Best View I've EVER had!
I chose this hotel because it is the closest hotel to my old apartment. I moved out of NY a year ago, and miss it terribly. I wanted to be right back where I used to live. I was a little hesitant about the Beacon, because I had been in there years ago. And I mean over 20 years ago, and it wasn't very nice. But it has REALLY changed!!! It's VERY nice!!! Let me break it down from the big picture to the small details.
Location: Perfect for me. I love the Upper West Side. I spend most of my time in Central Park (walking, photographing, running, bird watching, people watching, going to the zoo, bike riding, exploring, etc). My goal when I lived in NY was to live as close to Fairway (a unique grocery store) as humanly possible. The Beacon is right across the street. And the Beacon has kitchens in each room, so I actually did buy food at Fairway and prepared it in my room. But back to the location description. 75th and Broadway is the epicenter of 3 amazing cupcake shops, a famous bakery, Fairway, Zabars, Juice Generation (great smoohties), Harry's Burritos, Big Nicks, Shake Shack, the Park, three excellent gyms and a couple great yoga places. If your vacation plans don't revolve around food and exercise, you'll think that list was strange. But for me, it was perfect. It was like being home. I should also mention Lincoln Center and the Natural History museum are very close by. All the museums on the East Side are walkable through the park. If you're more into the downtown scene/night life or Broadway, maybe it's not for you. But hey, the subway is RIGHT THERE, so transportation is convenient.
Hotel: The lobby, staff, elevators were all superior for a non-brand hotel.
Hallways: Carpeted, fairly quiet, wide and clean.
Rooms. Bright, clean, newly remodeled, spacious, welcoming, pleasing finishes, comfortable. Each room (as far as I know) has a kitchen (with dishes/pots and pans),a safe, tv, free wifi, extra blankets, good toiletries, ironing board, luggage rack, comfortable beds and pillows. Our room was amazing. It was room 2112, on the 21st floor. It was a corner room with a view I could NOT keep my eyes off of. One window faced Central Park and the East side. One faced downtown. We had views of Times Square, The Chrysler Building, Broadway (the street) and the Ansonia-which is a gorgeous building, and on the East, views of some of my very favorite architecture (the San Remo!), Citicorp, the Sherry Netherland and that glorious Park. We slept with the blinds open. We watched the sun rise over the buildings, We couldn't stop looking or taking pictures. I had lived in NY 10 years, in many apartments, and I never had a view like that. 
BTW there were also windows in the kitchen and Bathroom.The one in the bathroom opened.
I will ALWAYS stay at this hotel when I'm in NY. I think, over the years, I've stayed in almost every hotel that city has to offer, including the Plaza and the Waldorf, and this was by far, my favorite.