The Belvedere In The Heart Of Everything! (The Belvedere Hotel (New York))

Member Name: OhLala-17

Product:	The Belvedere Hotel (New York)
Date:	03/04/09 (136 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Location, Clean, Comfortable, Kind Staff.

Disadvantages: Slow Internet?

Each time I have been to New York this is the hotel that I have stayed at.
I have been to the Big Apple twice now and both times were a different but a good experiance at The Belvedere Hotel.

~ MY OPINION ~
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As we pulled up to the Hotel we were impressed, the location seemed good just off the main road near Broadway and Times Square.
The outside of the Hotel was clean and very well maintained! With clean windows, nice plant pots, it looked like a great Hotel.
We got out of the cab and the uniformed door man greeted us and helped us with our suitcases and other bags. He opened the door for us and reception was on our right.
Check in / the reception desk was well presented with around 8 clocks behind with the different times of the world and a marble desk. The staff were extremely kind and helpful, although we arrived 2-3 hours before check in they did their best to get us a room, unfortunately there were none. They said we could stay in the Hotel or wonder around the City, but it would be a 2 or so hour wait. We decided we would go and see Manhatten so the door man took our bags into a special locked bag cupboard.
After 1 & a half hours we went back to the Hotel after going to Madame Tussads, we didn't expect to get a room and thought we would just sit in the comfy looking seating area & browse the mini-shop. On our return we said that we would just be sat down and they quickly checked their computer and found out a room was available.
On the first time we went to New York our room was on the 7th floor and the 2nd time the 10th floor.
We got the lift and went up to the 7th floor, the hall way was very nice with a carpeted floor and what looked like new decorating, it felt nice and warm even though it was a hall way.
We found our room easily, and slid the card through the slot, and the door unlocked.
Our room was a good size for a New York hotel and there was a little kitchen on the left with microwave, fridge and a coffee/ tea maker. Then a door about 4 steps down on the right which went into the medium sized marble bathroom. It was clean and tidy with a toilet, bath/shower, sink and hairdryer. From Trip adviser reviews alot of people say that the bathroom is a great size for a NY hotel.
The room then opened out with 2 double beds, table, desk, chair, chest of draws, built in mirrored wardbrobe with a safe, iron & ironing board and on top of the chest of draws was a doored unit which contained a standerd TV with cable and Nintendo games. Also a clock radio and telephone.
The room again was clean and well presented. It had a good sized window with a net curtain which can be drawn back and thick curtains.
The room had everything we needed for a 5 day stay and it was comfortable. At/in the window is a rather ugly looking machine which is infact an air-conditioner / heating system, we used this alot and it was great and easy to use although a touch noisy. Luckily the net curtain covers it up so you don't have to look at it.
The windows open to give you a bit of air and our view was good, we could just see over the roof top of the building in front and also a multi-coloured tall building.
15 minutes after we got in our luggage arrived and the man helped us with it.
There was maid-service which is every day and we got clean sheets and towels, they also gave us more tea and coffee for the machine. The maids were very kind and did a great job.
Overall the room (based on 1st trip) was exallent and there were no faults at all.
On the 2nd trip we had a room the same although under the window the board was coming away, this made it feel a little less comfortable but only when you looked at it directly. But the rooms were being updated when we went working from the upper floors down, so this would have been fixed by now.
Both times we stayed here, noise inside the Hotel with people coming back from nights out was never really an issue. Only once did we have a slight problem which was on the night we left, the girls in the room next to us were being a little noisy. It was only 10.30pm and they stopped by 11-12pm, it wouldn't have been a problem at all it was only because we had to be up at 5.30am. Otherwise that was it!

~ OTHER INFO~
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The Hotel was built in the 1920's art-deco period and the hotel lives up to this period, especially in the lobby near the reception where they have/ had some funky big chairs.
There are 335 rooms in the 17 floored hotel ranging from standard Deluxe to Executive. We stayed in standard each time.
In the hotel is a computer area, it is a pay as you go service with Wireless internet availible. We used these computers and they were quite slow but did what you wanted them to do. Internet is also availble in your room for a fee of around $10 (£5).
On one of the floors is a fitness center with treadmills, cross trainers, bikes, weights and a few more bits. I didn't use this as we were out & about in the day and by late night I was to tired, but I did go and have a nose and it looked brilliant! I wasn't expecting it to be so good for a free gym.
The hotel has their own resturant, we didn't use this either because it was expensive compared to cafés & resturants outside. But the menu always looked good.
In the lobby is a little door this takes you into a small shop, here you can get your essentials .e.g. Shampoo, Medicine, Toothpaste, water.. etc. Also tourist things, photo frames, pens, tops, bags, teddys.
And there was a good choice of sweets. The price was average but some things like the tourist bits could be found cheaper in other places.

The whole hotel is Non-Smoking and cots are availible for babies/ toddlers.
If you have a early flight on the day of your departure then the night before you can ask for a wake up call at the time you want. We used this and we got a call at 5.30am sharp!

Check in time is 4pm & check out is noon.
Also no pets are allowed.

~ LOCATION OF THE HOTEL ~
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The location was brilliant, in the heart of Manhatten!
319 West 48th Street New York, NY 10036.
About 2 minutes from Broadway, 10 Minutes to Times Square & the Rockefeller, 15-20 Minutes to Central Park.
So many resturants are near by on 46th street between 8th & 9th avenue, also round Times Square.
As I have said the Hotel is just off the main road and down a quiet avenue.
You can still hear the buzz of the city but less than if you were right on the main road. A fire station is close by and you can often hear this, but then again fire stations are dotted all around New York and no matter were you stay you will hear them.

~ HOW FAR FROM THE AIRPORTS? ~
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We flew into JFK (John.F.Kennedy) and it took around an hour to get to the hotel. A cab will cost you approx $36-$75 we paid $40 for 4 people & 3 suitcases. We were told to get a cab outside of the aiport from the Cab rank as these are licensed cabs. Do not go with anyone stood in the airport saying they have a cab.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is about a 30-40 drive so the closest airport.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is around 40-60 minutes.

~ PRICE~
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I can't remember the exact price we paid but for a 5 day stay, Virgin Atlantic (reviewed on Page 2) flight, 4 people it was just over £2000 for everything.
We found this Hotel on Expedia and booked it via there, although you can book online at the hotel website.
http://www.belvederehotelnyc.com/


~ OVERALL ~
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For a 3* hotel it was fantastic! Amazing location, friendly helpful staff, clean and tidy rooms, fitness center. I think it should be a 4* especially as they have now refurbished it.

Service- 5/5
Condition- 4/5
Clean Room- 5/5
Comfort- 4/5

The next time I go to New York this is the hotel I will look and first to see if they have any rooms free.

Summary: A brillian hotel.