Anything & Everything New York (PART 2) - [please search thread before posting]

phatbear

The main issue with reviews is people are more inclined to leave a bad review than a good one, i've been to hotels around a lot of europe and looked back at the reviews and some have been shocking but I thought the hotels were hunky dory!!!

You have to pay your money and take your choice, however its often worth looking at reviews to see if there is a common theme, ie bad service.bad food etc etc

niceday999

niceday999 wrote: »

They have yet to contact me.....i just happened to check on the web site,.....
I did ring the staybridge suites number on the website and let on i was trying to book a room in March for Times Square staybridge suites and she said it was not not showing possibly because it may not be opened in March.....mmmm
The other thing in my favour is the original card I booked with In July has now been cancelled.....
Will def ring them tomorrow and cancel for sure and report back.
been looking at Casablanca Hotel....
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d113317-Reviews-Casablanca_Hotel-New_York_City_New_York.html
Can anyone recommend the location for shopping........

UPDATE !!!
Rang Staybridge Suites there and tried to make a booking for March and was told the Hotel would not be opening until April 1st. When i told her i had already booked for march she put me on hold for ages and came back saying the hotel WOULD be open in March ??????? It was TOO EARLY to say it wouldnt be at this stage.
I asked what would happen if they were unable to accomodate us and was told they would put us in Alternatibe accomodation of equivalent or a higher standard......
I'm not really happy and would prefer to cancel and find somewhere now rather than be left with somewhere of Their choice......what are my options ?
I booked on the Friends and family rate which is NON REFUNDABLE....but are they not in breach of contract for taking a booking they are unable to fullfil ......???

greenface

difficult one this because they are not as yet in breach of a contract until they dont bed you down.
I would try to peg them down to disclose what they think a suitable hotel they think would be acceptable to you as from the 4000+ hotels in NYC. You picked this one due to your personal familys needs (you decide) (mobility suitability back/heart problems , walking difficulties ,children)all of the above.

Most hotels have a working partnership with others in the area or often a few who offer similar services .
This is what i would tell them

You specifically chosen the Staybridge Suit due to its close proximity to The New York Times Building where you are having a daily conference for British Tourism in New York. THAT WILL MAKE THEM LISTEN. I stayed in the Westin NYC and had a great room (just over the port authority on the corner of 42nd & 8th)see if they can move you to somewhere just as suitable.

As for trip advisor- i dont trust any thing i read on the interweb but i read the reviews and you can get a feeling for it (only if it has over 30 reviews imo) some places have the same comments good or bad over the period of a few months then you know there not all wrong . Ive eaten in the 2nd best restraunt in North Wales and it was kack went back to post a sh1tty review to read the 10(ish) posts for this Greek Hell hole were called Stavros Stelios and Karacos etc. Chef /Dishwasher/spud peeler i wonder.

hieveryone

Oh no I'm worried about the Staybridge now I've booked for April 7th using the friends and family rate - will this affect being placed elsewhere? Have emailed them so will await their reply and will update here too.

costingbunny_2

Hi
I have been to NYC a few times now but always booked flight and hotel separately. I am wanting to go in Oct with my sister but funds are limited. I notice that Virgin have packages for now at £399 but on my dates they are currently around £660 per person! Also, I live up North so it would mean going to London. Our dates are for half term but my sister gets 2 weeks off (15 Oct-1 Nov) so we will go the week all other schools are still there (poss dates are 15-21 Oct). Not booking yey obvioulsy but just wondered if anyway has got a good package deal for that time of year before - the flights alone are coming in around £350!!!!

hieveryone

Got a reply almost straight away hope this helps someone:


Our current scheduled opening date is April 1, 2010. If the opening date should be delayed for any reason, all guest affected by the delay will be contacted by our Guest Service representative and relocated to one of our sister properties.

greenface

costingbunny wrote: »

Hi
I have been to NYC a few times now but always booked flight and hotel separately. I am wanting to go in Oct with my sister but funds are limited. I notice that Virgin have packages for now at £399 but on my dates they are currently around £660 per person! Also, I live up North so it would mean going to London. Our dates are for half term but my sister gets 2 weeks off (15 Oct-1 Nov) so we will go the week all other schools are still there (poss dates are 15-21 Oct). Not booking yey obvioulsy but just wondered if anyway has got a good package deal for that time of year before - the flights alone are coming in around £350!!!!

