Astor on the Park

465 Central Park West, New York, NY 10025.  Reservations: 800-695-8284
Voice: 212-866-1880. 

Description

Astor on the Park is a bargain depending on how much you pay for a room and their rates, like all hotel rates, vary.  We performed a Web search for bargain hotels in NYC and found some for as little as $35/night if we were willing to stay in a room without a bath. For slightly more we could have stayed in a room with a shared bath.  Then we found the Astor on the Park for $65/night.  The location was great.  The hotel faces Central Park on the Upper West Side. It is close to a subway stop and to restaurants.

The room

Our room was spare. There was not room enough for a chair. The hotel is old. Its floors are uneven and they creak. We heard every step made by the upstairs guests. There was no closet, only am armoire with barely enough space to hang our winter coats. There was one drawer in the armoire and a couple of cubbyholes. There was no thermostat. A steam radiator controlled by a knob provided heat. The temperature of the room was controlled by opening the window above a window air conditioner. The air conditioner was not sealed well around its enclosure so cold air always leaked into the room. The poor seal also let in street noise. The steam heat was not always available, so maintaining a constant temperature was a challenge. The vibration of passing underground subways was subtly felt three floors up. The view of Central Park view was hindered by a very dirty window.

The bed was a mattress on a solid platform. It was hard, but at least it and the upstairs bed didn't creak. The bed upstairs had creaked we would have heard it. The bottom sheet of the bed was not large enough to tuck into the foot of the bed. Extra pillows were quickly supplied on request. An extra blanket was found in the armoire and it was appreciated.

The bathroom was clean and modern with plenty of hot water. A good quality working hairdryer was attached to the bathroom wall. The bath towels were adequate in size and fluffiness. Although it may seem obvious, the hotel provided wash cloths. Some hotels do not.

The television remote control was broken and the few channels received were poorly received. The value of a television set in a hotel room in a city like New York City is questionable.

Although the reservation services rarely provide the opportunity for special requests, it would be worth the effort to request a high floor and away from the street if quiet is needed. Courtyard rooms overlook a typically dingy dark courtyard with no view and little light.

The service

The hotel staff is international and all speak understandable English. The desk staff were always willing to please and provided accurate help advice about restaurants and directions.  The maids were friendly, courteous, and always willing to help. However, this observation may have been influenced by the Christmas card, monetary gift, and the tin of chocolate chip cookies we left for the maid on Christmas day.

The food

The Astor on the Park serves a continental breakfast for its guests. The breakfast consisted of bagels, coffee (no decaf), and assortment of teas, and orange juice from a carton. Every morning a little game between the staff and guests ensues. The staff puts out just a few bagels so that each person will have just one. Guests rush the buffet and take the bagels. More bagels are then put out. No new bagels are put out until more guests descend the stairs to the tiny basement dining room. An assertive request will cause bagels to appear.

The person who sets up the breakfast buffet constantly refills the fluids and replaces butter, cream cheese, and jelly containers. They also empty the trash by reaching into the trash container and removing the soiled paper plates and cups to stash them in a larger trash bin in closed room. This effort at fastidiousness would be applauded if it weren't for the fact that they don't wash their hands when they returned to put out the bagels one by one. If that were not enough, the wiping cloth used for the counter top is the same one used to wipe up spills from the floor.

Additional services

The hotel will temporarily store suitcases. This service enables maximal sightseeing ours before departure.

Parking is not available at the hotel.  We were directed by the desk staff to park in a commercial garage two blocks away.  The garage charged us $12.95/night. 

Nearby restaurants

The largest concentration of nearby restaurants are on Broadway (4 blocks West ) and Amsterdam (3 blocks West).

Nearby attractions

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine is only about 5 blocks to the northwest and well worth the walk.  They frequently have concerts and other events worth attending.  Arrive early if you want a seat.

Central Park is across the street from the hotel.

Special note for publishers and editors

If you liked this review, it is available for publication in your books and periodicals.  Assignments are welcome.