James L.
Yelp
So here's a little known fact: New York, specifically Manhattan, is one of the most expensive cities in the world so expect to pay A LOT when you visit. Of course, the fact that Manhattan is expensive is not a secret, but I still find it "interesting" that people balk at the high prices associated with a trip there.
I was in Manhattan in November 2024 for a conference, and normally I wouldn't stay at a place like the Westhouse hotel, since it's on the higher end of my price range. However, my brother also happened to be visiting Manhattan at that time, so we decided to split the cost of the room and book here. And tbh, I'm glad we did.
The Westhouse is in a fabulous mid-town location, in close proximity to Central Park, MoMA, Lincoln Center, Times Square, etc. The lobby has a classy 1950's feel with decorative tile flooring, dark color palatte and dim lighting, with super friendly staff to greet and assist you.
Because my brother and I were sharing a room, we opted for a larger suite with a sleeper sofa. Since he was paying more, he took the bedroom...which was totally fine as the room was plenty big enough for two adults. There is also a small mini-fridge (no microwave), desk with USB if you need to get work done, and our room had a small round table with chairs. Even the sofa bed wasn't too bad; just be sure to ask housekeeping for an extra blanket.
When booking a room, be sure to read all of the conditions (i.e. fine print) since the Westhouse Hotel website clearly states in addition to the nightly rate, there is $66 dollars in fees (as of Jan 2025 rates) and does not include taxes in the room rate. On your check-out folio, this will be listed as a " $55 resort fee". Okay, I know this is not a fancy all inclusive resort, but here's the deal...ALL Manhattan hotels charge a resort fee. As I've stated before, if you don't want to pay these fees, feel free to stay out in Jersey but be prepared to spend 2 hours a day taking the train in and out of the city. So it's a question of what's the value of your time.
But I will say, for that $66 in fees, the Westhouse provides excellent value. The ones I took advantage of were:
* Daily breakfast: This is not frozen waffles and mystery sausage meat. There were gourmet baked quiches, crispy bacon, a variety of pastries, fresh fruit. And of course, the all important strong cup of coffee, in addition to an espresso machine (which was always popular) for your latte and mocha fix.
* Daily nightly Evening Terrace F&B Experience: Located in the same space as the breakfast, every night there were "light bites," although to be honest, I filled up on the delicious offerings which ranged from meat skewers, to pizza slices, to salads, meatballs, with a nice selection of sweets such as cupcakes. Oh and did I mention, there is also wine and beer included? Granted, this isn't of the "top shelf" variety, but all these food offerings included in your resort fees is amazing!!!
* Fitness Center: Larger facility, which is rare for a NY hotel. One side of the room has cardio equipment, while the other end has cable machines, free weights, and resistance bands.
Here is a complete listing of what the resort fee includes: https://www.westhousehotelnewyork.com/amenities/resident-privileges
During our stay, it rained a few days but the friendly concierge staff always ensured guests had umbrellas...and even mentioned I could take one with me. Nothing like free advertising, I guess? And speaking of the staff, there was usually a housekeeping staff available to respond to any needs. They dropped off bottles of water (upon request) and kept the room tidy. They even provided a brand new iron (as the one in the room was defective) so my shirt wouldn't be wrinkly for my meeting...how's that for service???
The Westhouse isn't the cheapest place to stay in Manhattan, but IMHO, you're getting good value for your travel dollar.