The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection — Hotel in New York

After sharing feedback with the hotel, they sent a nice email addressing my earlier concerns. More importantly, however, I've discovered that they fixed their website to not only clearly disclose their destination fee but to make clear prior to booking what it includes. Not every property is responsive to feedback, but this one is. It's in a great location. It's not a cookie-cutter hotel that you'd find anywhere in the world. Give The Algonquin a try.

Prior review: I wanted to love this hotel. I used to work nearby and watched the renovations, so on a recent return trip with my family where we needed to be near Times Square, I chose The Algonquin. I regret the choice and fear that even with the best staff in the world, and one do the few remaining hotel pets, management’s short-sighted efforts to squeeze every penny out of the property have set the property on a path toward failure. I do not recommend this hotel.

I booked a non-refundable, prepaid rate only to find after booking that the property imposed an unexplained $34.42 destination fee for each night. The fee is now explained on the booking page, but amounts to nothing more than a $30 credit at the Blue Bar, the hotel’s three-meal restaurant. Of course, breakfast for one averages $30 before the mandatory 18% auto-gratuity. The hotel’s eponymous cocktail is $22. You’re not going to see a lot of value from the resort fee, and it isn’t aggregated for expenses across your stay, it’s a strict $30/day, so don’t try and use those credits on a single dinner. A more honest room rate and perhaps a voucher for a free drink at the bar would have made this feel far less like a cheap cash grab after locking me into a $395/night interior king room, but still ensured I spent some money on food and beverage.

The room was generously sized. It had high ceilings and the bathroom was spacious. The facility, however, has been somewhat neglected by its owners. Maintenance was lacking. The tub had large chips in the porcelain, the bathroom heater was rusted, the walls scraped and scuffed, the lighted headboard art piece/night light was defective (it just blinked on and off rapidly) and the reading lights were not functional. There were outlets on both sides of the bed and a reasonable desk and chair, but no other seating was available in the room. There was a small table for an ice bucket and two bottles of water, which were replenished each day. The bathroom also had a small multi-tiered table for supplies and towels. There is not much counter space or shelving for storage. The frosted window faced an interior light shaft. The room was fully carpeted. There was no refrigerator, but there was a small closet. The King Bed was very soft; the sheets and pillows had an odd smell but were clean. The room had its own, independently-controllable mini-split HVAC that did a great job of cooling the room. There was noticeable but not offensive levels of noise from the hall, adjoining room and a vent fan somewhere outside.

The hotel has two small elevators that other than a few delays actually seemed adequate for the building’s demand. There’s a small library and lounge space on the second floor.

The staff were incredibly friendly and greeted us with a stuffed toy cat, which resembles Hamlet, the hotel’s cat. My toddler was thrilled with both and we made several trips to the lobby to play with the somewhat shy kitty. The lobby was usually attended by a receptionist, bellman and a doorman who made us feel welcome each time we arrived. The Blue Bar staff were friendly and efficient.

Overall, this is a historic property and I came to it expecting a bit of the past to shine through, knowing that sometimes that means modern brand standards may not be 100% met. I think the property staff is trying hard, but they don’t have the resources they need to care for or operate this property at the level required to match its price point. That’s sad, because it’s an amazing location and it has...

