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New York City's worst rated hotels
Stunning Cockroaches. Dodgy brown stains. When we got to the room, all I could do was cry. Moldy swamp pit. Dried boogers on the wall. Cheap porn set. We met mice in the corridor. Smelled like murder and hookers. I thought we were going to be raped or murdered. These are excerpts from user generated Trip Advisor reviews of five of New York's most maligned hotels and hostels, the New World Hotel, ranked the 393rd "best" hotel on the site, Hotel Riverside Studios, ranked #395, La Semana Hotel, ranked #400, the Sun Bright Hotel, ranked #403, and the West Side Inn, ranked #405. Another poorly rated hotel in Trip Advisor, the Aladdin, has actually been converted into a homeless shelter.
There are literally hundreds of scathing reviews for these grim hotels but in order to find them, travelers need to click through fourteen pages of higher rated hotels on the site. Travel publications devote a huge amount of space to celebrating the world's best hotels, but virtually none to condemning the worst ones, so it's easy to see how inexperienced travelers could be disappointed in New York, America's most expensive city, where $100 a night doesn't buy much.
I've spent a good deal of time traveling on a budget in the developing world and consider myself to be something of a cheap hotel aficionado. I've stayed in hotels frequented by drunks, prostitutes and outright criminals, places with no running water, pit toilets with no doors, filthy mattresses tossed on the floor- places squalid enough to occasionally inhabit my nightmares to this day. But I haven't stayed in any of these hotels, so please note that these reflections are those of travelers writing on Trip Advisor. And even the worst reviewed places have some defenders. But not many. Per the Trip Advisor ratings, here are the worst among the worst:
Hotel Riverside Studios (pictured above) - The hotel web site boasts that the place has a "European flavor," and "charming rooms that have recently been upgraded," but it has some 168 1-star ("terrible") reviews on Trip Advisor, which make the place sound anything but charming. One reviewer described the shared bathroom as having, "pubic hair everywhere, feces on the floor, and a sign on the door reading: 'If you don't like the dirty bathroom CLEAN IT YOURSELF!'" One writer mentioned "dirty hallways that were like a horror movie," while another said they cried upon entering the room and concluded that one would be "better off sleeping on the street." The hotel's site also claims that they offer travelers the chance
to "mingle with true New Yorkers," but according to the reviews, the "true" New Yorkers are actually homeless persons using the hotel as a shelter.
La Semana Hotel (right) - This hotel advertises "state of the art" "deluxe rooms" for "people on the go," but customers described a hotel they wanted to flee immediately after checking in. Two noted that the front desk clerk seemed to be ostentatiously surfing porn at the front desk, and another posted that they thought they may have bumped into a murder witness in the lobby. One traveler described floor-to-ceiling mirrors that were reminiscent of a "cheap porn set."
West Side Inn (middle right) - This "tourist/student class hotel" advertises itself as a "hip and trendy" place to stay, but of 263 reviews on Trip Advisor, 153 rated it as "terrible." Reviewers de
scribed this budget hotel/hostel as a "moldy swamp pit," with "feces-stained toilets," hungry bedbugs and "used condoms on the shared bathroom floor." One concluded that it was like a "crack house from out of the movies," another opined that one should "tell your worst enemy to stay at the West Side Inn." Another traveler titled their review "Welcome to Hell."
New World Hotel (bottom right) This place has private rooms for as little as $55 but many considered it overpriced even at that low rate. A traveler from Philadelphia, who wrote that they booked this place through hotels.com, wrote that they tried to trade in a pillow with blood stains, but were given another bloody pillow. A Romanian reviewer said that the hotel was even worse than what they experienced during the Communist era in Romania, and concluded that a homeless shelter would have been more comfortable. Others described "watermelon sized bedbugs," garbage strewn windowsills, and "horrifying" rooms with "box springs as beds."
Sun Bright Hotel - This budget hotel, which offers private and dorm style rooms ranging from $33-90, has 68 reviews on Trip Advisor- 31 gave it 1 star, 16 gave it 2 and zero gave it 5. One poster referred to the place as a "prison camp" and concluded that they should "not let animals stay
there," but still gave the place 2 stars. Another traveler described the dorm rooms as a "chicken coop" with chicken wire separating the rooms and "infested" with cockroaches. An Australian traveler described the conditions as "subhuman" and stinking of urine. Several others noted that there were no ceilings- only chicken wire and one traveler from New York titled her review "Uninhabitable, Unsanitary, Unbearable."
Caveat emptor. You get what you pay for. Sometimes less. Especially in New York.
