OverviewLocated less than a 1-minute walk from the 51st St. subway entrance on Midtown Manhattan's east side, the Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel is suitable for business or vacation travellers who require a centrally located hotel with meeting/banquet space, a breakfast restaurant and easy access to public transit.
Each of the hotel's air-conditioned guest rooms and suites offers cable TV, a laptop safe, a desk, a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board. Rooms with a balcony, a separate bedroom and a living area with a sofabed are also available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms. In-room Wi-Fi is an additional $14.95 per device, per day and all rooms are non-smoking.
Hotel amenities include a fitness centre, 12,000 square feet of meeting/banquet space, room service, a business centre, a barber/beauty shop, guest laundry, a gift shop, a bar and on-site dining at the Met Grill, which serves breakfast daily. Self-parking is $43 per day with no in/out privileges, and $15 extra for SUVs. Pets are permitted for $100 per pet, per stay.
Times Square is about a 6-minute drive away, while Bloomingdales is 10 minutes away on foot. Central Park is roughly a 20-minute trip via public transit and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) can be found 15 to 20 minutes away by car. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Wi-Fi, parking, pets, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: November 2, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's location, staff and rooms.
The hotel's location was praised by numerous guests, who found it close to the subway, the Empire State Building, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue shopping and Central Park. One lodger noted, "The location is perfect for exploring Manhattan - many choices of restaurants and shopping, and a nice walk to Central Park, Rockefeller Square, Grand Central Station and so forth".
Many reviewers complimented the hotel's staff, characterizing them as friendly, efficient, professional and accommodating. One patron remarked, "The location & staff is the number one seller hands down. From Taryn at the front desk always being on point, handling all of my accommodations, being professional & ensuring customer satisfaction. Even the housekeeping is superb when staying multiple days".
Several travellers were pleased with their lodgings at the hotel. They described their rooms as clean, spacious, bright, quiet and well equipped, with great city views and comfortable beds and linens. A few lodgers had complaints about their accommodations, however (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the rooms and the added costs.
Although the majority of reviewers were pleased with their clean and comfortable accommodations, a few patrons had complaints. They reported no in-room fridges or coffeemakers, dated decor and small-sized rooms. Noise transfer from guests in the hallways and overhead rooms was also reported by a few lodgers.
A few travellers were disappointed with the added costs they incurred during their stay. They found the additional Wi-Fi and baggage storage fees to be expensive, and felt they should have been included in their stay. The hotel's breakfast and rates were also considered overpriced by a few guests.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4 out of 5 with an 87% recommendation rate from 4,362 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #263 of 439 New York City hotels with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 from 2,489 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 7.6 out of 10 from 428 reviews.
The author called the hotel on November 2, 2013 to verify some information.