Update Oct 3 2011.

Just returned home from a three night stay at the Millennium. We had a stellar experience. We were there to spend time at a few of the 9/11 Memorials that dot the area and specifically the Reflecting Pools that just opened this past 9/11 on the tenth anniversary of that dreadful day.

Just adding a few pointers. You cannot find any venue that will give you a better birds-eye view of the Reflecting Pools during the day or under the lights at night anywhere else. The commanding views offer spectacular views of the National September 11 Memorial and the grand construction going on. Looking up from the 39th floor of the Millenium (it goes up to 50) at the Freedom Tower at One World Trade Center is an amazing experience. I strongly recommend getting a Ground Zero side room, no matter the cost. This is a once in a lifetime experience!

Once again we recieved excellent service and enjoyed the best sleep possible in what I believe are the most comfortable beds in the city.

Though we have visited a few times since this was the first time I noticed an American Flag hanging in the Lobby area near the gift shop. It is under glass with text nearby telling  us in so many words that ....This flag was rescued by Hilton workers on 9/11 and was flying again when the Hotel reopened in 2003.  It was good to see!

We also had lunch at the Church & Dey Restaurant on the third floor overlookingthe construction site of the Freedom Tower. It was perfect!

A full review will be posted for their restaurant in the near future. 

The neighborhood that was devastated ten years back is once again so alive with people thriving businesses. Many more restaurants and deli like places ring the area supporting the influx of hard hat workers and a continuously growing financial crowd.  The 9/11 memorial and and Museums are helping to fill the needs of tourists who come to this area in ever increasing numbers as the new Freedom Tower continues to rise. 

My wife and I were pleasently surprised with the hotel concierge recommendation of a French restaurant, Brasserie Les Halles. We celebrated my birthday there. The entrees were excellent and at moderate prices.  It was but a block and a half away. A wonderful find. Thank you Millennium.

We used the E Train when it was running for near direct access to the hotel from Penn Station but it was the R train right under the hotel that we used for our jaunts to Little Italy and to Union Square for my wife to do some street fair shopping. Mmm, shopping. Century 21 right next door to the hotel gets people from around the world buying, buying, buying. Yes, my wife made a couple of visits too.    

 
end update


I had called the Millenium in December as to when they would be reopening. They said in the spring. I have called a few times since. Again they said soon. I just received today, April 29, an Email from Hilton stating they are now open again. I'll keep you posted. Please read on. We really enjoyed our previous stays there.

The following review has the original review along with updates from our most recent stay.


UPDATE: July 17th 2003 The hotel is open again and we stayed at it a couple of weeks ago. I must say that Hilton and the folks at this hotel really have put together a great place to stay!! This review will be a mix of the original review along with updates.

My wife and I have really rediscovered NYC in the last ten years or so. Part of the reason is that the NYC had really cleaned up it's act under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The city is clean and much more safe. The subways that I had once detested are now very ridable. I find they are the best way to get around Manhattan.
One of the stops it makes is on the street corner of the Millenium Hilton Hotel in lower Manhattan. There are a few others just steps away!

SOME BACKGROUND

The Millenium was closed for a while. On September 11th, 2001 a great loss for all freedom loving people was felt. Almost three thousand good people and the World Trade Center were lost. The Millenium Hotel is just across the street from ground zero.

On the morning of September 11th my wife and I were particularly concerned because the daughter of a good friend of ours worked at the Millenium Hilton Hotel. Tuesday was a day of work for Gina. We also knew she used the subways that were badly damaged in the collapses. We wanted so much to call our friends, Gina's parents, to see if they had heard from her yet, but at the same time that morning we didn't want to upset them further by our calls. We did know phone calls from the city just weren't getting through to the outside easily.

THE HOTEL

Actually my wife and I enjoyed the hotel very much but more for it's location than the hotel itself. In saying that, believe me, I'm not knocking the hotel at all.

UPDATE: After staying at the hotel recently I must say that there are some very good reasons to spend time at the hotel.

The hotel being dwarfed by the WTC on the west is still a skyscraper it self at fifty-five guest rooms high. It has a total of 565 rooms and suites.

It's a very tall, dark, sleek building. It is mostly glass and reflections of the surrounding area can be seen in it. It is set next to older, turn of the century, buildings that it in turn dwarfs.

GREAT VIEWS

The views we had were sensational. We received a corner room on the southeast corner of the building. From there to the east we could see the East River with the bridges attaching Long Island to lower Manhattan. We could see all of lower Manhattan. 

The windows were very large so as to take advantage of the views. I must warn you though some of the rooms, especially those on the lower floors did not give the same views and in fact some could have no sight lines at all. Ask for a room with a view.

UPDATE: The hotel has a penthouse on the top floor. This will get you the best views of all of lower Manhattan and up to Mid-town.

