Da Vinci Hotel . New York City
I had promised to report on my next Travelocity interaction, which would have been never had Joel and team not promptly addressed my Last Minute Package debacle and offered me a $100 Travelocity credit for the inconvenience and overall mess.
I was in New York City and applied his credit toward the Da Vinci Hotel at Columbus Circle. The Travelocity price was $97 a night with all taxes, making my cost $195 for a three night stay. A very good rate by New York City standards.
The TripAdvisor reviews looked above average after filtering out the few high maintenance rants from those expecting the Waldorf for budget rates, rather than the more realistic modest yet tidy and modern room with an alley view.
The Da Vinci doesn’t look impressive from the outside, mainly because one of the city’s ubiquitous scaffolds is currently lording over the sidewalk, however inside it’s a quiet and pleasant place. The lobby is large with comfy chairs, two guest computers, friendly desk staff and the rooms and overall building are very clean and well maintained.
I was really surpised at how large the room was, (again by NYC standards,) which included a desk, wardrobe, spacious bathroom, (with bright clean tile,) and flat panel TV. I had requested the second floor for a better Wi-Fi connection, so I didn’t have a view – but that wasn’t important to me since I was busy in the city and just sleeping and relaxing between going out.
The location is perfect at 244 West 56th Street, close to the Theater District and Central Park. The entrance to the Columbus Circle Subway station is right across 8th Avenue next to the Dunkin Donuts, and the 57th Street station is one Avenue east at 7th. Sundries can be round at Duane Reed just a block away, and there’s a Whole Foods in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. (I stopped inside for some fruit and bottled water but walked out because there were 842 people in line.)
Coffee and breads are served in the morning, and there’s an Italian Restaurant on the lower level. I didn’t eat there, but did have a good wrap with a few Guiness around the corner at Matt’s Grill on 8th Avenue.
My only negative: Most hotels have a luggage storage room for those arriving early and departing after check out time, but here guests left their luggage along the wall in the lobby. The desk is always staffed, but I didn’t want to leave my awesome Eagle Creek roller bag (with laptop,) exposed for an entire afternoon, so after checking out I walked a few blocks down 8th Avenue to the Hampden Inn and checked my bag there until my evening flight, paying a $5 gratuity.
This wouldn’t prevent me from staying again, and I’d recommend the Da Vinci Hotel as a clean, safe and spacious budget hotel in Manhattan. It was a nice surprise for a budget hotel.
(Frugal travelers tip: there is giant bowl of delicious red apples in the Hampton Inn lobby.)
Da Vinci Hotel
244 West 56th Street
212.489.4100
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