[all photos courtesy Trip Advisor]
to "mingle with true New Yorkers," but according to the reviews, the "true" New Yorkers are actually homeless persons using the hotel as a shelter.La Semana Hotel (right) - This hotel advertises "state of the art" "deluxe rooms" for "people on the go," but customers described a hotel they wanted to flee immediately after checking in. Two noted that the front desk clerk seemed to be ostentatiously surfing porn at the front desk, and another posted that they thought they may have bumped into a murder witness in the lobby. One traveler described floor-to-ceiling mirrors that were reminiscent of a "cheap porn set."
West Side Inn (middle right) - This "tourist/student class hotel" advertises itself as a "hip and trendy" place to stay, but of 263 reviews on Trip Advisor, 153 rated it as "terrible." Reviewers de
scribed this budget hotel/hostel as a "moldy swamp pit," with "feces-stained toilets," hungry bedbugs and "used condoms on the shared bathroom floor." One concluded that it was like a "crack house from out of the movies," another opined that one should "tell your worst enemy to stay at the West Side Inn." Another traveler titled their review "Welcome to Hell."New World Hotel (bottom right) This place has private rooms for as little as $55 but many considered it overpriced even at that low rate. A traveler from Philadelphia, who wrote that they booked this place through hotels.com, wrote that they tried to trade in a pillow with blood stains, but were given another bloody pillow. A Romanian reviewer said that the hotel was even worse than what they experienced during the Communist era in Romania, and concluded that a homeless shelter would have been more comfortable. Others described "watermelon sized bedbugs," garbage strewn windowsills, and "horrifying" rooms with "box springs as beds."
Sun Bright Hotel - This budget hotel, which offers private and dorm style rooms ranging from $33-90, has 68 reviews on Trip Advisor- 31 gave it 1 star, 16 gave it 2 and zero gave it 5. One poster referred to the place as a "prison camp" and concluded that they should "not let animals stay
there," but still gave the place 2 stars. Another traveler described the dorm rooms as a "chicken coop" with chicken wire separating the rooms and "infested" with cockroaches. An Australian traveler described the conditions as "subhuman" and stinking of urine. Several others noted that there were no ceilings- only chicken wire and one traveler from New York titled her review "Uninhabitable, Unsanitary, Unbearable."Caveat emptor. You get what you pay for. Sometimes less. Especially in New York.
[all photos courtesy Trip Advisor]
Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
F Spitzelburger Jan 26th 2012 7:37AM
I had to comment on this article as I just came from NYC and stayed in a 100 dollar hotel. The Paramount on 46th, just a mere block from Times Square is an excellent hotel. Redone nicely in modern red and European style rooms, it is clean and in a prime location. Next door is the Edison, also nice, both are located in the Theatre District near Restaurant Row, you couldn't ask for much more. Granted, the rooms aren't huge, but if you hanging in your room while in NY, then you are on the wrong vacation.
jan Jan 26th 2012 8:54AM
Thanks for the honest review of the paramount. We are scheduled to stay there in March for a hockey trip.
KELLY Jan 26th 2012 2:02PM
Thank you for the great information as we will be going to N.Y.C. towards the end of this year..I don't need fancy smancy just something nice and near rest. row being I am disabled would be good for my husband to walk and get dinner for us.
Kathy Jan 26th 2012 8:10AM
Early in the article you mention having to go through all the pages to get to the bad reviews. Actually all you have to do is just click on the ratings bar for the specific rating and it will bring up only those reviews. I always do that to check the bad reviews to see how recent they are.
eye Jan 26th 2012 7:44PM
I am a member of Trip Advisor and never travel without checking reviews first. While it's understandable for a person to want to get the best bargain for their money, staying in a seedy, filthy, unhealthy, bug-or varmint-infested room isn't worth it. You can also pick out the whiney people writing a review as opposed to those who are honestly trying to save you from making a big mistake and ruining part or all of your vacation stay. There are so many tourists from overseas visiting Manhattan and I'm sure they made the same mistake that I did when we stayed in Los Angeles a few years ago - they didn't check Trip Advisor before making their reservations!
chuck linker Jan 26th 2012 9:05AM
As with most things, you get what you pay for.
Anywhere in the world, choose a Starwood property. There are 9 brands to choose from. Enoughfor any price range preference but all reliable. starwod.com
NYC has the most of all the worst because of its popularity and uneducated tourism. Do not chose any hotels that sell to groups or conventions. Call the front desk not an 800 # that does not work at the property itself. Do your homework if you care at all. Use Trip Advisor and take your time to read and clic away. Don't wait till the week before to make a reservation and don't expect space available in the summer when most naive tourists travel for their yearly vacation to places where everyone else travels.
