Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan
1605 Broadway New York NY 10019 USA Toll-free: (USA only) +1 800 243 6969 Tel: +1 212 9774000 Fax: +1 212 3337393 E-mail: info@cpmny.com Web site: www.manhattan.crowneplaza.com
The taxi drove through the center of the building to an arrival station for the Crowne Plaza which is a building towering 42 floors into the sky. Greeted by a bellman who took my bags I was shown an elevator to go up to the lobby. The registration desk was at the top of the escalator and within a few seconds I was completing the check-in process, which was very efficient. I was allocated Room 2814 on the 28th floor. The bellman agreed to take me to the room with my luggage. There are two sets of lifts, one for floors up to level 27, and one for floor 28 and above. My room was near the lift and I was shown in by the bellman who was courteous and knew the rooms amenities well. The room overlooked city buildings and in the background was the Hudson River. The windows opening on to the view (three of them) covered the width of the room and about 60% of the height. The room was quite plain and lacked any color and even the four prints, all of New York City scenes, were in black and white. The wallpaper throughout the room was a single beige color, the drapes were a vague patterned beige color, the window frames were beige. The carpet was a beige and grey in an alternating pattern of a symbol which looked like the Hilton logo. The bed coverings were beige and brown. There was a vague red color armchair. The timber furnishings were all in a light color timber finish. There was a very large bed head which was just plain timber. It carried two bed lamps, each of which went off at an angle away from the bed. As they were fixed they were not really in a position to aid someone reading in bed (or barely so). There were two plain timber bedside tables, each had one drawer and a shelf. On one of them was a phone and a writing pad and pen with telephone directories on the shelf. On the other there was a clock radio. Facing the window was a nicely shaped desk with its own lamp and telephone and an excellent swivel chair on wheels. The phone had a modem for internet connection. However even though you might connect through your local providor locall calls are charged at $1.30 for the first 3 minutes and 10 cents a minute thereafter. In the center of the room facing the bed was a very large cabinet. Down the center were three very large drawers and to the right was a snack bar (snacks and beverages) for which there was a separate key provided at checkin. To the left was a cupboard door which appeared as though it was (meant to be) permanently locked. In the first of the three drawers was a safe where you swiped your credit card to open or close it. This is not a charging mechanism, it is a security means to access the safe. On top of the cabinet was a further nicely built cabinet which houses a TV and a keyboard for 'On Command'. There was also an ice bucket. Ice was available from a machine close to the room, and I understand there is an ice machine on each floor. The wardrobe which is in-between the room and the bathroom has a full length mirror on both doors and is of an adequate size. There is also an iron and a mini ironing board contained there. Aside from being bland (or contemporary as the designer would have preferred) the room somehow appeared to be on an angle. Whether it was the design of the carpet or whatever it was like the hotel was leaning. I paced the room, questioned the housemaid but to no avail. It was an odd and eery feeling that I had about the room, that it was on an angle. In any event I pursued the review to the bathroom not entirely sure the building was to remain upstanding. The bath was full size and contained a shower. The bench space around the basin was excellent. The beige wallpaper extended from the room into the bathroom and there were beige wall tiles and beige (sometimes uneven) floor tiles. The bench top was brightly patterned tan in a tan color. The bath and basis were both white. I sampled the hotel restaurant (there are usually three but on this stay only one was operating). It was called 'Samplings' and was a lively restaurant that looks over the city lights and Broadway. Its a casual restaurant with a contemporary cuisine. A breakfast buffet was served each day from 6.30am to 11am (11.30am on weekends). Lunch and dinner is a la carte and is available from 11.30am until midnight daily.There is also a bar alongside the restaurant which served as the main (only) bar during my stay. It was open daily from 5pm Sunday to Thursday and from 6pm on Friday and Saturday. Drinks and snacks were served up until midnight each night except for Friday and Saturday, when they went until 1am.