Mark T.
Yelp
The Artezan was an all-around wonderful hotel experience, and the room was the definition of well appointed. Everything was clean, the location was great and felt safe. I would absolutely stay here again next time I am in NYC.
I am the kind of person who uses a hotel for sleeping and showering. I want to spend the rest of my time exploring. I have no need for breakfasts, views, or fancy amenities.
CONCIERGE: Other than a few recommendations, I didn't use the concierge service, but Carmelo was nonetheless awesome, very friendly, welcoming, and positive!
LOCATION: This hotel is in the Financial District. While not in midtown, the location was excellent nonetheless. You had more subway lines than I care to remember within a block or two, including PATH. You are also close to Oculus, the World Trade Center, Wall Street/NYSE, and the waterfront on both sides of Manhattan island.
SAFETY: It's no Times Square, but the area surrounding is fairly busy. There may be a crazy person yelling profanities on the street corner on occasion, but in a city like NYC, that should almost be expected. At least it won't be just you and said crazy person. To be fair, I was back in the hotel by 11pm on all days, so I can't speak for past midnight, but I think it'll be fine. There is also controlled access - You need the keycard to use the elevator, and you only have access to your floor, or the floors with ice and the gym.
NOISE: With me being on the 11th floor, and the busy street right below, the room was still very quiet! The only street noise I heard was a truck horn, once. If you're someone who needs it quiet to get some sleep, the city hustle and bustle are a non-issue. No corridor noise either, I heard a door slam once, and that's it.
SLEEP: The absence of noise isn't the only thing that allows for great sleep. There are blackout curtains that cover the entire window (none of that area in the middle the curtain just can't cover!) The bedding was also very comfortable!
An issue I did have initially was a lot of slack in the fitted sheet that bunched up. I asked if housekeeping could make sure it's pulled taut, and they were able to do that. The pillow also goes a bit flat, but flipping it over fixes the problem instantly.
HOUSEKEEPING: The housekeeping was excellent. Not only were they able to make the sheets tight, but they kept the room (and the bathroom) spotless! Everything was shiny and gleaming. Plus, just coming back to a bed that is made after being on your feet for hours is the best feeling in the world!
NICE TOUCHES: Here are some things which made the room well put-together: There were plenty of outlets and usb charge-points in the room and around the bed. You have an alarm clock with bluetooth also. What was really notable though was the heated mirror in the bathroom! You could take a shower as long and steamy as you want, come out, and still be able to see your face to shave!
BATHROOM: Pretty nice, and not just the heated fog-free mirror! The shower had ample space and wasn't at all cramped. Water pressure and temperature were all great too. Not to mention the acoustics were perfect for vocalizing the Halo theme. Ask me how I know. The products they offer were also very nice and didn't leave my skin feeling funny like those in more budget hotels. Towels were good quality also.
"RESORT FEATURES": There were some additional items included in the resort fee that came with the room. While I didn't make use of the iPad, the Nespresso machine (very cool and good espresso) and Fiji water were nice touches. Would I have paid ~$11 a night given the option? no. But since they're there and paid for, might as well enjoy.
HAIR-SPLITTING: The bathroom door is frosted. There is a nightlight within, but if you're traveling with someone and they need the full light while you're sleeping, it may very well wake you.
There was also an electrical gremlin my first night (morning?) At 8am (thankfully I was awake by then), the overhead light turned itself on. I brought this to the front desk which said this might have been a glitch, and they offered to turn off the motion sensor, which I asked them to do. No lamps with minds of their own after.