KELLY Jan 26th 2012 2:04PM
Thank you I will give Trip Advisor a click also!!
Andrew Padilla Jan 31st 2012 8:20AM
Having lived in NYC 55 of my 57 years, and having worked for 29 years for HRA(NYC Dept of Social Services), I am very familiar with these hotels. If one wanted to check out ALL cheap hotels/motels in NYC, the list of bad hotels would be longer..(Sunshine Hotel, Whitehouse hotel, etc.
chuck linker Jan 26th 2012 9:01AM
You get what you pay for. Do you homework unless you don't care. Make the reservation far ahead of time yourself and talk to the property itself not an 800 number that has no idea of the location or hotel itself because they have never been there. Ask cost of parking if you will have a car. Ask for walkable places to eat. Ask how many front desk people work the graveyard shift. Ask about on site security. Do nothing if you don't care and price is the only factor Avoid mom & pop places and the cheapest national chains-- Days Inns, Holiday Inns, Red Roofs, Comfort Inns, etc. Always go to Trip Advisor for negative and positive reviews by former guests that have recently stayed at same location. Ask if houskeeping is 24/7. Ask if there is 24/7 securityon the property. Parking fee?
dolores Jan 26th 2012 1:06PM
What information do you offer about the Days INN in NYC on 94th and Broadway?
I read that it was recently done over.
F Spitzelburger Jan 26th 2012 9:10AM
It really is a nice place. The lobby is unique and hopping. I didn't eat in the hotel since there are so many other places in NYC to eat on the go. I didn't have any noise and the housekeeping staff are super nice. The closets are Ikea style, if that makes sense, I mean, if you have a lot of stuff, it can get a little tight. I bought a sled and hockey sticks, so my room was full. Downstairs is Dean and DeLuca for coffee, security is everywhere. I slept like a rock in their bed, no complaints there either. Location though, unless you are sitting on top of the ball in Times Square, is super. They give you a bogo coupon for the bar and to the left next door is a pizza joint where I ate for 6 bucks. If you are looking for Shake Shack, go to the one on 8th Ave, the one in Madison Sq Park is always slammed. Up on 9th is a nice grocery store. Everything is just around the corner literally. Have a super time-Go Rangers!
Doc Jan 26th 2012 12:58PM
What is this gem? You never say the name.
KELLY Jan 26th 2012 2:04PM
The name of this fabulous place is???????????????????????
f spitzelburger Jan 26th 2012 3:03PM
Trying this again... The Paramount. LOL I am going to send them a bill for my good PR.
arwaldeb Jan 26th 2012 9:51AM
There are lots of fine, reasonably priced hotels in New York. But, use your head: You're not going to find anything worth considering for under 100 dollars-a-night. It is, after all, New York.
BTDT Jan 26th 2012 9:56AM
These people booked a thirty three dollar room with a shared bathroom, then they're surprised when the chocolate on their pillow ran off when the lights came on.
It's always the cheapskate who winds up paying the most.
Debra Ross Jan 26th 2012 11:59AM
First of all... I don't stay ANYWHERE but the PLAZA!!! #1- then if can't get in there.. the WALDORF is # 2.. no bugs there!!!!
KELLY Jan 26th 2012 2:08PM
CAN YOU GIVE ME A QUICK RUNDOWN ON PRICES BEFORE I GO ""SURFING"" FOR INFO??!!
I would love to stay at the PLAZA just one time!!!!
Gary Destro Jan 26th 2012 1:53PM
What about the Carter on 43rd? I was sure it would make the list. My girlfriend and I have a long running love/hate relationship with that place. Every year we go to NYC for our annual fix of big city insanity and the Carter is part of the adventure. So far I almost lost my life in an out of control elevator (the hotel maintainence man shorted the panel out while on board with me), Had to climb out the transom into the hall when our door's lock broke and our phone to the lobby was dead (could have starved to death that time) and started what almost became a gang war between the Viet-namese counter staff and the mid-eastern parking garage people over whether I'd get free parking or not. I could go on and on but you get the idea. what a place!
blogomaniac Jan 26th 2012 2:05PM
I have been to NYC over 200 times, all on business, and never stay at a hotel west of 7th avenue. I usually stayed at the Marriott Essex House across from the south end of Central Park or the 7th Av Sheraton and a few times at the Rockefeller Center Hilton. One time I stayed at the Barbizon, which was usually reserved for women.
One time the Sheraton put me in a room designed for Liberace. It was entirely pink, but it was a large, clean room. Liberace was not in NY at the time.