Pod Times Square, New York

The service people were polite and helpful. The location was great. What I did not like was my room accommodations needed to be changed for a handicapped person. I called in the morning to make those arrangements. I was assured that the change had been made and had agreed to pay the additional fee for the room. However when I arrived I was told by the night desk person in charge that the room I had booked for was not available. When I explained what I had done he was very ignorant and indignant with me. This forced me to contact the handicapped person to tell him of the situation. He opted to not come on the trip. He was paying 1/2 for the accommodations. If that was not enough of a disappointment, on the second day of my stay, I was contacted by the hotel manager who accused me of smoking in the room. I had not smoked in the room at all. So I canceled a part of my planned morning to speak with the manager face to face. When I explained what had happened the first night of my stay and then asked the gentleman what proof he had that I had smoked in the room, he said he had no proof. At least he was able to waive the extra fee for the room and was very apologetic about the matter. Would I stay there again? No because had i made no complaint I would have been both insulted and treated unfairly.

I booked this room two months in advance through hotels.com and was never told that the hotel was not finished construction! I even received a confirmation four days before...planned an entire weekend around being in Times Square...and got there to learn that the hotel was not complete! Called hotels.com frantically and was told we were redirected to a different Pod Hotel that was less than 2 miles away...turns out that is both a 30-minute walk or drive from Times Square. Wrecked the entire weekend, which became spent around hailing taxis/ubers. The hotel refused to give a refund because they said I had accepted the redirected room...like I had a choice! In an unfamiliar city in the freezing cold, I took whatever I could get, and I had no idea it was 30 minutes away...I had no idea I could refuse the offer, or what I would have done if I had refused. Bottom line--make sure the hotel actually exists before you book. Hotels.com was great, but the hotel was unbelievably horrible. (The shower was so small one person could not even fit in it. Felt like seedy neighborhood.Unfriendly front desk staff!) But worse, the way I was treated ensures that I will NEVER go back to this hotel! What kind of hotel sells you a room they do not have and then will not refund your money when they cannot deliver what they promised?

I had been wanting to try one of the older two Pod Hotels on the East Side, but when I saw this new one open up near Times Square, I had to check it out. From check-in to check-out, the staff were more than helpful. They were always greeting and willing to share information about the area and city. Also a nice perk is free light breakfast and free morning coffee. Many reviews would heavily criticize the size of the rooms, I am used to it during my many overseas trips. In large cities, I know space is a commodity, and the Pod Time Square adequately uses the size for the room. My Queen Pod was ideal for a single person, probably for 2. There was enough space to hide a suitcase and other bags under the bed. They provided some hangers and a place to hang clothes, as well as hooks to hold jackets during this cold March. I think the best feature was the bathroom. It was moreso the space rather than the amenities. I did not feel closed in sitting on the toilet, and I luxuriated underneath the rainshower head. As mentioned, this is near Times Square, which is about 3-4 NYC-sized blocks away. The closest subway station is underneath the 42nd/Port Authority Bus Terminal for the ACE trains, as well as a connected walk to trains at Times Square. From JFK or LaGuardia, there is the Airporter shuttle buses that pick up right in front of the PABT just steps from the hotel. If the price is right again for my next trip back to NYC, I would love to stay here again.

Overall the room was clean and the staff nice. A bar and restaurant in the lobby area was troubling though because there was no real way to limit access to Hotel guests. I guess that's where the Fire Alarms came from (or from a homeless person in the unfinished first two floors of the building.) Just before midnight on July 13 we had the first fire alarm. Phones to the front desk didn't work. I got dressed to check and a voice came over the speaker it said "false alarm." But then two NYC fire trucks and two fire chief's SUV's came to the front to the hotel- Ouch. It made us wonder. Then shortly after midnight another fire alarm. Being 14 stories up we were concerned. After a long flight to get to the city we were hoping to rest up for the next day - Oh well. Also the Concierge gave us bad information regarding when the ferry to Ellis Island stopped so we traveled all the way to the Battery only to find that we couldn't get to the Statue of Liberty because the ferry had stopped for the day. The hotel entrance is also on the 3rd floor - Floors 1 and 2 appear to still be under construction - a little like a Freddy Kruger movie set when the doors opened on the second floor. Hallways are dark and security appears to be non-existent and it is New York and there is a bar and restaurant on the 3rd floor as well - That set up makes it just about impossible to control who comes and goes . Overall a 3/5 rating seems about right. For the price we expected a bit more.

Just arrived home from a 6 day stay in a Bunk Room in this hotel! Positives - Fast check in! Very helpful friendly staff available 24 hrs a day. Room is basic but has everything you need. Lots of plug sockets for charging devices etc. Independent television at the end of each bunk. Radio clock alarm. Large safe for valuables, that is free ( just change the code). Bathroom is extremely clean, Shower powerful and always hot water. Shampoo/Condition/shower gel provided in shower area. Lots of coat hooks. Absolutely fantastic location, 5 mins from Times Square, but better than that 5 mins from Westside Manhattan ( Hudson River side) all boat trips to Liberty run from here, there is also a hop on hop off water taxi. The streets north of the hotel, up 7th Ave contain every nationality of culinary delight you could think of, literally hundreds of restaurants (Hells Kitchen). 42nd St Bus/Subway terminal 4 mins away. Hop on Hop off bus welcome centre in Madame Tussaud’s 4 mins away. Fantastic view from hotel. Maid service everyday. Smokers welcome to smoke outside the hotel (ashtrays provided) 6 fast efficient lifts floors. No noise disturbance from other visitors, sound insulation very good! Negatives - Hard to find really, but if I was to nit pick then not having tea making facilities in the room, having to get dressed to grab an early morning cuppa was a pain in the end. We only took hand luggage, but if you are taking large suitcases, storage could be an issue,