THE ROOMS

The rooms are a good size. They are decorated in a modern, clean cut fashion with a bit of colour from pictures in the room. We had a nice comfortable king size bed. The rooms do have adequate storage space and an iron and board in the closet. There was no safe in the room as I recall. What I do recall is that our non-smoking room did in fact smell of smoke. The room has TV with cable stations and pay for movies. The telephones were in the room and one in the bathroom. Ports for internet were available. This hotel, during the week, is primarily used by business people. It is in the heart of the financial district.

UPDATE We had a room on the 31st floor. It was a corner room on the south west corner, a suite. The rooms had absolutely no odors. My wifes keen nose could attest to that. The rooms have all been done over. They still maintain that "modern clean cut fashion", but perhaps with a bit more warmth to them. What is very modern is the rooms have 42" Zenith Plasma screen TV's. Some rooms have then mounted into the walls. Others rooms with many windows have them on a counter.

The rooms also have cordless telephones with 2 lines and data ports. There is voice mail service too. There is even a phone in the bathroom for those important business calls. Some of my best thinking is done in that room.

The room we had did have an easy to use safe in the closet.

We were fortunate to have been upgraded to a suit. This had one room that was like an office. It had a pull-out couch that could sleep two. There was an attractive coffee table, a fine working desk, and a mini-bar that automatically tallied whatever you take out. The room also had a coffee maker.

The bed, though comfortable every time we have been there previously, was extraordinarily comfortable. They advertise their beds as the Hilton SweatDreams Bed with Down Pillows. The pillows were huge. They were comfortable too. Hey, we even received some chocolates on them with the "turn down" service late in the day.


The bathrooms are also a good size with all the counter top lotions, rinses, and soaps a Hilton property generally offers. This ol'guy can't remember the brand name of the products. It's a good one. They have used them for years.

There were plenty of towels. The bath/shower had good pressure and hot water. We had his and her bath robes in our closet too.

The bathroom also had a personal mirror that really magnifies well with too much distortion. My wife just told me the distortion is just me, and has nothing to do with the mirror.

THE LOBBY

In the lobby which is not that large you will find a helpful staff at the desk. The process of check in and check out were flawless. On one side of the lobby is a bar and the other side near the elevator banks was the concierge. When we used them for some reservations in a SoHo restaurant it was hilarious. There were two guys arguing, in good spirits, as to how best get to the restaurant. They were stepping over each other to be more helpful.

UPDATE: The Lobby was completely done over. It's actually flipped around the bar and lounge is now on the right side going in, the south side. It is all very attractive.

The outside entrance is quite lovely and the huge automatic rotating doors make entrance easy and effortless, no hands needed.

There was always a doorman with a smile on hand every time we entered the building. They were also quick to our taxi's when we pulled up to the hotel. We never needed them to call a cab, but they are on hand and the location of the hotel makes it pretty easy to get one. On occasion when time was a factor for going cross town we hopped in a cab. For going uptown the subway is quick and still a good price a two dollars a ride. We use the metropass cards. You can save a couple of dollars with them

I liked the elevator banks because they set them up having the elevators to lower floors on one side and higher ones on the other. This meant a quicker ride to your destination.

A BIT MORE

On the third floor is where the restaurants are. They have two. The Connoisseur Grille and for finer dining the Taliesin Restaurant. We never went to either. We like to enjoy the city restaurants when we can and we also used the restaurant on top of the World Trade Center often.

UPDATE: Though we still did not use the dining room we did take a peak at the new place. It's called the CHURCH and DEY Restaurant. It is quite comfortable and inviting looking in a modern look with whimsical paintings on the wall. The menu looked to be excellent! The restaurant overlooks ground zero. You can see the workers down below working 24/7. I found it interesting to watch them.

update 2011. we tried Church and Dey for Lunch tom our satisfaction!!

end update

The hotel also serves breakfast up on the third floor.

The hotel also has a very modern and up to date fitness center. There is an attendant and the equipment is state of the art. There is and a nice lap indoor pool. The made over pool area is a delight to sit at. The atrium look overlooks St Paul's Chapel. This is definitely a place to take a walk to when at the hotel. It was the "home" of many of the rescue workers right after 9/11. The displays in the chapel and the stories told will bring tears to your eyes and hope to your hearts.

The pool area has chairs, tables, and also a sauna. Towels are available there by the person on staff.

If you do come by car they have valet parking and a daily charge of about forty dollars for parking.



NEAR AND AROUND THE MILLENIUM

As I mentioned earlier the hotel is in the heart of the financial district so it's just a seven minute walk to Wall Street and other financial destinations. It is also close to a world of historic sites, shopping, and things to see.

You are just a walk to the South Street Seaport. What we loved about that walk is that they would close a few streets on the way there to traffic in the summer. Street vendors would be selling their wares at discounted
prices.

