New York Hotels

[RockHard]

Everyone in hospitality also knows that rates are determined by availability. As far as I know, The Waldorf Towers doesn't participate in summer specials. It would be more fair to compare similar rooms in the main hotel.

 

To check rate differentials, it is never smart to check next week, unless that's when you plan to travel. If that's the case, you are stuck with what info you find. Checking for August, a double at the Waldorf is $233, whereas at The Mark, a double is 20% off at $365. And those rates could be different tomorrow, or an hour from now.

 

At $233-a-night, you could travel with a companion and split the hotel cost and pay about $150-a-night with taxes. That's a remarkable rate for any hotel in NYC, but it's highly unusual for a grand hotel located at 50th and Park. Granted, you have to visit in summer. And granted, the neighborhood is not cheap but neither is Times Square. Everything in TS is marked up because the assumption is everybody is a tourist.

 

I have never and would never use Expedia. I always find the best hotel deals by contacting the hotel directly, and I always request a specific room number if I know it from experience or I got the info from my favorite travel blog. I must always have a room with a view, otherwise all deals are off.

[jimboivyo]

IMO, there's nothing at the Waldorf that looks like a "ruined mansion."

 

I have a lot of experience reading travel blogs. My favorite is a private blog that requires membership to avoid trolls. You have to be invited to join. It's about $100 a year, but you get access to hotel room numbers, which is key if you wish to plan an ideal getaway.

 

Every large NYC hotel gets trashed by someone. No different than Zagat's Top Ten restaurants. For every 100 people who experience delight, you'll find 5 with a horror story.

 

I think the Waldorf Astoria is a NYC gem. And all talk of heyday is silly, since no developer today could afford to build a Waldorf in Manhattan. All NYC hotels have high occupancy rates year round because that's the nature of NYC.

 

There is nothing run-down about the Waldorf. It looks very much like the photos you see on their website. The same is true for the Towers photographs, which is where I have the most experience.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7246/7520863508_b81881d56e_b.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/7520867242_aa9f1f0d47_b.jpg

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7520867188_94e42ac934_b.jpg

 

No matter what you read, this hotel is no Macy's. I've been doing business at the Waldorf for well over 30 years. Many of my clients from Hollywood and D.C. stay here, request to stay here, and I know what their rooms actually look like, and I'm quite familiar with the service. In the Towers, they still employ elevator butlers, something Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf's eliminated decades ago.

 

IMO, there is no equal hotel in Times Square, nothing even remotely close. If luxury, size of room, and price-point-deal matters to you, I sincerely doubt you could top the Waldorf. Personally, I would never stay in Times Square, although I understand why some visitors think it's a unique experience. If you're lucky to get a room with a view of Times Square, it can be fun for picture taking. But you won't be able to sleep with the drapes open.

 

The Waldorf can provide a Park Avenue residential experience, which is about as luxury a real estate experience as one can get in Manhattan, and it's just two avenues east of Times Square. There's high-end shopping on Madison Ave one-block west, and tons of interesting shopping on Lexington Ave one-block east. Times Square is not known for decent food options, although things have improved since the gays have moved west into Hell's Kitchen. Still, there's nothing glamorous about anything near The Port Authority Bus Terminal.

 

As for bedbugs and lawsuits: Any large institution is vulnerable in our litigious society. The bedbug scourge hit NYC really hard in recent years, and it infected almost every residential building as well. Much has been done citywide to get the problem under control. In my "pristine" building, you are no longer permitted to discard mattresses (they cannot leave your apartment) without fully covering them in sealable plastic. And mattress manufacturers and truck delivery services have changed their rules as well.

 

Since NYC hotels cater to tourists and live or die on reputation, I have a feeling they are far more diligent than residential buildings, especially if their rooms average $1000 a night. I would argue, it's far easier to get crabs in a gay bathhouse than it is to encounter bedbugs in a luxury Manhattan hotel these days.

 

 

a gem for sure, but their level of service is sub par. I've had better experiences at the mandarin oriental central park and Four Seasons on 57th.

[RockHard]

a gem for sure, but their level of service is sub par.

 

I don't know any client who would tolerate sub par service. I certainly wouldn't tolerate it. NYC has far too many choices to remain loyal for no good reason. I find service in the Towers to be exemplary. I can't speak for the main hotel. In fairness, famous people tend to get better service, and my clients who stay in the Towers are all famous. I've had meetings in the Towers so many times through the years, I'm known to older members of the staff. A couple of the guys are gay, and I find their entire service staff delightfully helpful.

[RockHard]

Thought I should add...

 

Re: Service in a high-end hotel.

