More about Room Mate Grace
Hotel QT worked for us
by TripAdvisor Member Debmyers2
My husband and I visited NYC at the end of June with our 15 year old daughter. We stayed in a unique room that had a king size bed and a twin bunk above. It was absolutely perfect for our needs! Our daughter had her own "space" and we had ours. Like the other reviews here, I can testify that the beds were super comfortable and ideal for crashing after a long day. We were also pleased that the air conditioner worked very well, because it was hot and humid while we were there and it was nice to come back to a room where we could cool off quickly.
The other wonderful thing about the hotel was the lovely continental breakfast. Beautiful pastries, muffins and croissants, fresh squeezed orange juice, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cereal, coffee.......it was much more than I expected and a real perk to have it included in the price of the room.
The staff was also very friendly and helpful.
The downside of the hotel has been mentioned here often........the functionality of the rooms. We had requested a room with a door on the bathroom, but we did not get that. The bathroom opened to the bedroom, but there was a sliding door to the shower and toilet.......but the door covered only one at a time. Because we were concerned with privacy, since we had our daughter with us, we needed our towels near the shower so we could cover up when we were finished, but there was no hook for towels. We had to lay them on the floor next to the shower door. And then we had to get dressed in the toilet area if we wanted privacy.......a bit awkward.
The other function issue was that there was not a dresser in the room. We put our clothes on the ledge that ran around the bed and along the wall. It served as a seat and a place to store things. It was fine, but the room had a cluttered, messy feel, because of all our stuff. There was a shelf in the closet, but it was too high for me to reach.
We did not take advantage of the indoor pool....it did not seem like an appropriate place for us.........more of a bar scene.
These were minor inconveniences for us though. We got a great price on the room.........although I have noticed that prices are creeping up. And the location is ideal. The room itself was comfortable, clean, cool with a great bed. I'd stay again.
Chic, affordable Times Square Hotel
by tomhoward about Hotel QT
Had a 3 night stay here March 2006. Hotel QT is a designer budget boutique hotel just off Times Square. If youre wondering what the hell that means then basically a trendy, independent (as oppose to chain) hotel into which a great deal of thought about design and suitability for market (20 to 30 somethings) has gone. The budget part is not that theyve particularly cut corners with the final product, more that they have condensed a simple, no frills design into a more compact, profitable space.
First the good bits. Location is SUPERB, about 100m from the centre of Times Square. So as well as the local excitement, most places youll go on Manhattan will be no more than about $15 in a cab, probably much less. (For all its glitz, and with only a few exceptions, Times Square area is actually devoid of any notable restaurants, bars or clubs). We waited no longer than about 30secs for a taxi at any time of the day, although the drive through the Square can be frustrating, so walk to the corner of 6th & 45th if youre in a hurry. Some rooms are quoted as having views of Times Square, but I doubt you can really see more than a small sliver.
Reached from the 2nd floor, but visible through glass viewing panels in the lobby, is a DJ booth overlooking a small swimming pool, steam room & sauna (all free to guests & bar users), and the place comes to life at the weekend with pool parties & music going on into the night. Room although small, has been well designed with plasma screen TVs and CD/DVD players. Bed was the comfiest weve ever slept in, and an empty fridge meant you could stock up with your own drinks (dont buy from hotel reception $$$, see below).
Bathroom was clean and spacious (compared to the tiny bedroom area), in a wet room style, with the shower being a modern chrome dinner plate design (could have been more powerful though). As for the few gripes we had, the room was tiny. Many reviewers complain unnecessarily about small hotel rooms in New York, but this place was like a veal crate. At a guess, I would say the bed took up 75% of the room, leaving barely enough room to squeeze past each other. Only a small wardrobe for clothes (no drawers), meant the suitcases were tucked under the bed full for our stay. The reception doubles as a small news kiosk, selling magazines through to alcoholic drinks although we only used it once. The bill for 3 drinks came to $35.
Our room was at the front, and if we hadnt been so tired from jetlag / walking / drinking etc the noise would have kept us awake most of the night. Ask for a high room as the road works and binmen started at about 6am, I suppose the only time the streets around Times Sq are relatively empty.
Overall, youve got to be MTV generation or young at heart to enjoy a stay at Hotel QT. If youre sharing a room, make sure you know the other person well cos youll be on top of each other, although for a room and hotel of this quality in the centre of New York its probably a sacrifice worth making. Book early though as the place is justifiably popular.
Price is excellent for location, quality and features. We paid about $190 a night which included a breakfast we never ate.
Ive also heard reception often hold free VIP passes for cool clubs like Crobar or Lotus, but we always sort out guestlists before hand, so didnt ask.
Reviews on TripAdvisor mostly bang on.
Looking accomodation for Las Vegas?
by Carmela71
There are so many options, prices, web pages, that making our mind was a little dificult.
I began comparinf prices from a few mayor web pages as
www.vegas.com
www. travelworm.com
www.expedia.com
to find that prices vary a lot from ones to others. to finally find out that booking from the hotel web page was much cheaper in most of them!!!!!
We had in our heads since the begining staying at the Luxor, but prices were more expensive that others we were looking so we forgot about it.
We first checked cheap ones as Stratosphere, Circus circus or Imperial palace. But I begna to worry after reading a few reviews on tripadvisor, so we begna to look for something more medium price to book definetely at Excalibur.
Another page is worth a look if you are living in USA is the www.skyauctions.com .. You can get really bargains! But after paying the ammount of money for sending the tickets to Spain, it did not deserve at all for us (snif snif)
A month before the trip, we founded that Luxor got cheaper .... so we finally stayed where we wanted at the Luxor Piramid! You can get from 30 dollars the night booking in advance upt to .... 200 dollars?
