Reading the other reviews here, you'd think the reviewers must be talking about different properties. In some ways, that's the case -- but they're all behind the door at 1295 Madison. I'm currently finishing up my second stay in the last six months or so at the Hotel Wales -- the first was in November of 2005 -- and I've seen most of the things reported by the other reviewer: the big airy pleasant suites, the tiny, cramped rooms with tiny, cramped bathrooms, the gracious, well-meaning staff who sometimes don't seem to have it all together. My room on my first stay was a two-room suite on the Madison Ave side of the hotel, roomy and pleasant, except for the bathroom which was smallish but comfortable enough. Large walk-in closet, pleasant sitting room with desk, sofa, coffee table, etc. Large comfortable bed with quality bedding. Phone didn't work right, wireless internet access was expensive and spotty. This time around, I got the same dungeon room that another reviewer seems to have had -- an interior room right next to the internal airshaft. Since the weather's been warm this week, that means I've had to have the windows open in order for the room not to be too hot. Tonight, it's not quite enough, and there's no air conditioner in my room. There apparently are in other rooms off this airshaft, however, as I've had to listen to them roaring on and off all evening. I've also just realized that I've had no cell phone reception much of the time, as my wife just contacted me by e-mail to let me know that she's been trying to call me for hours, and my phone hasn't rung once. (There goes someone else's A/C again).
Other glitches included: difficulty getting anyone at the front desk or room service to answer the phone on occasion; calling for the access code for internet access and having the desk clerk tell me he'd call back with it in a few minutes, only to have to call again myself an hour later; insufficient electrical outlets in my current room for a laptop, a cell phone charger, and one other item; and problems sending and receiving critically important faxes on my last trip.
The comment about the on-and-off nature of the continental breakfast and 24-hour coffee in the Pied Piper Room is on target also: at least 3 times in the eight nights or so I've stayed here, the room was unavailable because of a private function, and the breakfast/coffee was either moved elsewhere or was non-existent.
The moral? If you can spring for one of the deluxe or suite rooms, you'll probably have an acceptable or even excellent experience. Try to get by on a budget here, on the other hand, and you'll probably regret it. Since my room was reserved and paid for by the client I work with nearby, I don't have a lot of say in the matter. Since they have a negotiated rate, it's probably not fair to quote the amounts -- I got a very aggressive rate this time, and so the smaller, less pleasant room wasn't a huge surprise; I've paid more for worse in Manhattan. Last time around the rate was at least $100/night more, but I got a lot more for it.
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