 

It's important to mention that any decision to entertain an escort in your NYC hotel room must include some well investigated analysis: the size of the hotel, the lobby layout, the location of the elevators, the location of the concierge desk, is the concierge a gay male, the elevator usage protocol, security cameras, and the level of service. I can assure you, it is much harder to be discreet in smaller hotels where the service is impeccable because every eye is on you at all times. The very definition of great service could easily spoil any attempt at a private good time.

 

The Waldorf Towers would be a disaster for such activity. Their lobby is quite small. The reception desk runs the entire length of the lobby so it's impossible to escape entry scrutiny. The concierge desk is at the entrance of the elevator alcove, and that guy watches every move. The elevators are manned with butlers. And each elevator requires a room key to access the floor where your room is located.

 

You can receive guests, but each guest must be announced by the front desk, and the guest will be required to know the full name of the person staying in the room. If you plan to invite a massage therapist up, be sure to check with the hotel's policy. Some NYC hotels will only permit insured contractors on their property. It's a union thing, and the rules can get very strict.

[+ azdr0710]

good thing I stay in the type lodging where you can drive right up to the outside-facing door of the room

[stripfan]

Since you like the Hilton chain, I would recommend the Doubletree Suites at Times Square. 2 room suite, plenty of room. Not sure about the prices at this time. Great location. You walk out the door and you better be ready to be in the middle of the crowds! The non-times square view rooms are larger rooms.

[Boner]

good thing I stay in the type lodging where you can drive right up to the outside-facing door of the room

 

I think room #1 is available. We don't get many visitors here anymore - ever-since the interstate went in....

[+ azdr0710]

yup, Boner, if you get away from them fancy new Super 8s out at the interchange and drive into town, you can save enough for the Waldorf Towers

 

http://www.thepearlmotel.com/uploads/9/8/1/4/9814764/1811600_orig.jpg

 

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/young/archives/cumberland%20motel%20room.jpg

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HPmC-q-JCqs/Td7cMjkeABI/AAAAAAAARUk/y5hkItEBF2E/s1600/old+motel+-2.jpg

[+ FreshFluff]

Since you like the Hilton chain, I would recommend the Doubletree Suites at Times Square. 2 room suite, plenty of room. Not sure about the prices at this time. Great location. You walk out the door and you better be ready to be in the middle of the crowds! The non-times square view rooms are larger rooms.

 

I hear the Mariott Marquis has some good deals on Priceline, but you're still going to pay extra for the awesome views. OTOH, it's very anonymous because it's so huge; it gets a lot of conference traffic; and businessmen types will feel comfortable going in there.

[Boner]

I may be cynical, but I have always found that there are Expedia and Price-line floors within most hotels. High or mid-range. These are generally the most undesirable rooms the property has to sell, hence the discount deals. But not always. However, as mentioned earlier, the best deals are always gotten through a phone call to the manager on duty or even better, a visit to the front desk if you are already there and possible.

[+ FreshFluff]

I may be cynical, but I have always found that there are Expedia and Price-line floors within most hotels. High or mid-range. These are generally the most undesirable rooms the property has to sell, hence the discount deals. But not always. However, as mentioned earlier, the best deals are always gotten through a phone call to the manager on duty or even better, a visit to the front desk if you are already there and possible.

 

Yep, I got a good deal at the W Union Square that way, but some hotels (e.g. the Charles in Cambridge) will not bend no matter whom you talk to or how much space they have. And they were only willing to upgrade me after several visits, and then only reluctantly.

[+ ArVaGuy]

I travel a lot and work in the hospitality / conference industry so I'm loving this thread. Personally, historic properties like the Waldorf are my favorite hotels. Among my preferred hotels, besides the Waldorf, are the Palmer House, the Brown Palace, the Del Coronado and the Don CeSar. As Rock Hard mentions, you just can't build such properties like these today. Not only is it cost prohibitive but in many respects modern construction techniques have left us with a dearth of craftsman capable of intricate detail work found in these places.

[Steven_Draker]

I travel a lot and work in the hospitality / conference industry so I'm loving this thread. Personally, historic properties like the Waldorf are my favorite hotels. Among my preferred hotels, besides the Waldorf, are the Palmer House, the Brown Palace, the Del Coronado and the Don CeSar. As Rock Hard mentions, you just can't build such properties like these today. Not only is it cost prohibitive but in many respects modern construction techniques have left us with a dearth of craftsman capable of intricate detail work found in these places.

 

I agree with the comments that the Waldorf-Astoria is an exceptional landmark and one of the prestigious addresses in New York. The Grand Ballroom is well known for hosting multiple Charity benefits and events.

 

Speaking of the rooms: having visited the standard rooms of the main building several times, I'd agree with the concerns expressed above (run-down interior, plumbing, obstructed view/lack of daylight). The top tier rooms and suites at the Towers are great, but they come with a price.

