06/10/04

Swimming on the West Side.

by Contributor

The Scene
This Midtown hotel is set on the far West Side of Manhattan, two and a half blocks from Times Square, six blocks from Grand Central Station and conveniently close to the Lincoln Tunnel. But that's not necessarily a good thing. Sandwiched in-between pencil-thin high-rise apartment buildings, it is situated in a surprisingly spartan part of town. The front desk staff is not helpful, and questions about the hotel are answered by pointing to the customer service telephone.

The Details
One of the benefits of staying at this hotel is a heated indoor swimming pool--a rarity in this city. There's also a rooftop sundeck for the warmer months. Rooms are standard and clean. A restaurant serves up adequate fare on the premises. Drivers will enjoy the convenience of a parking garage connected to the building.