350 for a flight isnt silly money and cant see it dropping by anymore than £50 even from london airports
virgin do have deals for £400 but getting them is another story and hotels are possibly outside manhattan either jersey or brooklyn I know its difficult but sometimes booking early flights and last minute hotels works better than alot of deals / Or go into a Travel agents show them where Virgin are offering £400 deals and see what they can pricematch or offer

niceday999

hieveryone wrote: »

Oh no I'm worried about the Staybridge now I've booked for April 7th using the friends and family rate - will this affect being placed elsewhere? Have emailed them so will await their reply and will update here too.

it was due to open on jan 9th.....
then march 1st and now april 1st....
I emailed them too and never got a reply....
ended up ringing them today
They seem to own a few hotels in new york so maybe you would get one of those...think there was candlewood suites. intercontinental at the barclay and few others i think.....
does anyone know what their "sister hotels are ?

pcg2001

niceday999 wrote: »

They seem to own a few hotels in new york so maybe you would get one of those...think there was candlewood suites. intercontinental at the barclay and few others i think.....
does anyone know what their "sister hotels are ?

Do you mean other others in the same group? This is Intercontinental so they own Holiday Inn, Express, Intercontinental. Crowne Plaza, Candlewood Suites. Have a look at the bottom of this page http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/sb/1/en/home

Now if you mean what is the likely candidate for you to be walked to in case staybridge is no open, no idea. I have only once been "walked" and it was to a supposedly better hotel. I still think they could have thrown in a free breakfast in that case since I arrived late at night (2 am) and still had to wait for the hotel hoppa bus (this was at Gatwick airport) to take me to the other hotel. So if I were one of you booked with a non-refundable rate, I would try the approach greenface suggested.

Try to get them to commit to the equivalent to the quality and location of the hotel booked. It would help to study your topic, namely which hotels there are in the Interncontinental group in NY and which you find acceptable, and which you don't. To be prepared. Also, I am not sure if you can find a similar F&F rate in another of their properties and just try to request that they tranfer you right away.

Last year I was investigating hotels and remember there was a new confort inn whose opening kept being moved forward, and people had already booked it. The nice people at Tripadvisor would even go past the hotel façade to update everyone on the opening!! You might want to search for that in TA and see what was the policy in the cases the hotel was not open. Or you can see if there are news of Staybridge suites there as well.

niceday999

I received a reply this evening from ICHOTELS...
We are writing you regarding your upcoming reservations for the Staybridge Suites New York, NY, arriving on March 4th. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the hotel has needed to postpone their opening date. Because of this they will be unable to honor your reservations. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

However, we are able to assist in making alternate arrangements for your accommodations. The management of the Staybridge Suites has made arrangements with another IHG property in New York to honor your reservations, including your rate, should you still need accommodations. The property that your reservations would be moved to is the Candlewood Suites New York City – Times Square on 339 W 39th St. If these other accommodations are suitable for your needs, please let me know and I will be happy to make the appropriate arrangements to have your reservation transferred.

We know you have many choices when it comes to lodging and want to thank you for continuing to choose IHG properties for your travel needs. We appreciate your business and look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 801-975-3080 and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d1025779-Reviews-Candlewood_Suites_New_York_City_Times_Square-New_York_City_New_York.html
Dont think this is up to the standard of The Staybridge suites.Also we had booked a 2 double bed suite at Staybridge suites,( on the friends and family rate ) with Continental breakfast, which would have kept us going first thing rather than rushing straight ouit for breakfast.
The Crowne Plaza looks ok.