Helmsley Middletowne Hotel

The bottom line: We were lucky enough to stay during renovations. The prices were rock bottom, but the rooms have already been renovated. The staff is horrible. If I had to pay full price I would NOT go there.
The pro’s: The rooms are very nice. They are modern and spacious and comfortable. The shower is huge. The location is very convenient for people who are visiting Manhattan.
The con’s: The staff is horrible. We have stayed here twice already (through HotWire). The staff has been horrible both times. The receptionists (several of them) are impolite and inpatient. The person helping with the bags almost put his hand in my pocket to get a tip and bluntly implied that he would not take good care of my bags if I did not tip him. Finally — There is no free WiFi (not even in the lobby). This is 2012. What is that?!

This is one of the famous Helmsley hotels! I used to stay here as a kid and I always wanted to interrupt Leonna yelling at a bell hop or maid or something. I never saw her. These were always okay rooms, but it is an old building. They are small by modern standards, even by New York standards. The showers are awful and inconsistent. The water will be so cold and then so hot that I would take sailer showers. I don’t think I’ve ever taken such quick showers in my life. I would be Unilocaling and screaming the whole time.
I’ve stayed at several hotels in Manhattan and this has been one of the worst, but for some reason it’s my favorite. I love the neighborhood. Even though it’s midtown and everything closes early… I love walking around this neighborhood late at night. It’s very convenient to everything. It’s very close to Grand Central Station so it’s a straight shot on the subway to almost all the tourist stuff.

Wow, my experience here was nothing like Kathleen’s. I guess this hotel is hit or miss. I was staying with a friend whose company put him up here… he chose the hotel. The hotel was def on the older side, but I didn’t have all the dirt and grime and unkept room like Kathleen’s photos show. Thank goodness, or I would have done the same thing as her. I had no idea the prices were as high as what she stated… as I didn’t ask how much it was costing my friend.
I would say that the hotel was convenient to a lot of things, which was a plus… but for $ 300 I wouldn’t stay here… and if you did think about staying here, I would ask them to see the room first.

I don’t consider myself to be very high-​maintenance, but I just could not stay here. I checked in and checked out the next day. Maybe it was just my room, but it was dirty and in need of a renovation decades ago. Carpet was old, paint was peeling, everything was grimy and it felt like I was staying at someone’s grandmother’s house that has not been «refreshed» in 30 years. Curtains were broken, walls stained, AC unit filled with years of accumulated dirt. I will say that the staff were very nice, which is why I give it 2 stars instead of 1. But for $ 300+ a night, you can stay at a number of places nearby and get a much nicer room.