My recent stay at the Algonquin Hotel in New York . Two 11th floor suites were bought, and to our pleasure the staff set them up next to each other which simplified a lot of things for our family. ||Right from check in, the Algonquin staff did everything possible to make us relaxed and comfortable. Check-in with Maria, who was at the front desk, was efficient as she received us in a friendly manner and answered all of the queries posed to her. ||Exceptional attention also goes to Tenzing ( I hope i got your name right), who is a wonderful example of hospitality from Nepal or Bhutan. As well as helping us settle into our respective rooms, he did us the courtesy of carrying three of my children's bags over to the Penn Club of NY, which was extraordinary service. Tenzing also organized our airport SUV transfer on the day of our departure with a fantastic driver Ramos. To my pleasant surprise, it was significantly less than the usual Blacklane or even Uber rates, and the quality of the service was excellent.||The Housekeeping Team deserves high praise. On one occasion, I left my safe wide open with numerous valuables and cash in plain sight, yet not a single item was touched. Such honesty and integrity is rare and deeply appreciated. ||We also enjoyed the on-site restaurant for breakfast, which serves hearty meals ideal for late risers like us until noon. ||And finally, our gratitude goes to Jenne, who checked us out in a warm, professional manner that guaranteed we left smiling. ||For those in need of authentic hospitality, spacious and comfortable suites, and an unbeatable location in Midtown, The Algonquin comes highly recommended. Thank you to all team members for making the stay unforgettable. I am looking forward to coming back!||I had decided to stay at the Algonquin mainly because 2 of kids were staying opposite at the Penn Club. We had 2 suites booked here, I was delighted when the staff made sure that these were adjacent to each other on the 11th fllor. This made the stay easier for us.||As soon as we stepped into the hotel, the staff made sure that we felt welcome and at home. Maria at the front desk was extremely warm and welcoming. ||Another special thank you goes out to Tenzing (sorry if I misspelled your name!), a wonderful bellman from Nepal/Bhutan. He not only helped us get to our rooms, but went the extra mile of carrying 3 of my children’s bags to the Penn Club of NY which is across the street. This was definitely an incredibly above and beyond experience. Tenzing also arranged Ramos for our airport transfer (JFK) on the day of departure. I was pleased that the cost was very competitive compared to my usual Blacklane or an Uber.||Once, we foolishly neglected to close our safe. (It was left wide open all Sunday) There was a lot of cash and other valuables fully visible, yet nothing was touched. Such honesty is absolutely appreciated. And last, but not least, I appreciate Jenne for giving me a smooth farewell. Thanks to every one of them for the remarkable stay as now, it would be hard to resist the urge of returning to this wonderful place while visiting the Big Apple. Furthermore Time Square, Broadway, Madison Ave, 5th Avenue, Bryant Park and a slew of restaurants are right next door. Central Park is also just a 20 minute walk.... Also thank you for the umbrellas that you provided on...

We enjoyed our stay at the Algonquin.||As mentioned by other reviewers, the location in Midtown can’t be beat. Bryant Square and the main NYC public library building, Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Grand Central Station are but a few of the iconic locations within a short distance walk.||There is no question that this is an older building evoking an era of a century ago. And for many that is a major attraction. However for those not aware of the history of the hotel, the features or lack there of in the building might come as an unwelcome surprise. There is no soaring lobby. The interior design and decor are definitely from a different era. completing the retro atmosphere was a newspaper rack with wooden frames that allowed one to hold the newspaper. There are multiple couches and chairs, all leather-upholstered, available for guests and visits to sit down, which was a pleasant aspect to this lobby.||The service is pretty good at the front desk/reception, and the doorman were generally friendly. The umbrellas were certainly much appreciated when it rained. The small reception area, however, meant that only two parties could be held at one time which made for a busy scene and sometimes frustrated guests. Our checkout process was a little delayed because of this.||We enjoyed late snacks and drinks at The Blue Bar and Lounge. It was during one of our late evening drinks that we spotted the house, cat, Hamlet. Apparently they have been multiple generations of this house, cat, the name, Hamlet, having been chosen in honor of famed actor, John Barrymore and his most famous role. There have been female cats, however, whose names have all been Matilda.||As expected, the elevator is small, so avoid bringing a large baggage or a lot of luggage when staying here.||As expected, our room was not particularly large but there was enough space around the bed for our rolling hand carry luggage. There was a small closet with a safe. Toilet was of a surprisingly decent size and included a bathtub/shower. There was no significant view out the window, other than a neighboring building. Street noise was not an issue during our stay.||Also, not surprisingly, there was evidence of wear and tear, especially in the furnishings. The bathtub enamel showed a lot of chipping.||Definitely consider exploring the hotel if time allows. The hallways featured framed copies of the cover of the New Yorker magazine. The magazine had been founded about a century echo by one of the members of the famed Round Table. They were a group of New York City writers, critics, actors and actresses, playrights and journalists. There is definitely a lot of history to be appreciated at...