 

The Mayflower hotel in DC is another property which has many rooms with no view (because of its architectural design).

 

Finally, few people know about the secret underground train platform built for direct access to the Waldorf-Astoria for Franklin D. Roosevelt.

 

http://www.autominded.com/wp-content/themes/rockwell_v1.5/scripts/timthumb.php?src=http://www.autominded.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Waldorf-abandoned-train.jpg&w=700&zc=1

[+ azdr0710]

And they offer a complimentary, make-your-own-waffle breakfast every morning!

 

 

beep, beep, beep, beep, beep

[Frankly Rich]

I wondered what caused this old thread to be revived. Beep beep indeed. In the two intervening years, New York hotel prices have climbed and deals are harder to find. My hotel last week was discounted due to construction in the lobby. Otherwise I could never have afforded to stay there.

[LouieD]

I stayed in the Waldorf recently and the service left much to be desired. They need to hire more employees. One doorman who often is not there. A hotel of this caliber should have at least two.

 

Forty-five minutes to check-in. Lines everywhere. Slow room service with overpriced menu and coffee that is not hot.

 

A beautiful hotel, yes; but, I would not stay there again.

[Steven_Draker]

beep, beep, beep, beep, beep

 

Morning, azdr0710! Your waffle is ready!

 

http://s7.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/09232BC5.jpg

[robberbaron4u]

Why not keep a pied-a-terre and dispense with the aggravation of hotel shopping? Knock the socks off your rentboy with an at home in-call to the Hotel Pierre: the cooperative penthouse of the hotel has been "marked down" from $125M to $95M, a "savings" of 24% on the initial list price, and, the monthly maintenance fee is a piddlin' $42,720.00. Belly up to the bar, boys! That particular fixture of the "pad" is of Mexican onyx fitted with gilt bronze mountings. . .

[+ g56whiz]

Why not keep a pied-a-terre and dispense with the aggravation of hotel shopping? Knock the socks off your rentboy with an at home in-call to the Hotel Pierre: the cooperative penthouse of the hotel has been "marked down" from $125M to $95M, a "savings" of 24% on the initial list price, and, the monthly maintenance fee is a piddlin' $42,720.00. Belly up to the bar, boys! That particular fixture of the "pad" is of Mexican onyx fitted with gilt bronze mountings. . .

 

Yeah but it won't be a "private" in call. You can't live there without a staff. Just consider the nearest Gristedes has to be 10 or blocks away and doubt that Fresh Direct can stop to deliver in that area which is so congested that catching a cab at certain hours is a nightmare. Plunking down a mere $95M for the place may be easier than finding a capable and discrete staff to make it habitable (or a suitable callboy).

[+ g56whiz]

yup, Boner, if you get away from them fancy new Super 8s out at the interchange and drive into town, you can save enough for the Waldorf Towers

 

http://www.thepearlmotel.com/uploads/9/8/1/4/9814764/1811600_orig.jpg

 

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/young/archives/cumberland%20motel%20room.jpg

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HPmC-q-JCqs/Td7cMjkeABI/AAAAAAAARUk/y5hkItEBF2E/s1600/old+motel+-2.jpg

 

Late one night several years ago I crossed over from New Brunswick into northern Maine and ended up staying a place that looked a lot like this one except the telephone was a generation or two older. The owner was a local Native American (missing several teeth) who favored long braids and to much silver jewelry. The price was $40 cash only. That night I lost a lot of respect for the creative mind of Stephen King.

[robberbaron4u]

Ah, yes, I failed to factor the "servant problem" in promoting the desirability of such an acquisition.

[+ FreshFluff]

Ah, yes, I failed to factor the "servant problem" in promoting the desirability of such an acquisition.

 

Robberbaron, I'm surprised at you. One rarely hears anyone talk of "servants" anymore. They are now "staff."

[BSR]

robberbaron, perhaps someone took note of your suggestion because the apartment you mentioned was taken off the market about an hour after your post :-)

 

If someone could afford $95 million for a pied-a-terre, then he could also afford a steady stream of the world's most beautiful working guys. Just imagine the utter horror of the snooty co-op board!

[Phil_musc]

Late one night several years ago I crossed over from New Brunswick into northern Maine and ended up staying a place that looked a lot like this one except the telephone was a generation or two older. The owner was a local Native American (missing several teeth) who favored long braids and to much silver jewelry. The price was $40 cash only. That night I lost a lot of respect for the creative mind of Stephen King.

 

Awww c'mon - where's your spirit of adventure? It's like staying in the wild west - who knows what might crawl across your floor in the middle of the night. Plus then there's the titillating actual nightlife that northern Maine is so justly famous for. . .