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Thanks @JDB. Tbf we’ve always had a good experience most recently at The Willard. It’s also her birthday so she gets first dibs on hotel picks and as you say IC Barclay is a marked hotel so will have upped their game.
The Willard is very special! It does vary, though, I was blown away by the level of service at the ICPL, not so much at The George (though that may have been because they’d recently sacked all their staff or something!). The IC Boston gave us a magnificent suite but it felt like we were in a residential building; apart from a receptionist and concierge tucked away in the corner of the lobby, there wasn’t much evidence of staff presence)!
From what I’ve seen I would probably opt for the Barclay if choosing an NYC IC, but as someone else said, I’m very much deterred by recent reports of the state of the place (which tbh seems to apply to a lot of US cities just now).
It seems unfortunate that apparently having this lofty ‘Platinum Ambassador’ status appears to limit one either to hotels with a known risk of Legionnaire’s disease or one in squalid location. If one wishes to travel to NYC at all, there is a whole universe of decent hotels.
It’s all very well being dismissive of others who travel less than you and I do but my friend bought Ambassador membership with a view to using her Ambassador weekend night at the Barclay. She’s unlikely to be staying in an IC elsewhere as her travelling is limited being the sole carer for handicapped daughter.
It seems unfortunate that apparently having this lofty ‘Platinum Ambassador’ status appears to limit one either to hotels with a known risk of Legionnaire’s disease or one in squalid location. If one wishes to travel to NYC at all, there is a whole universe of decent hotels.
It’s all very well being dismissive of others who travel less than you and I do but my friend bought Ambassador membership with a view to using her Ambassador weekend night at the Barclay. She’s unlikely to be staying in an IC elsewhere as her travelling is limited being the sole carer for handicapped daughter.
I wasn’t being dismissive of anyone, but was merely highlighting the apparent absurdity of having a card status that provides such limited options so as to be a positive disadvantage in a city that has so many 4* hotel options. Those not on that treadmill appear better off. Also, in your post, you didn’t say your friend was attempting to use an Ambassador weekend night certificate which is why more than one poster suggested other IHG options.
There’s a new Kimpton opening in NYC, can’t remember the date.
The Kimpton Theta – opens in November
NYC is not a city where I would restrict myself to only using a specific brand let alone buying something like AMB which severely limits hotel choice when using the certificate.
I wouldn’t have bought AMB in your friends circumstances where they don’t / can’t travel a lot.
I’ve just done a dummy booking for the Barclay using a couple of random dates and the hotel does not appear to offer accessable rooms with e.g. roll in shower etc which may be a requirement for her and her daughter.
And I really don’t think @JDB was being dismissive but just providing a good piece of advice / sense check to look at the pros and cons of paying cold hard cash for something like AMB when it may not actually be the best thing to buy when those $200 would be better spent at a more suitable hotel.
My friend has stayed at a couple of ICs over the years – the last one was in Malta so it’s not that she doesn’t travel. She bought Ambassador before that stay.
Her daughter is mentally disabled so doesn’t need an accessible room.
Recently stayed at Times Square IC on points , as I have points to burn, not 5 star and wouldn’t stay again.
No regcognition of platimun ambassedor status, as the hotel was full, put in a second floor room with a view of air conditioning units.
No free water in room, and lobby is essentially Holiday Inn level. Door staff uninterested in helping with luggage or opening doors.On a postive note, the room size was reasonable and quiet.
And Times Square is rough as, at least it’s central.No free water per se in IC Barclay either. They instruct you to take it from the mini bar and that all will be adjusted off your bill upon check out. I never chance it as I always end up red penning my bill at the Barclay.
There’s sufficient branches of Duane Reade and CVS within view of the Barclay to cater to my water needs. Big gallon bottle with carry handle; one type of which I find is always sold at a very low price – but the type changes week to week.
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