Millenium Hilton, New York

Hi all,

Have booked three nights at this hotel for November after getting a good deal via Expedia (flying with Virgin of course!) - all the reviews of the place seem positive but would also be interested to hear what fellow V-Flyers know of the place.

Darryl

Absolutely fantastic hotel. One of my two favourite hotels in the USA. I stayed in one of the corner suites on my honeymoon (that wasn't but that's another story). Nicely refitted post 9/11 attacks which severly 'dented' the facade. You now get a nice view (assuming you face the correct way) of the new metro station and the building work taking place. I think all rooms now have a plasma screen TV. Concierge staff were a little 'stuck up' but all in all a nice hotel. Remember when you are there to visit Century 21 (opposite), look at for the guys carrying stuff in sheets walking around the streets (knock off's) and pay a visit to McDonalds on Broadway towards Wall Street. If you are lucky you will have the pianist in and you sometimes get waitress service (Although I have not had this for years)

Can't believe you paid for it through rip off Expedia. Did you not want to take advantage of Hilton lowest price guarentee?

Paul

[mcmbenjamin]

Yes. I agree with Paul but would like to clearify somethings and add my 2 cents.

The Century 21 is next to the hotel. I guess this does not matter but the World Trade Center site is across the street.

Knocks off include but are not limited to parts of the World Trade Center, and WTC Books.

I stayed in October 2005. I requested a double bed as my parents wanted to watch me run the New York City Marathon. The room was plasma TV-less and there were not any doubles or suites avail with plasma TV. The staff did call and let me know that I could switch to a single but they did not have a second room for my parents as I would have switched with an incoming guess that booked a single and wanted a double.

I would bring your swim suit. The pool it great. Also the gym area is a great area to see the WTC area. Reading the plaques is neat too.

This is a great hotel if you happen to run the NYC Marathon as about 3 blocks to the south is a bus stop to the start.

Benjamin

[RichardMannion]

I stayed at this hotel in March 2004 in a corner suite - I have a few rough photos if you would like me to post them (and some of the view over the WTC site).

I thought it was a lovely hotel and I had a much better experience there as a Diamond VIP compared to the abysmal service I got at the supposed flagship Hilton porperty, the Waldorf Astoria (We have upgraded your room, from what the broom cupboard? Oh well thats the best we have, oh thats funny as my travel concierge at AmEx is telling me you have tonnes of Exec/Club rooms and suites available - was not amused and they did compensate quite heavily for that faux pas).

Anyway back to the proper Hilton, the breakfast was quite nice and free if you are Gold/Diamond VIP (otherwise its over $20 each if I recall!). I ahve seen some good rates for the hotel for later this year Nov/Dec online (~$199).

My only gripe is the stupid spelling of Millennium!

Thanks,
Richard

Excellent, thanks for the feedback chaps!

Looks like I made the right choice in going for this hotel; and I reckon we'll definitely give Century 21 a quick look for some Xmas shopping Richard, I'd love to see the pics - although we're ostensibly booked into a regular double room, I'm sure they'll give a good idea of the general decor throughout

Alas, I'm only a bog-standard Blue HHonours member, but I'll still get the points at least!

Darryl

[RichardMannion]

Hi guys,

The photos are uploaded.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
The Century 21 is next to the hotel. I guess this does not matter but the World Trade Center site is across the street.

Surely this depends on which way you come in and out of the Hotel[8D] Yes I agree the WTC is opposite the main entrance, but there is a street between the Hotel and Century 21 so if you where standing at the staff entrance looking over the road at Century 21 wouldn't this be classed as opposite?[8D][8D]

Originally posted by RichardMannion
...abysmal service I got at the supposed flagship Hilton porperty, the Waldorf Astoria (We have upgraded your room, from what the broom cupboard?

I quite agree with you on this one Richard, I also stayed at the Waldorf, I was expecting great things. I had a tiny room with a small window which had no light coming in through it is in was in a kind of alcove and my view was of huge air con units. Stear clear of the Waldorf unless you can get into the Towers..

Paul

To give you some element of hope im only a Gold member on a standard room rate and I got upgraded to a junior suite on the 48th floor, the view is completely spectacular! I stayed here back in 2000 and wasnt impressed with the hotel much or the attitude of the staff either but things have definately changed for the better. Ill post a fuller report when I get home, but this is definately a good choice.

Martin

I stayed here in June this year. This is a fantastic hotel and the view over ground Zero is very eerie, but a must! We had a normal room with a Plasma screen, lovely comfy bed and a massive window with a fantastic view[y] We had a room on the 44th floor and the lift is so quick it makes your ears pop:D

Nice note about lifts - the parents are coming with us too and since my dad is a lift engineer, I'm sure he'll be casting a professional eye over these giants of the trade!

I expect we'll make full use of the subway as well, but we actually enjoy our walking as well - how far is it from the hotel to, say, midtown?

Darryl

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by randalf

Nice note about lifts - the parents are coming with us too and since my dad is a lift engineer, I'm sure he'll be casting a professional eye over these giants of the trade!

I expect we'll make full use of the subway as well, but we actually enjoy our walking as well - how far is it from the hotel to, say, midtown?

Darryl

Look I really do need to get out more, but I seem to remember them being rather swanky Otis lifts. They were very new, I think they were replaced as part of the post 9/11 renovation.

Thanks,
Richard

LOL- Richard you really do! Im not sure about the lift machinery but the lifts themselves are the same swanky ones from before. Just in case you want to whet your dads appetite, there are two banks one seving floors 1,3,4,5-29 and the other, an express lift serving 1,3,4,5 and 31-55. If you are on a high floor and go down to the lobby without stopping to pick more people up you can feel the pressure inside your ears.

Im a walker too, and love walking around Manhattan, but the Financial District to Midtown is a LONG WAY. Yesterday it took me about an hour to walk from the World Financial Centre to 4th street. Going as far as 34th St would take just as long again I reckon. It wont be as warm in November either!

[RichardMannion]

I love walking too when visiting cities in the US (well most of them, the only one I didn't like and did not feel safe in was New Orleans and even then that was with 15,000 colleagues there for a conference!). In NYC, from the Millenium Hilton - its a nice walk westwards towards the dock where my must-bvisit shop of A&F is located

For NYC - this may sound really sad, but I avoided using the subway follwoing all the horror stories and misconceptions that had been driven into me. However I was very impressed with the subway, and it doesn't take long to transfer uptown!

Thanks,
Richard

This is a top hotel in NY I've stayed here many times I just love those big screen plasma. [y][y][y]:D

Really pleased everyone likes it[y] We are staying there in June and I couldn't belive the price I got through the Hilton Website - so much cheaper than any of the properties uptown.

I normally stay in a little B&B in the city on W14th so this will make an interesting change. I'll go and hunt out your photos Richard, don't remember seeing them originally (beats writing press releases )

Dean

Originally posted by Wolves27
Really pleased everyone likes it[y] We are staying there in June and I couldn't belive the price I got through the Hilton Website - so much cheaper than any of the properties uptown.

I normally stay in a little B&B in the city on W14th so this will make an interesting change. I'll go and hunt out your photos Richard, don't remember seeing them originally (beats writing press releases )

Dean

You must be staying at the weekend then. Monday-Friday this hotel (being close to Wall St) is probably one of the most expensive you can find!!! [:0]

Yeah, its a Friday to Tuesday rate. I was very impressed. Maybe we just got lucky because I looked at another weekend and it was up there with the other Hilton properties uptown.

And of course, as LoRM said, its a quick stroll down Fulton Street to A&F. Lets hope I'm not haviung a fat day when I'm there!

Dean