great buget hotel (Astor on the Park New York)

Member Name: kayke_Dee

Product:	Astor on the Park New York
Date:	04/08/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap,modern,simple,quiet

Disadvantages: poor view if not facing central park

We visited 'Astor on the park' in may 2006. We were on a tight budget for the 5 day trip and were looking for somewhere cheap yet cheerful. We understood after doing our research that the further away from the centre we stayed the cheaper it would be. We took a taxi from Newark airport (which i do not recommend unless you want to get stumped by all the toll bridge charges) But we did get dropped off right outside the hotel. For such a cheap hotel, we really didn't expect to see a doorman waiting for us on our arrival. He welcomed us in and took our bags. The reception area is very small, a lot like the rest of the hotel, But the decor is fresh,simple and modern. We were booked in, given a couple of maps and brochures for excursions and shown to our room, located on the 2nd floor. The rooms are very small and basic, but ideal. The main room consisted of a double bed, a bedside table on each side, a table with a tv, telephone and a wardrobe, off from this was a small bathroom with bath/shower. Again the rooms were very clean and tidy and decorated to a modern taste. The bathroom had a working hairdryer installed and the everyday essentials stocked up like soap,sewing kit,shower cap ect. There was also a local yellow pages which could be rather useful. We did wonder if we could order a pizza delivery for 4am (as you would expect in the Big apple) but didn't want to annoy anyone lol. The rooms were just perfect to rest you head at the end of the day. There were no other hotel services apart from in the basement. Where we could read the daily papers, make fresh tea and coffee or grab a snack from the vending machine. But we didn't need anything else. It would have been great to have stopped in a grand hotel with an empire state building view, But at the end of the day we had a budget which we didn't think would stretch very far, and before booking thought we may have to book into an hostel, as the only central located accommodation in our budget, But instead we got a lovely little hotel, that even if i did have the extra money if i went back again, I would consider another visit to the Astor on the park, and would deffienately recommend to a friend. The staff were awlays on reception to answer any questions we had, the doorman who's name i dont recall was always there to say good morning and asked us what we had planned for the day, telling us the best routes. And even though it was upper west side, we were never more than a 45minute walk from times square. If ever we needed a cab, we could just walk outside the hotel and one would stop by within 5 minutes of waiting, Not like home where you have to call them up and your extremely lucky if they arrive on time! A stroll across the road took you straight in to central park, we often made our way to the centre through there. On our last day the staff took great care of our belongings whilst we took a last tour of the big apple, and the wonderful doorman arranged for us to be picked up by a shuttlebus which was cheaper for us to get back to the airport, and a lot more fun, we shared it with a couple from Florida, and talked 'soccer' with the bus driver!

Summary: friendly,cheap,welcoming,nice location