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NYT Doesn't Seem to Mind Stay.Hotel's Teensy Rooms

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 157 W. 47th St. [map], New York, ny, United States, 10036
March 2, 2009 at 11:12 AM | by | Comments (0)

We’ve been a bit guarded about Vikram Chatwal’s Stay.Hotel in Manhattan ever since we heard the place was basically a Quality Inn with a souped-up lobby. So we were pretty intrigued by the mostly positive review of Stay in the New York Times this weekend.

Besides the overly punctuated moniker, the biggest gripe we’ve been hearing about Stay is the tiny rooms. NYT’s take? Staying “in a standard room means trading spacious accommodations for state-of-the-art technology.” They also call rooms “improbably small.” (They suggest upgrading to one of the eight rooms with two double beds or 15 with king beds and walk-in closets.)

As for the Quality Inn comparisons, NYT says: “Five stars is a lot to aim for in a former Quality Inn with two slow and awkwardly located elevators, but behind its slick new white facade, Stay manages a hip vibe and professional, friendly service.”

A few more highlights: luxurious custom-woven 300-thread-count sheets from India, Skype and Bluetooth-compatible phones with video (linked to the doorbell!), and generous eggs-bacon-and-toast breakfasts from room service at half the price of shabby options at many luxury hotels. NYT says the T-shaped lobby has a “festive nightclub ambiance,” and the frequented Aspen Social Club off the lobby draws 20something locals (“so you never feel like you’re coming home to an empty house”).

Maybe best of all, though, is the recession’s impact on the room rates, which have dropped from what was meant to be $565 down to $229 (and lower).

[Photo: Robert Caplin for The New York Times]

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