Low cost weekend choice; connected to Windows on the World
Written: Oct 29 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good weekend rates, adequate rooms, walking distance to many attractions
Cons: Sterile inside and out; views could be better; far from Midtown
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| Profilewriter's Full Review: Millenium Hilton |
We stayed in this hotel before it was badly damaged by the World Trade Center bombing, and after.
It is located way downtown on the West side of Manhattan close to the Hudson River and within an easy walk of Wall Street, South Street Seaport and the gorgeous string of parks that run along the river at the tip of Manhattan.
Dwarfed by the World Trade Center's twin towers, this hotel is a sliver of building, sheathed in black glass. Not especially appealing from the outside, it fronts on a busy highway, and its rear faces a really ugly open courtyard that looks cold even on a summer day.
Some rooms have a limited view of the Hudson River, and definitely, they are the ones to request. The courtyard view is truly depressing, often featuring blowing paper. There are buildings between this hotel and the river, so it is not a clear shot, but even a partial view affords a look at tugs and barges and sail boats on the busy river.
Things I like about this hotel include the fact that it is right next to Windows on the World, the sky high bar in the World Trade Center. Once a largely sit down room designed to look like an ocean liner, the area is now arranged around several bars. Nearly everyone stands and walks around or dances. The views, of course, are fabulous. Food is wildly expensive, and it gets crowded. But the views make it worth a trip, and it is nice to have it a short stroll away.
The other huge plus is the low rates often available on weekends and holidays. Primarily a business hotel, it empties out on the weekend, and we have gotten rates as low as $99, very low indeed for Manhattan. This is a good place to check for Christmas week, a time when Midtown hotels are booked solid and charge more than three times that amount for a comparable room.
The rooms here are okay, but sterile. The last one we stayed in had a king sized bed and a small sofa. Also a desk and a couple of chairs. Nothing exciting, but certainly adequate, and clean.
The public areas in this hotel contain a few chairs and couches and lots of activity. Not meant for long evenings, they are merely a place to sit for a minute before or after checkout.
Many tourists might not like this hotel's location. There are few restaurants or shops within a short stroll, and it is a long cab ride to Midtown. The ride is about $10, and for anyone going back and forth several times a day to go to museums or plays of Midtown stores, the cab fares will eat into the savings obtained by staying downtown.
On the other hand, the hotel is a relatively short walk from TriBeCa, and a pleasant hike from Soho and Greenwich Village, and the riverfront is a long park that is one of the most delightful spots in the city.
All in all, I think this is a fine choice for all but those who need to be smack in the middle of the city. Rooms are larger than many in older hotels; the public areas are fine; pubic transportation via subway and PATH train is a short stroll away; rates are reasonable on weekends; and there is lots to see and do in the area.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Profilewriter
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: Trenton, New Jersey
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