is entirely stunning. It’s stunning by any standard but even more so for NYC standards. It made the long check-in line tolerable.
Then… there’s the room. Everything in between is grand and antique – the chandeliers and mail dropbox slot near the elevators that drop mail to the front desk. It’s all great until the room. Now I understand that practicality gets thrown aside for classic because some people are nostalgic or suckers, or something. But this was just run down. The wood was falling off the AC unit, the handle in the shower nearly came out of the wall and what not. Very different than having a fine but delicate desk, like at the Ritz Carlton Central Park. This was something else.
Between this and the squeaky AC (that was loud all night) at the Ritz, I’ve decided to avoid old hotels. So we switched and moved to the Conrad (which I loved and wrote about here). Not to be a scrooge but, there is also no recognition of being a Gold member. Not that I deserve it, but when I have the option to go to a place that will give upgrades and food… it’s hard to pick the standard room decorated like my grandma’s. Long story short, I will not be visiting this hotel again.
