As soon as I booked my ticket to the US, I knew I wanted to go to NYC and just experience the city all by myself. It took my parents, especially my dad, quite some time to say yes to the idea (I use the “I’m-freaking-24-years-old-and-it-will-only-be-for-a-few-days" line) of me going around the oh, so big and scary Big Apple. But eventually, they did say yes.
Despite being in NYC for only three short days, I got to stay
in two very different hotels. The first one was Marrakech Hotel in the Upper
West Side.
Their website was convincing enough but what really made me
hit that BOOK button was the $29 price tag. Yup, you read that right. I
got a $29 Queen Room (good for 4 people, yo!) in the UWS in late May. The
sweetest deal I’ve ever seen! Unfortunately, it wasn’t their standard rate. For
some crazy and unexplainable reason, their reservations system had, what I
could only think of as, a typographical error for that exact night I was
coming. The price read $29 when it should have been $229, like the rest of the
nights that followed. I guess, I just got lucky!
Anyway, if you’re looking for a luxurious hotel (and Egyptian cotton sheets), then look away from
the Marrakech Hotel.
What did I like about it?
-
Big rooms and soft beds
-
Has its own bathroom and it’s
clean
-
TV has several channels
-
Quiet—I didn’t hear any
noise from the streets
-
Staff is quite nice and helpful
-
Good location – generally
safe neighborhood, Subway 1 (103 st.) and Starbucks are a few steps away and Central Park is just 5 minutes away
What did I not like about it?
-
No elevators (not really a
huge problem because really, how many hotels in Manhattan have one anyway?)
-
Hallways and rooms are
generally dark
-
Room carpet, I felt, was
not quite squeaky clean (just bring and wear your slippers)
-
No refrigerator in the room
Will I stay here again?
Yes, if I chance upon a good price again. But I won’t pay
$200 for it.
My second hotel was The Jane in the West Village. I paid more
than what I wanted but I chose it because of its charm, history and
neighborhood. I got the Standard Cabin for $125, without taxes.
What did I like about it?
-
Neighborhood—comparing it
to UWS, the West Village is more young and hip. Restaurants and bars are
everywhere. There are a couple of parks, too. Oh, and did I mention there’s a
nearby Barney’s Co-Op (with GORGEOUS sales staff!) and a Magnolia Bakery (quite a disappointment
though).
-
Rooms are cute and very affordable.
-
Café Gitane, which serves delicious
Moroccan fare, is located in the lobby.
What did I not like about it?
- No elevators (surprise,
surprise-- NOT!)
- Courteous and helpful staff
- Small rooms – yes, it’s
cute but it’s TINY. If you’re taller than 5’5”, then you’ll probably be uncomfortable
in the bed
- Shared bathrooms—I
knew this from the very start and I thought I was fine with it, but I realized
I wasn’t when I got there.
- Nearest subway station is
quite a walk
Will I stay here again?
Yes, but I’d make sure I get it during the low season for a
better price.
