Wellington Hotel

Usually stay at the Hilton which is just one avenue over and costs around twice as much for this trip. So, as money was tight for the trip, I chose a week at the Wellington. Location is great and delis, diners and shops are all on your doorstep. Central Park and Rockerfella Plaza are a few minutes away and Times Square is not much further... you can see it from the hotel. :-) Our room was dark and dingy. Sheets were clean and fresh towels provided every day but the general feel for the hotel and bathroom was very, VERY tired. As a base, it served a purpose but it was hardly luxury.

Steve T, West Midlands
Young Couple (18-35)

Ideally placed for walking to most venues.  Decor in rooms a bit basic and air-con didn't work during 100 degree weather in June.  Stage Deli opposite make amazing (HUGE) sandwiches.  Big Apple open top buses are a great way to see New York on hop-on/off basis and you can buy a weekly pass.  We loved Battery Park and South Street Seaport. We also did the boat trip around Manhattan which is interesting.

Sandra Stagg, Berkshire UK
Mature Couple (36+)

Really great location, with all the principal subway's lines just around the corner or at the other side of the road.
It's also few steps away from Central Park, Rockfeller Center, Time Square and Broadway.
We had a quadruple suite at the 12th floor. The rooms was not like the Hilton's but tidy, comfortable, and with all the facilities that a standard room need. One bedroom (with one double bed and a single bed in) and a large livingroom (with a double bed/sofa) with one television per room, one bathroom (in my opinion too small for a room that can guest up to 5 people) fully equipped with hairdrier, there were also kitchen facilities with fridge, microwave and coffeemaker.
We had just a little bit of background noise from outside (surely not much as at the 2nd floor): anyway we were in the heart of Manhattan and not in the Grand Canyon and keeping the A/C on was enough to cover the noise!!
Very friendly and helpfully staff that help us to find a place that we were searching for dinner.
Internet Access available in the lobby and the price is about 1$ for 4 minutes: then more you buy... more you save!
Inside the hotel there is also a souvenir shop.
The hotel's restaurant seems good but we have never been there. There's also a Starbucks' coffee in front of the hotel and a great cheescake restaurant just a couple of minute walk from the hotel!
I will come back to Manhattan and I surely come back to the Wellington.

Enrico, Venice / Italy
Group of Young Friends/Couples

the wellington hotel is a basic hotel in a very central location,clean rooms,friendly staff. ideal for a short stay in a bustling city like new york.we enjoyed our stay there and would book it again on any future visit.
noel & betty adamson

noel adamson, dublin/ireland
Mature Couple (36+)

Rooms: A bit small and a bit rough around the edges but quite adequate if you are on a holiday and out most of the time.

Hotel: Lobby, lifts etc. are not the flashiest around but fit for purpose.

Staff: Friendly and helpful.

Location: Great - a short walk to Times Square and Central Park.

Summary: No comlaints. Ideal as a reasonably-priced (for New York), tourist-class hotel with a great location.

Eugene McGovern, Dublin / Ireland
Mature Couple (36+)

The Wellington is situated between Times Square and Central Park with a subway station nearby - an ideal location. Our booking was for 2 rooms with twin beds - the teenagers weren't over-struck on the idea of sharing double with their mums!- but unfortunatly, our request wasn't received by the hotel. I'd recommend you take your original e-mail with any special requests on it, as well as the accommodation voucher. They were too busy to change our rooms on the first night, so we had to put up with two doubles. Also, one was in a smoking room - make sure you specify if you DON'T want smoking. Smoking rooms had a view straight into another apartment block too - worth avoiding. However, the next day we were given twin rooms. These were fine - rather shabby, but clean, with all the things we needed - hairdyers, guidebooks, TV, phone etc. The beds were clean but short (I'm 5 feet 10.) I rang down for more towels and these appeared straight away.The shower was great - so powerful it almost stung!

The staff were very friendly and obliging, especially the doormen who told our girls about where to go in New York, where to avoid, and were generally really chatty and helpful.

The breakfast cafe within the hotel was always too packed - we didn't want to queue - but there were lots of reasonably priced diners nearby. The general area felt safe even late at night, and we were happy to walk around after dark.

One more tip - if your trip is 2 weeks away, book a "Greeter"- these are New Yorkers who show you around an area free of charge, and help you to get to know a place from a local's view. Find them at bigapplegreeter.org Also, take the free ferry to Staten Island, not the pricey Statue of Liberty cruises. Shopping was best in Chinatown for bargains - 5th Avenue was strictly for window shopping!

Caroline, Essex/England
Family with teenagers 12+

The location of the Wellington is excellent. It's in the Theatre District, close to Times Square and Central Park.

The staff are very friendly and efficient.

The lobby is a lot more impressive than the rest of the hotel, but was always crowded and waiting for the lift could be a lengthy process.

The room we stayed in was not a bad size for a New York hotel, but it would not compare favourably with the size of rooms in other cities. Although the room was kept clean it had a dingy feel and was well overdue for refurbishment. There was no air conditioning and the ventilation was poor which gave the room a damp mouldy smell especially in the bathroom.

This hotel is OK to stay in for just a few days, but we would not choose to stay there again.

Clair, Cambridge, England
Young Couple (18-35)

Even though we had prepaid reservations, twice confirmed by phone before our late arrival, they did not hold the room for us and when we showed up after midnight there was no room available. On the other hand, they did put us up across the street at a luxury hotel for that night. The only thing wrong with that is that the next day the room at the Wellington seemed so much more dingy. For whatever reason, they upgraded us to a much better room with queen bed, minimal kitchenette (sink, microwave, fridge but no utensils or table) and additional sofa bed for the same price WITHOUT us asking for it. The rooms at the Wellington are average for New York, where many, many hotels are horrid and only some are outstanding. The hotel is old, feels old and looks old. There are 3 lifts, not two, and though they are slow they always arrived quickly in the five days we were there. The lobby is ample, posh and well climatized but the lifts and hallways NOT at all. The room ventilation system was primitive but still adequate in the very hot N. Y. days. The bathroom was clean and adequate, though minimal. But for the price we got through Alpharooms, the whole deal was a bargain. And the location is GREAT!. We loved the street level cafe, for its quick and friendly service, its reasonable prices and very decent cafeteria-style food. The hotel staff was courteous and helpful. Save your money staying at the Wellington and spend it on other things like the street fair every summmer Sunday at the hotel's doorstep.

Gus , Los Alamitos, California
Group of Young Friends/Couples

We had read some bad reports about the Wellington, but were really pleased at the very nice room allocated to us. We did upgrade to one which had a small kitchenette and it was ideal for relaxing after a busy day sightseeing. Rooms in New York seem to be generally very small, but the upgrade will ensure you have 'room to swing a cat'. Or put your feet up and have a nice glass of wine!

sandra wyper, England
Other

If location is what you are looking for in a hotel in New York then the Wellignton is definately a good choice!  Being located on 7th avenue between Times Square and Central Park is great.  There is also a subway station on the street very close by, which is very convenient!  The hotel staff were friendly and helpful.  The double room we stayed in was fairly small and the bed was a bit short.  The room was clean and comfortable enough however for a three day stay

All in all for a short stay the Wellignton will satisfy most - just don't expect the Plaza.

David, Canberra Australia
Other