We booked 2 rooms at the Pensylvania over the internet and got a great deal. We then read some of the reviews on this site and wondered what we had done. On arriving we were ready to ask for rooms on a higher floor straight away as we heard thats where the refurbishing had been done but we had been booked into the 15th floor so thought we would give it a try first, as the young chinese girl on the desk was very pleasent and helpful ( as others had commented ) and we had not had to wait very long to see her which was a good start.
On stepping out of the lift we found the decor and carpeting to be shabby so were a bit apprehensive but carried to see what was in store. On reaching the first room we opened the door to see the room was also shabby but seemed fairly clean and quite a good size. I then opened the blind and werestunned by the view - straight across the rooftops to the Empire State Building most unexpected and suddenly the aprehension dissappeared. The second room had the same view and although shabby was also plenty large enough and clean. We stayed for 4 nights and found the room had been cleaned when we came back in the evenings and all the towels changed and the beds made up so there were no complaints on that score. The showers are the fiercest I have ever come across but certainly wake you up and tone your skin. We tried the restaraunt on the first night but would not recomend it as there are so many cheaper places within a few hundred yards giving better sevice and as good if not better food. ( for breakfast turn right outside the doors, cross the road and there are several small places serving anything you could want between them at very reasonable prices.
The location is superb - you can walk to Time Square, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Macys - next door, The Heliport, United Nations building etc + the station is only a matter of feet from the entrance so anywhere in Manhatten is accessable - easily.
All in all we really enjoyed our stay and were not let down by the hotel. I think if you have stayed in old hotels in europe you will know what to expect and not be too dissapointed - we wouldn't pay double the price for better decor and newer carpet.
We can understand why there are complaints as we moved on to Washington and stopped in the Red Roof Inn in Chinatown which is fairly new and has massive rooms - definatly a step up and no more expensive - but the streets of Chinatown in Washington are much more threatening at night than those of Manhatton so there are drawbacks to eveything.
NB as we moved out of the Pensylvania the workmen were moving onto our floor with what looked like new cupboards etc so things may be getting better
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