Hotel Carter - Times Square District

do not stay here

filthy rooms
no daily cleaning

DISCOVER NEW DISEASES FOR FREE DURING YOUR STAY!

I wouldn't bother staying at Hotel Carter even if you paid me. My safety and health are worth much more than any price! Having inspected hotels all over the world for American Airlines over a nearly 20 years I've seen my share of what a budget room SHOULD look like. I wouldn't expect anything other than a comfortable and clean room! But, if I had to worry about bed bugs, black mold, umpteen safety and electrical codes not up to standard I would gladly stay elsewhere, even if the price was higher, and I would even consider sleeping outside with the homeless, for a cardboard box must be safer than this place.

This Virtual Tourist review says Hotel Carter is 'free from infestation'. I would beg to differ. AOL just yesterday did a front page expose on this property.
Wikipedia says it has been voted the filthiest hotel in America for FOUR consecutive years. And, if words do not convey enough, just take a peek at the 263 candid tourist photo's taken and posted in a picture gallery shown on the tripadvisor.com website. Be prepared, as these photo's are quite graphic and can turn many a stomach -------->

www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g60763-d93421-Hotel_Carter-New_York_City_New_York.html

I would hope the city of New York would want this eyesore torn down. Perhaps, at one time this was a respectable hotel. But, that was then, and this is now. Considering this hotel was used as a homeless shelter sometime during the 1970-80's I would think that once turned back into a hotel some serious money and consideration would be the main priority for the proper renovations and updates to safety codes be made. I guess not. I am just glad in my many years in the travel industry I never booked a room there for any of my clientele. If they wanted such a place I would have suggested an area YMCA or a youth hostel over this hotel in a heartbeat. I don't wish this hotel on my worst enemy....Ok, enough ranting. Peope, educate yourself as much as possible when booking your own trips. Listen to what others have to say. Budget is budget - do not expect pools, spa's and restaurants-or any type of luxury amenity. But, expect a clean and comfortable atmosphere, certainly not a place where dead mice are laying on the floor, black mold surrounds you in the shower and beds infested with bedbugs as you will awaken with a bad rash all over you. Save this place for the quickie-prostitutes and their clients as this is who the hotel really caters to. Thank you for listening!

Unique Quality: UNIQUE is the PERFECT word to use with this hotel - I would say everything is unique, as it's nothing like I've ever seen before in my twenty years inspecting hotels in the travel industry!
Free bugs and cockroaches in the room?

Dead mice pushed to the corner or under the air conditioner as to be less noticeable? I guess
the chance of NOT seeing a mouse is a nice thought!

Black mold covering the old, cracked and missing tile in the tub or shower? Hey, maybe that
black mold is a bonus, as it covers the cracked tile, rusty porcelain and mildew underneath!

A black and white TV with no reception in the room? Why not just offer no TV and let the wild-life
in the room provide the entertainment, it's free!

A dresser with no knobs to pull out the drawers? Another nice gesture on the hotels behalf as
perhaps the guests shouldn't see what could possibly be in those drawers!

If you call this a bonus, think again.
If you call this unique, you are right.

You can not compare this to other properties, as it's like comparing apples to oranges.
If you don't care about catching diseases, book this place with pride!

Worst Hotel in New York

Only stay in this hotel if you are a biologist looking for new diseases. When I arrived I was given a room filled with dirty tissues and an unflushed toilet. When I went to the lobby to complain, a young man starts shouting "Don't stay in this hotel! There are bedbugs!" Whereupon he lifted up his shirt, and sure enough his chest had several bites. The staff are foul, and you can't blame them as it must suck working at such a fleabag. Do not believe the sign which says that you will get your deposit back on your room key -- the lady behind the desk just said that the sign was out of date. I ended up sleeping on the floor of my brother's flat because I refused to stay, even though I could not get my payment back.

Unique Quality: Sucks

NEW YEARS EVE !!!!

We DROVE all the way from Springfield, Missouri. We went for New Years Eve. When we arrived I must admit it was not nearly as bad as I was expecting based on some previous posts. It is for sure NOT a five-star hotel. But it is cheap, and 2 buildings over from Times Sqaure. How much better can it get ? We had more money to spend on the activities, like the Mariah Carey -After Party at Cipriani's on 42nd St. with an top shelf open bar. Sorry, I will get back to the hotel... It wasnt dirty at all, it was actually very clean, and it smelled fine. We stayed in a room that had a balcony. The door doesnt open but you can open the windows to get out there. I suggest doing this because the view is abousolutly breath taking. You can see Times Square to your right and the Hudson river to your left. My only complaint is that the elevators are extremely slow!!!! The staff was actually very nice to us. I wouldn't talk down to the asian woman who OWNS the hotel. I heard her go off on some guy that was being rude. Just treat them how you would want to be treated. This was our first time to the big apple, and we are planning on going back next NYE and we already have reservations for the exact same room. I totally think this is the best hotel for the money and location. You should check out some of the others hotels in the same area, there are really really nice and you really really pay for it. So, if you just need a place the rest your head at night or the early a.m. Carter Hotel is for you!!! Be sure to specify the amount of people staying in the room becuase thye were totally booked NYE and one girl reserved a 2 room suite , and since there was only 2 people staying in the room (her and her boyfriend) they gave hers to a family of 4 that actually NEEDED two beds. Also, specify, smoking or non-smoking. In the special requests box I asked for a clean room too.

