I was a regular at the W Union Square for years. It was cool and they basically established a trend... it's over now.
Shortly after the sale (at a record per-room price, I believe) the place starting going down hill FAST. Clearly, the new owners overpaid and where trying to squeeze every dime out of the place. Glasses in the room replaced with plastic cups; the towls were worn out, thin, had fringed edges and one had hole in it; the furnture, which used to have a cool dark black/brown stain was painted with black lacquer-- ala a second-rate budget hotel; and, after all this stuff had me fuming, I get into bed and the sheet had a cigarette burn hole in it!
To be honest, it made me very sad, because they clearly let it happen. I tried to point this out to management, and while helpful, they clearly didn't care. I'm not a total snub, but for 800 bucks+ a night (for superior, extra big room), I need to feel at least a little luxury.
There are a gazillion better places in the area for that kind of money. My new hangout: The Gramercy Park Hotel-- casually plush and small enough to have a staff that truely cares.
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