But also I suggest to book something that you can cancell in 48 hour with full refund, so if you find better prices you can always cancell and get the new ones.
Manhattan hotel alternative
by VZ-Pam about La Quinta Inn
If you really don't need luxury or very good hotels, there is one very close to #7 train like La Quinta Inn at 37-18 Queens Blvd, Long Island City. The price is right and near to Shea & takes only 20 mins to Manhattan. Reviews at tripadvisor said its ok for the value. You can take a look.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g48080-d570101-Reviews-La_Quinta_Inn_Queens-Long_Island_City_New_York.html
Easy access to go shopping in Manhattan for the women. About 35 mins they can reach the famous discount retail shop called Century 21 Department Store in downtown Manhattan. Less than 20 mins they can be at Bloomingdales or the famous 5th Avenue of Manhattan.
Beware of illegal apt. rentals
by 10028
Short-term rentals (less than 30 days) are mostly illegal in NYC. More important to you are all the scams out there. I don't know what the percentages are, but seemingly most of the short-term apt. rentals are outright scams, operated via the internet.
Here's a recent story of a travel writer who got scammed:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/big-apple-con-artists-fleeced-me-of-4000/story-e6frf7kx-1225822868513
Because short-term apt. rentals are popular elsewhere, travelers aren't aware they're illegal here. Even a big travel site like tripadvisor has a whole section devoted to apt. rentals. Just because an apt. is listed on VRBO, it doesn't mean it even exists! Local law enforcement can't do much because the scam operators aren't local. People also think they're safe if they pay via paypal, but if you read the fine print on their agreement, you are not covered for service fraud.
Anyway, if you are asked to send money in advance, you can be sure it's not legitimate, and you will likely arrive in New York with no place to stay and no way to recover your losses.
You will want to look for apt.-style legitimate hotels, like the Beacon, Salisbury, Radio City Apts., or any of the group of Affinia apt.-style hotels.
Great place to stay for the price.
by TripAdvisor Member abracco
If you want to stay in Manhattan for under 200$, you can stay in a run down dive, or stay at Hotel QT. The rooms are not luxurious or spacious, but they are nice! Bed was very comfortable.
I would not recommend for a family, but for singles or couples who want an up-scale but no frills room, this is it.
Staff was great.
A Really Cool Place Near Times Square
by A TripAdvisor Member
I stayed here with my best friend from June 9 through 13. We both loved it! Front desk personnel were very accomodating. Check in was very fast and efficient as was checkout. Our room was clean. The beds are a little high off the floor but once you step up and into them you want to stay there because they are so comfortable. We had breakfast each morning. Breakfast there consisted of croissants, muffins, cold cereals, fresh fruit, coffee, tea and fresh squeezed orange juice, it was great. The hotel is centrally located near Times Square. Our room faced the street. Unlike what some people have reported our room had plenty of space in it for us and our luggage. There are some minor quirky designer touches that take some getting used to like the door numbers to the rooms. They are not easily seen from the main hallway because they are at an angle down smaller hallways off the main hallway. In the evenings the bar and pool area were very busy. Music was a little loud at times when you entered the lobby. But this hotel is geared for the "younger crowd". I will definitely be staying at the Hotel Qt again. With a rate of $190.00 plus tax per night for a room in NYC you cannot beat it.
Great Value, Room not for everyone
by A TripAdvisor Member
Stayed 3 nights over Memorial Day Holiday. Great location, took Airport Shuttle Bus to Port Authority Terminal (42nd/8th) short walk to the hotel, also close to most subway lines. Rooms are adequate size. Bathrooms great with large counter, shower and toilet rooms, includes refrig. Small open closet had enought room for hanging, floor space used for shoes, purchases, etc. Platform bed has walls on 3 sides, this makes it extremely difficult for climbing in and out. Bed sits approx 36" from the floor, padded railing aids in access. Complimentary Cont. Breakfast was good, cold cereal, pastries, whole fruit, coffee, tea, juice, served on 2nd floor just above pool. Housekeeping did not replace glasses or toiletries each day. No accessible ice machine, had to have it delivered. Front desk staff, while very pleasant, had little knowledge. Thank goodness for "google" on their computer. Everything was clean and bright. Consider it a good value, but not right for everyone.
Quality hotel
by A TripAdvisor Member
Just came back from a Memorial Day weekendin NYC. QT is located between 6th avenue and Broadway, very conveniet to many theatres. The closest subway is on 42nd and Broadway, but it takes time to get there because of the constant crowd on Times Square.
Would agree with previous reviews about its location and comfort bed. Linens and towels are new and clean, rooms small like in any NY hotel.
The only drawback was the noise from the street that the hotel is on. I was on the third floor, and late at night and very early in the morning delivery trucks would wake me up. If you are a light sleeper ask for a high floor, the hotel has 16 floors.
In general, it always nicer to stay in a new establishment even if it's not too fancy. One other thing that kind of annoyed me was the personnel at the cafe on the second floor that would start cleaning your table while you are still eating and vacuum cleaning while the guests are stiil there. Made me feel like finish the breakfast ASAP and leave.
Forum Posts
New York New York<<<<<
by tracyc.ie
Hi
I'm going to New York for my 21st in October.
Could anyone tell me if they stayed in the Portland square hotel just off Times Square. Its seems pretty cheap i just hope its not Dirty.
Coz i hate Dirt.
Wats the best clubbing place to go! I really want to enjoy my birthday!
Thanks
Tracy
RE: New York New York<<<<<
by Marywhotravels
There are a bunch of reviews of this hotel on Tripadvisor:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d93525-Reviews-Portland_Square_Hotel-New_York_City_New_York.html
New York is full of amazing bars and clubs -- I'm sure you'll find something you like!
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