Unique Quality: The view from our balcony was amazing. I took lots of pictures, they look like just like they were taken out of the movies!!! These people that are complaining had dreams of Marriott for the Carter price. You can expect what you are not paying for!!!!Our rooms was clean and odor-free. We were to busy seeing the city to really care about the hotel decor.

Please rate my tip so I can see what my feedback is ... Thanks :)

• Opinion of Price: least expensive
• Related to: Budget Travel, Arts and Culture, Road Trip

Hotel Carter - Times Square District Photo: NYC finest and entrance to hotel in the backround

4 more images

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Old hotel, minimal maintenance.

To Carter or Not to Carter

I would only recommend this hotel with those having tight budget on their mind. Just go there and sleep. There's no housekeeping so your bed is as it is every night. When you need a towel and more soap you have to go fetch it yourself at the reception. The TV is small and in my first room there were no remote control.

However, considering Carter's proximity to Times Square, Broadway and Port Authority it is the perfect place for those who want to save up for other things like shopping and admission fees.

Well located but strange hotel

My stay was not so good at this hotel. When you enter the lobby, you already understand that you're in a very strange place. The staff isn't nice at all and the place smells awful. The hotel is very dirty. Next time I'll go back to NY, I'll go for Chelsea International or Chelsea Center Hostel.

Unique Quality: The location : the hotel is located near Time Square and Port Authority. You can go out at night and just stay in the neighbourhood of the hotel. There's no need to take the subway or the taxi unless you want to have fun in East Village.

You pays you money.....and take your choice

The 'Urban Cowboy' has become a fixture of New York in recent years. He stands around Times Square with his strategically placed guitar placed over his almost obscene white knickers.

The Carter hotel shares a number of characteristics with this street entertainer.

1) They are both licensed by New York City. The Carter claims to be an hotel, although many hotel reviewers would beg to differ.

2) They are both extremely kitsch. The lobby of the Crater is festooned with mirrors and strings of red lights that remind you of a terrible 1970’s disco palace where you half-expect to see a man in a white suit and medallion to saunter across the lobby singing “you can tell by the way I walk that I’m a woman’s man”

3) They both extract relatively small amounts of money from tourists. Then again, where else could you reasonably expect to find a relatively cheap bed (it has 700+ rooms) in NYC, when everywhere else is full.

4) They both occupy a prime location. The hotel is in the heart of Broadway on 250 West 43rd Street

There are certainly very many negative hotel reviews about this place, but if you accept it is just a cheap lodging place in an excellent location then “You pays your money and takes your choice”

Unique Quality: Just expect a Black & White TV in the room on it’s last legs with virtually no reception, a bathroom with the odd tile or two cracked or missing and a bed that has seen more action than a Muhammad Ali fight.

On the upside the rooms are generally larger than the average, and generally free from infestation.

One final thought – there is one major difference between the Urban Cowboy and the Carter. The Urban cowboy must receive regular maintenance in the gym to keep in tip-top shape, but the Carter hasn’t benefited from an ounce of maintenance since 1937.

• Opinion of Price: least expensive

Hotel Carter - Times Square District Photo: He never stayed at his namesake

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The Hotel Carter - Not classy, but a good time!!!

Yeah, the lobby is a little scary and rundown. Hell, the entire hotel is a little scary and rundown- but being in the middle of everything, a few steps from Times Square AND being less than 100/night, totally makes up for the fear factor.

I'm sure it wouldn't be for everyone, but while travelling alone, I had the best time. The decoration isn't going to win any awards, especially with their answer to a headboard for the bed: a rug stapeled to the wall. The bathroom was spotless, though.

The Hotel Carter version of a bellboy helped me to my room. Not to assist with my luggage, but to show me the "trick" to get the door unlocked.

There is a little store in the lobby where you can buy beer. It's a little overpriced, but another great convenience.

Some unhappy guest had scrawled "THIS IS A ***HOLE HOTEL" on the wall, next to the elevator. I just don't agree. Yeah, it's not the Sheraton, but it's cheap, safe, and a good time.

Unique Quality: I had a great view for late night booze binges from my window whih faced a flashing sign on 42ND Street. Felt like a movie!