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Clarification:: Marrakech Hotel is Not the Four Seasons

Where: 2688 West Broadway [map], New York, ny, United States, 10025

June 28, 2006 at 2:46 PM | 0 Comments

Last month, we trekked up to the upper part of the Upper West Side to check-out a newly renovated hotel, The Marrakech Hotel.

In its former life as the Hotel Malibu, this place was pretty much a hotel for vermin, according to past reviews on TripAdvisor. But the new owners have stripped the place clean, renovating the rooms and all the public spaces. Still, not all the upgrades are complete which is why the hotel is offering a deal of $129 a night.

However, we have recently received some very concerned emails about the reviews on TripAdvisor and whether or not this place is actually good to visit.

Here is the most recent review from June 24, 2006 of a guest who stayed five nights this month.

The room was not a hell hole as many of you describe, it was small, but we had four of us in the same room and we managed just fine. Linens were all frech and bathroom was tidy. No bugs, definately not! We had to ask more towels and got them right away, staff was very kind and helpful also. Location is exellent, metro is just few steps away. Security staff standing outside the hotel all times, front door locked during night time. I felt safe and comfortable.

Another guest who also stayed there in the month of June had this to say:

The staff is extremely helpful and nice. It is very reasonably priced and even though it is not finished and some of the hallways are in bad shape I would stay there again, the rooms are clean and comfortable.

Two of the recent negative reviews center around the lack of elevator in the hotel (which we warned you about) and the lack of modern amenities (which we also mentioned since the hotel doesn't expect to be fully furnished until September.) Another review mentioned bedbugs but we could not figure out when this actually happened. Our guess is sometime when it was still the Malibu or at least in transistion. While we were there we didn't see any rats or bugs.

In the end, this place is probably for the younger set, who's been backpacking through Europe and crashed in hostels before. People on a budget who can "rough it" for a night or two might also be interested in this place since $129 is a great deal for NYC in the summer.

But the Four Seasons this is not. So if you feel uncomfortable taking a risk on the Marrakech, we recommend you book somewhere else. Or at the very least, call the hotel (212-222-2954) to see what rooms are still under renovation. And if you do stay at the Marrakech, then let us know how it went.

Related Stories:
· 'Affordable Chic' at Hotel Marrakech [HotelChatter]
· Marrakech reviews [TripAdvisor]