We visited New York with our two children in their 20's for our son's 21st birthday celebration.
Overall the Excelsior is OK but the rooms we stayed in (902 and 906) were very dated. We had two single beds in each room and they were probably the smallest beds that we had slept in in New York and the bedspreads were like something your granny would have on her bed! On each bed there was just a sheet and the granny's bedspread with just one blanket in the cupboard. I guess if we had needed another blanket then we could have got one, but for New York in December a sheet and thin bedspread is really not adequate.
The heating in the rooms was a frankly nightmare; either far too hot, too cold or too noisy. it was really impossible to get the temperature right. The windows were very drafty. The bathrooms however were spotlessly clean, but the bath tub did look quite small - not really big enough to lie down in although none of us tried.
The point is that any hotel you stay in in NYC is just to sleep in and for the price we paid for this hotel was a good base, but we have stayed in much better 4 star hotels in NYC - The Waldorf, Sheraton Towers, Barclay Intercontinental - which were much plusher with much better public areas, better bedrooms, much better beds and closer to the action.
The location is fine being just a block from Central Park and the nearest subway station (81st Street) was on the corner, so if you have bought an unlimited 7 day Metrocard for $27 you will get your money's worth.
There were lots of good eateries in Amsterdam Avenue and good places for early morning coffee and muffins a short walking distance from the hotel, and also breakfast diners.
Would I recommend the Excelsior? If you are on a budget it is cheaper than the 4 Star hotels nearer the action but if we had the choice we would not book there again. It was perfectly adequate but not particularly luxurious.
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