I FELT FLEECED AND DISRESPECTED
Wow, I have stayed in hotels all over the world and have a certain loyalty to the Hilton brand as a HiltonHonors member, but fortunately my experience at this Doubletree was an anomaly. As a prelude to my description, it should be known that I paid over $400 for this room. As I rolled my suitcase into the obscure and tacky entrance, my attention was drawn to the huskers outside trying to push flyers and advertisements into my face. Two elevators sit in an empty hallway and a guard of some sort sits at a desk reading a newspaper. No one greeted me, no one offered to help me with my luggage, and no one directed me to the lobby. Once the elevator did open to the lobby, I was completely confused by a busy and complicated design. The check in desk was located far to the left, and after freezing in dismay for a minute, I navigated to the correct place. The front desk clerk was polite, but cold and handed me the key for my room and the Doubletree cookies. No one was around to direct me to my room or help with the luggage. The accommodation was quite commodious with 2 TVs, a living room and a bedroom, and a large bathroom with an expansive counter surprisingly consisting of one sink. The decor could be described as "builder grade bland." Without the hubbub of Times Square looming out the window, I could be in a Motel 6. Speaking of Times Square, this will certainly be the last time I stay any where near this iconic location. It has become a Carny's vision of Disneyland and gives tacky a bad name. The over priced and lousy attractions, restaurants, bars, and shops are all designed to rip off tourists and provide anything but a New York experience. I would prefer the pimps, dealers, and drug addicts of the past. At least they rang with some degree of authenticity. Times Square is not New York City! My horrific stay at this Doubletree was given emphasis when I returned to the hotel at about midnight. I entered the revolving door and was immediately verbally accosted by the guard sitting in front of the elevators. In a loud, accusatory voice he demanded to see my key. I am all for security but seriously now, I'm 62 years old, wearing a Canali suit and I obviously was not trying to sneak into a Doubletree Guest Suite Hotel. I was searching for my key card and this guard began telling me to leave if I did not belong there. It wasn't like I was trying to steal a meal at Le Bernardin! Other people walked through the revolving door to the elevators and this Gestapo guard never asked for their keys. Finding my key card was actually hampered by my agitation caused by this confrontation. The guard was screaming at me for at least five minutes. I was certainly embarrassed and mortified. Finally I found the key buried amongst my credit cards, and I was permitted to take the elevator up to the lobby. Perhaps this is the way the Doubletree extracts more funds since I was so upset, I needed to stop at the lobby bar for a drink. Suffuce it to say, I will not even come near this hotel again. The next three nights I had a fantastic stay at the Conrad downtown. It made up for this horrific experience.