All Hilton Garden Inns are NOT created equal
I have stayed at Hilton Garden Inns before, but the stay at this hotel was so-so at best. The staff at the front desk was rude upon arrival - we arrived 30 minutes before check in time, and was rudely told that although I had requested early check in, I could not be accomodated because there were Hilton Honors reservations who had not yet arrived and who would bump me for the available rooms. Why even offer early check in as an option? We were not even that early. The rude attitude is what put me off the most, and what prompts my "poor" rating.
The room itself was OK - larger than some I have been in. But the bedspread was pilly and looked old - just in need of replacing. The coffepot needed a good scrubbing. Other than that, the room was clean enough.
The location of the hotel is reasonably close to the subway lines, but the surrounding area is nothing great. It seemed conjested and harder to get around the big plant displays put out by the shops on the street. We ended up walking a while before we found a reasonable place to catch a bite (there is a McDonalds on the corner, but no close Starbucks or bagel shops). To end the stay, it took ONE HOUR to retrieve our car by the "valet service" because of the street/shopowner/construction activity going on in front of the hotel.
The rude attitude of the front desk person and the so-so accomodations and surrounding area puts this hotel in the "do not return" column for me. The Hilton Garden Inn 35th Street is just 7 blocks north, and a much better place to stay on all counts.