The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection

I recently stayed at the Algonquin Hotel, and unfortunately, my experience was far from what I expected from a historic and iconic hotel in New York City. The treatment I received during my stay was both disappointing and upsetting.

From the beginning, I encountered issues with the front desk staff. After returning from an evening out, my friend, who had dropped me off at the hotel before heading home, needed to use the restroom in the lobby before catching her taxi. When I inquired about the location of the restroom, the staff member was dismissive and unhelpful, making me feel judged based on my appearance as a younger, foreign guest. Despite the hotel’s claim that the restroom was under construction, it seemed clear that the staff member’s attitude was rooted in bias and discrimination. Rather than offering a solution or an apology, he rudely asked me to leave, which was extremely insulting.

Additionally, the housekeeping service was subpar. Despite placing a “Service Please” sign on my door, my room was not serviced. When I asked the front desk about it, they shifted the blame onto me, claiming that the “Privacy” sign was left up, which was not the case. There was no effort made to resolve the issue or provide any form of apology.

As an international traveler, I expected a much higher standard of service from a hotel with such a rich history and reputation. A hotel plays a crucial role in shaping a tourist’s first impression of a city, and in this case, the Algonquin tarnished New York’s image. In a city celebrated for its diversity, such discriminatory and disrespectful behavior is unacceptable. This is not the kind of hospitality one should expect from a hotel of this caliber. I sincerely hope management takes meaningful steps to address and correct this moving forward.

Was extremely disappointed in this hotel. I've stayed in many Marriott hotels in the NYC area and I would put this one at the bottom of my list. Room was extremely small, mattress was way overdue to be replaced, no top sheet on bed - just the duvet cover and the overall hotel just seemed run down. There are many better options nearby for the same price point.

We stayed here twice. One time, our shower had no hot water. The second time, our room smelled like cigarettes. They offered to spray febreeze, but didn't have a different room for us to move into. The rooms are also tiny.

Pros: the people at the desk are nice.