Classic Hotel with Great Location - Wished the Service Matched!
We stayed there last week - a fairly good rate given the reputation of the hotel, but still pricey. We received an AMEX upgrade to a suite, which was fine until the middle of the night when the air conditioning started to pound. This was loud, like someone trying to ax their way into the room. I called the operator, but did not want an engineer in the room at 1 am, so we endured with the promise that it would be corrected the next day. Of course, you know what happened - no one came to fix it. All was quiet until the middle of the night, then it started again. The next day, we asked to switch rooms after the engineer said that it was air in the pipes that would take half a day to correct. Unfortunately, the suites like ours had been taken so we were moved to another floor, where the roof caused the room to have an unusual configuration. It was larger than the first, but dark and less inviting. My real complaint is the service of the hotel with a couple of exceptions. The check-in was nice and Waheed, the bellman, was very helpful during our stay. However, room service was terrible. For a $100 continental breakfast for two, you would think that they would set up the tables for you and act happy about their included gratuity. However, they were surly and seemed to think that I was doing them a favor. Also, one would expect the danishes/croissants to be warm at that price - not at the Plaza where they were cold despite us requesting them to be hot after the first day. Additionally, the doormen were among the worst that I have ever seen in Manhattan. NOT ONCE, did they open the door or operate the revolving door for me or my family. When we arrived, the driver had to yell at them to get their attention for the bags. They just were not as friendly and professional as one would expect.
I have stayed at the Plaza before, prior to the remodel, and can honestly say that it is a beautiful property. However, my recent stays at the St Regis and particularly, The Pierre, were better because of the service. The Plaza just didn't perform in that area, and I wouldn't return as a result.