Well worth it, Roger Smith Hotel...

Just returned 11/30/04. Spent 4 nights at the Roger Smith on Lexington. Made reservations for 2 daughters in early 20s and myself. This is the first time we've ever booked a room for more than $200 a night---but it was Thanksgiving weekend and in New York.

First night we had 1 king size bed, and one roll away. However...by next morning everything worked out for the best...we moved from the 6th floor to the 8th floor to a suite with 2 double beds and one queen sofa sleeper. It was a beautiful room - nice art work, furniture, refrig, microwave in room, etc. Nice toiletries included.

The location was great - in midtown Manhattan. There was always a taxi to the right of the lobby door. Most taxi rides were between $5 and $7 - went to Serendipity, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, South Street Seaport($16), 5th Avenue and 59th Street, etc.

Grand Central Terminal is only a few blocks down on the left of the lobby. Be sure to go to Juniors bakery located at track 36 and Juniors Restaurant is one level down across track 112. They are known for their famous cheesecakes...you don't have to go all the way to Brooklyn.

You can borrow videos for free, they even bring it to your room for you. The complimentary breakfast was a perfect way to begin each day - pastries, coffee, hot cocoa, 3 kinds of fruit juice, yogurt, fruits, bagels, cereal, etc. Had to leave the last morning at 3:15 a.m. and they arranged for a car to get us to LaGuardia.

Only thing at times you can hear the noise from the streets but aside from that, it was a really convenient, hotel. Across the street Red Stone Pizza has the best desserts too...Starbucks is next door...what more could we ask for???

Not recommended!

Positives: Price, room larger than average for New York, location, free breakfast

Negatives: Grudgy, stains on cushions and floor that are better not to think about; Very Noisy; Water in the bathroom sometimes ran brown; beds very uncomfortable.

Very impressed...

I stayed at The Roger Smith in February 2003 on our first visit to NY. First impressions were very pleasing and professional - we were upgraded for free to a Queen room - just because they didn't respond to my email query within a week! Good location, stylish, clean hotel. Great little relaxing bar downstairs. Would definately stay there again.

Euro-style and relaxed. Way better than chain hotels

During Aug 3-6 2004 we took advantage of a discount on Jr Suites offered through the hotel. Considering it's NYC, the $200/night was fully worth it for what we got. The JR Suite was a corner room, so we could catch some views of the city and not be sandwiched between other rooms. The room was spacious and the sitting area w/ couch, chaise, coffee table, tv was a great place to unwind after walking all day in the city. The queen bed was very comfortable and the room was clean. The only drawback was a noisy air conditioner but we just wore earplugs.

This place has a more Euro-feel than a chain hotel, which we appreciated. There are two computers in the check in area where you can go online for free. Apparently the hotel has a good continental breakfast but we were never up early enough for it--that's one problem with all hotels--breakfast time discrimination! The location is great for visiting museums and general sight-seeing. We walked from the hotel to nearly the lower east side and it only took about 35 min. It's also close to subway stops.

Loved our stay at Roger Smith

We just spent 5 wonderful days in NYC and our whole experience at the Roger Smith was wonderful. Our room was clean and beautifully decorated, the Continential breakfast was very very nice and in a great little restaurant atmosphere and the hotel staff were very helpful. The Roger Smith is in a such convienent location to so many great NYC sites. The street noise might have bothered us more if the air conditioner hadn't done such a good job of drowning it out. This is New York, the city that never sleeps -- it might be noisy!! We can't say enough good things. Our only complaint might be that the elevators were pretty slow. They were working on one elevator -- so maybe that problem will be fixed soon. I would recommend this hotel to anyone wanting a less expensive, yet lovely place to stay while in NYC.

Disappointing and in need of renovation

Thinking this would be a nice boutique hotel in a great location I eagerly booked this hotel on very short notice. Much to my dismay, the room was quite shabby (one lamp did not even have a bulb). The bathroom was very small (not unusual for NYC) with an odd musty smell. The room was on the street and quite noisy. Also, when asking for a cab, the person acting as a doorman instructed me to walk about 8 blocks! I won't be going back to this one...

Great city, pity about the hotel...

Stayed there a few years ago, so maybe this review doesn't reflect the current conditions, and maybe I was unlucky to get one of the poorer rooms, but I would never go back again. Out of some 30 odd hotels I've stayed in the US, this is the worst of the lot. The room was dark, gloomy and very grubby - an unpleasant, lingering smell in the bathroom (which wasn't from me, I can assure you!). Even though NY is more expensive than elsewhere, it certainly didn't feel like value for money. The only positive thing I can find to say is that the location is very good - right in the centre of midtown Manhattan. But then again, many NY hotels are in midtown and I'd rather try one of those next time.

Nice Place, Busy Street

Stayed here over Halloween 2003. It is a very nice hotel with big rooms for New York and clean. The location is very central. The main problem was that a lot of the rooms are on the street and Lexington is NOISY!!!

We heard horns every minute we were in the room.

The staff is sparse and there was basically no door man for cabs. I think they have one on duty and if you can catch him, you're ok - but that was very hit and miss.

All in all - average. I would opt for a quiet, smaller hotel with a more attentive staff. I would stay here again only if I was guaranteed a back room.

Room was large but grubby.

We stayed at the Roger Smith last fall in a large suite. The bedroom was nice and there was also a tiny 2nd bedroom with a twin bed that was fine. Our complaint was that the living room was made up of mismatched pieces of leftover furniture and the overall effect was that it was grubby.

We have stayed in the city 4 times since then, but won't go back to the Roger Smith. I have found the Rihga Royal to be consistently better.

Shining Star!

We went to NYC for a conference at the Marriot Marquis. We stayed at the Roger Smith because it was less expensive. During the blackout, we were very happy with the way the Roger Smith handled the emergency.

They offered free drinks until they ran out. Then they handed us hand fulls of tea lights and glasses with instructions to put water in the bottom. They lined the staircase with tea lights so we could walk up to our rooms. When the power came back on, they went out of their way to make sure that toilets were cleared and guests were comfortable. By contrast, the Marriot evacuated all their guests and our professional organization's president and all our speakers had to sleep outside on the sidewalk in Times Square. Kudos to the small family run Roger Smith. They shined when the big corporate guy fizzled!