UPDATE: My wife and I used to go to the World Trade Center to the TKTSBooth. This is where you can get half price tickets for same day Broadway and Off Broadway Shows. There is now a new TKTS booth at the South Street Seaport. This makes it convenient for us to stay at the hotel and purchase tickets for a show. We did this on our stay this time. We paid half price for Thoroughly Modern Millie. It was a great show that won many Tony awards.

There are many fine restaurants in the area. There is also a Starbucks just around the corner for an early morning cup of coffee. You can walk to the SoHo district for great eateries. Just a twenty minute walk away, two stops on the subway, or a very short cab ride is Little Italy and China Town. Greenwich Village is also walkable or just a stop or two uptown on the subway.

Right around the corner of the hotel for history buffs is Trinity Church and close by is the St Paul Chapel. Also to be seen are Federal Hall which is right across the street from the New York Stock Exchange and Battery Park. They are just a ten minute walk away. In Battery Park is Castle Clinton. This National Historic Site is where you purchase tickets and get the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. There are many great destinations in this walkable area. Just a three minute walk takes you to the Jewish Heritage Museum. It is quite an experience walking the quiet rooms of this place.

UPDATE: As I have mentioned this hotel is directly across the street from Ground Zero. They do not mention that fact in any of their pamphlets or brochures. I am sure that they feel it could possible seem that they were trying to profit from the great tragedy. I respect their decision.

I, on the other hand, find the hotels location perfect for me. I do want to "Remember". I now look at the deep hole in the ground and remember those who were lost and the magnificent buildings that were once there. I also look forward to staying at this hotel and watching the progress as the new building are constructed. At this time there is a wonderful view of the Hudson River from the upper floors. One day that view will be gone and the new World trade Center will be in its rightful place. I also hope to be there again whenever the official opening of the new structure happens. I also hope to be at the Millenium Hilton.

UPDATE 11/01/04

Construction has begun on the site. The 7 WTC building had a topping off ceremony last month and the new Freedom Tower has had its cornerstone laid. See the Link to the World Trade Center below for updates.

My wife and I had a wonderful time in our stay at the Millenium. The staff were very attentive and friendly. 

I recently called the Millenium Hotel. There is now a team of workers in there refurbishing the hotel. It sustained quite a bit of damage on that fateful day. The person I talked to told me they would be opening again sometime in the first quarter of 2003. We are going to book a room as soon as it opens. I'll give you an update then but more important is the update I hope to give when a proper memorial site and new buildings once again are seen in the reflection of the Millenium Hotel.


UPDATE: THE MILLENIUM HILTON on Church Street is once again open. Enjoy it, remember 9/11, and see all the great sites lower Manhattan has to offer!! 


A Visitors Guide To All That Is all 9/11 in and around the World Trade Center and the Freedom Tower.
 
National September 11 Memorial with Reflecting Pools
9/11 Preview Site...Where you may get day-of passes for the National September Memorial with the Reflecting Pools
St Paul's Chapel and it's Place and Mission After 9/11
Tribute 9/11 Memorial Visitors Center: A Place a Tour that brings those who experienced 9/11 with those who want to know and better understand
FDNY Ten House
FDNY 9/11 Memorial Wall


Millenium Hilton Across From the 9/11 Memorial Reflecting-Pools and #1 World Trade Center with an unbelievable birds eye view of all!!
Church and Dey: A Restaurant with a View of Ground Zero


The Little Chapel That Stood: Helping Children Understand and "Never Forget" 9/11
 

Something is Missing : An Emotional Visit To Ground Zero One week



New York Hilton

Downtown Manhattan reviews by Popsrocks

The New WORLD TRADE CENTER Construction has begun on the Freedom Tower

The Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Castle Clinton National Memorial
Battery Park Home of the temporary 9/11 memorial.
SOUTH STREET SEAPORT
St. Paul's ChapelRight next to the Millenium Hotel. A 9/11 memorial in its own right.
Federal Hall National Historic SiteDowntown across from Wall Street, our first Capitol Building was there.
Jewish Heritage Museum
Greenwich VillageIt's Hip and Happening
Fraunces TavernA great eatery with history near all downtown sites.
Downtown Manhattan 9/11 Memorials

More NYC reviews


New York City. As told by a Noo Yawka
The Empire State Building
The INTREPID Sea-Air-Space MUSEUMIt's a good one!
Museum of Natural History
TKTS half price tickets to Broadway
Aida, the Broadway Play Great show at half price
Thoroughly Modern Millie A 6 Tony award play on Broadway
Central Park
Stardust DinerA great place for before a show in Times Square. Aspiring actors are here.
Sylvia's, a southern soul restaurant in Harlem
Something is Missing A Tribute to the good people and the twin towers that were lost on 9/11 http://www.epinions.com/content_3161628804


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Recommended: Yes