Riff Hotel Chelsea

“Weekend Stay - Good and Bad”

Just got back from a weekend in NYC. A friend had booked the room so I wasn't sure what to expect. I love to travel and have stayed at luxury hotels to dumps. So I can deal with whatever the situation gives me. I knew we were only here for 2 nights. Upon arrival, entering thru a red awning, we we… more

Just got back from a weekend in NYC. A friend had booked the room so I wasn't sure what to expect. I love to travel and have stayed at luxury hotels to dumps. So I can deal with whatever the situation gives me. I knew we were only here for 2 nights. Upon arrival, entering thru a red awning, we were unsure if we were at the entrance, but we buzzed to get in and up the steps you go, still unsure we were at the right place. At the top of the steps, finally see a check-in area and ask if we are at the right place. We were greeted with a smile. The area seemed a little rundown, so my expectations started to become lower. There is a large patio area off the check in area which if was fixed up would be a nice area to relax. Maybe in the summer it would appear nicer. Weather was not good, so I wasn't so concerned with this outdoor area this trip. We had no trouble checking in and were given our keys and to our Room 207 we went. We were on the same floor as check in so that was nice. Walking to the room, I notice narrow halls, lots of doors, bathroom signs (I had been told they had shared bathrooms, but we had room with private bath - I think I would have drawn the line with a shared bathroom in NYC). The floors are noticeably uneven. Entered room to find a rather large room. 2 double beds and a couch and a private bathroom. Floors in room were also uneven, carpet was old, but seemed clean and no odors which was good. We checked beds as we do everywhere we stay. Bed linens appeared clean. Decor was their take on modern, black, white, gray, with pop of red. Plastic tables and chairs. Wall paper or it may have actually been contact paper on the walls and the doors seemed to have needed some replacement in place. We headed out for the night. I would have to say the best thing about the hotel is the location. Madison Square Gardens, Penn Station, Empire State Building, Times Square, restaurants. Upon returning to the hotel that night we noticed leaking in the ceiling in our bathroom right above the toilet. We went and told them and they switched us to another room 407. The 4 of us packed our stuff up and climbed 2 flights of steps to the 4th floor. Narrow stars, hallways and uneven floors are common throughout the hotel. We reached our new room and was pretty much identical to our first. New room may have been a little less run down. Decor the same. Bathroom is very basic, toilet, small sink and bathtub. Lighting could be better in the bathroom. Water was warm for the first 5 minutes of show and then cool water rest of the way. I would say that would have also been a deal breaker if I was staying more than a couple days. There were 4 of us and we each had the same experience with the shower and water temperature. Made for fast showers I guess. My other issue, although this one really isn't an issue with the hotel themselves, the noise at nights were constant and we could hear everything, made for not much sleep. The only thing that I see that could help this would to stay somewhere that had more floors and staying on a very high floor any maybe better windows. But be prepared if staying in room that looks out over the street. So our stay came to end and time to checkout - was easy, refund they took upon check in was returned to our account. We used ICON parking down the block to park so we were off to get our car, another plus again has to do with location, if you are driving into the city, this hotel is literally 2 blocks from road to take you to Lincoln Tunnel and out of the city. Overall, our stay was good, we had a great time in NYC. Not much time was spent in our hotel room so that always factors into my rating. Best things about the hotel, easy access if driving into City, LOCATION, ease of check in and check out, accommodated us when we had a problem with our room. My least favorite things, water temperature for showers, curb appeal was terrible, (the storefront along the sidewalk was is terrible shape and looked like it had been vandalized - definitely not a good impression), hotel as a whole was just a little run down (but I realize price and location my overcome this fact) and noise at night. I was torn between giving a a poor or average overall rating but had to go with average - I asked myself would I stay here again and the answer is yes. For a short period stay and having a private bath - I would stay here again. Just go in with an open mind and know you are not staying in a 5 or even 4 star hotel.

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