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Affinia 50
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
155 East 50th St(between 3rd Ave & Lexington Ave)
New York, NY 10022
Neighborhood: Midtown East
(212) 751-5710
- Nearest Transit:
-
51 St (4, 6, 6X)
Lexington Av/53 St (E, M)
5 Av/53 St (E, M)
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
41 reviews for Affinia 50
Review Highlights
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"We had a great stay and now we love NY more." In 3 reviews -
"...6-7pm, they have a free wine and cheese happy hour - which..." In 3 reviews -
"All of the hotel staff are friendly and helpful." In 4 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Jana H.
Philadelphia, PA
1/17/2012
This past weekend some friends and I went to NYC for a girls night. I was trying to find a hotel room to accommodate all six of us. I was able to get a really good rate for a junior suite which was more than enough room for us all to sleep comfortably. The staff was extremely nice when I called to book over the phone and when we arrived everyone was smiling and just made us feel very welcome. It's located within a block of fine dining or McDonalds if that's what you like :) the 6 train is a convenient 5 min walk and takes you right into Soho or blocks away from times square! I would definitely suggest this hotel for families or a group of friends like us just wanting have fun. You can't go wrong, we'll definitely be booking a room there for out next girls night!
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Review from Krista G.
Skaneateles, NY
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have mixed feelings about this place. On one hand, it was a great place to stay for a reasonable price in midtown Manhattan. Also on the plus side, the rooms were very spacious: a rare find in the city. However, the service wasn't what I would have wanted. My very first encounter with customer service was when the woman at the front desk told me that she wasn't sure if my room was ready and that she would have to call to have someone check. Well, this surprised me, since check in was at 3pm and it was now 5 minutes after three. In fact, what she said was, "Why don't you go out and get some lunch and I'll have [someone] check to see if your room is ready?"
What? Did I miss something? Will that lunch be on the hotel??? I have FOUR kids standing the lobby with their luggage. Hell no, I do not want to go out and get some lunch. I want to put our stuff in the room. The conversation turned into me having to force her to tell me that the room would not be ready for another 45 minutes (after I had already waited 25 minutes for them to "check" on it). However, when I expressed my distaste for waiting another minute in the lobby, she did get me another room. The new room did not have a balcony, but they refunded the difference in price so it turned out to not be a problem.
Other than that main issue, the rest of our 4 day stay went very well. The staff wasn't as attentive as I would like, but there were no issues. The accommodations were nice with the exception of one glaring problem: the bathroom sink had a ring of black mold just under the rim. I took a picture of it and contemplated posting it on yelp, but I would feel bad doing that. It wasn't overtaking the room...but it was noticeable, and that is unacceptable for a hotel.
Still, considering the price, the size of the rooms and the location, I would stay here again. -
Review from Shalin D.
10/27/2011
Rough start: I stood for nearly 3 minutes in an empty lobby as two ladies at the front desk chatted amongst themselves. Only after I cleared my throat did one of them look at me and testily ask: "Um, can I help you?"
Happily, that was the only faux pas made by this hotel.
The room was great. Big, clean, airy, and quiet (even though there's a night club across the street). The bed and pillows were top rate. The room had every amenity we could ask for, all the way down to a massage setting on the shower (great for a hungover morning). The hotel itself has a gym, free breakfast in the morning, and a business center in case you left your laptop at home. Best of all, it's close to the M and the 6 lines, which means you can zoom uptown or downtown whenever you want.
Best of all, on the last night, we were supposed to grab a cab to a party in Brooklyn. The doorman got into the middle of the street and flagged down almost 20 cabs before he found one willing to take us to BK. That's a step above and beyond what we asked for.
Great place. Will definitely come back.
Also, VERY reasonably priced for a NYC hotel if you book on http://hotels.com. -
Review from Jeff S.
11/11/2011
We had a marvellous stay at the Affinia 50 hotel, during an unsurpassed family holiday. Our entire holiday was booked through Make-A-Wish®, for our set visit to Sesame Street.
I have always love NYC, but this was our first visit. It eased our minds to have our accommodations taken care of. I can honestly say that the staff consistently went over and above the call of duty. They consistently exceeded our expectations.
We are so glad to have stayed there and look forward to our next visit.
The Midtown location is great and the staff are fabulous. They welcomed us in such a way, that they felt like family. My son was so excited to return to the hotel, to share his experiences of the day. You guys had captured my wife with your six-choice Dream Pillow Menu.
From the moment we arrived, we felt like we received the royal treatment. We arrived at the hotel at 5 PM and, despite the fact that the hotel was very busy, they were able to get us into a room right away - room #1606. This allowed us to get cleaned up after our long flight and get started with our day. Excellent service !!
On a side note, I absolutely love the fedoras the doormen wear.
The room was very spacious, clean and very modern. The beds were very comfortable and the room was surprisingly very quiet.
The Club Area was very sleek, and fitting of a boutique hotel. I recently became a fan of boutique hotels, our family became fans of the Affinia Brand.
The Affinia 50 was our first impression of Manhattan, and you set the bar very high. We had a great stay and now we love NY more!
Stayed from March 5th through to March 9th. -
Review from Meredith E.
Virginia Beach, VA
9/27/2011
This was a deal from Priceline, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into, although I've never been in a bad hotel from Priceline. I spent five nights at the Affinia.
At any rate, the location was great - Midtown East is a great place to stay when you're going back and forth from uptown to downtown.
Bell service was fantastic - no problems storing bags and finding a taxi. Everyone was friendly and helpful, and there is both morning and evening housekeeping, so make sure to use your do not disturb sign liberally.
I'm always annoyed when I have to spend extra to get internet in my room, especially when it isn't wi-fi, but I needed it and couldn't spend all my time in the Club Room. Speaking of which, during weekdays, they have free wine and snacks for an hour each day which isn't a bad deal at all.
And as a final touch, the orange and lemon water in the lobby was refreshing every single time I came in from running around all over the city. It was a lovely touch.
Rooms were large, especially by Manhattan standards. Flat screen TV, and a nice bathroom, but no coffee maker. You're supposed to go to the Club Room where they have an industrial Keruig coffee maker and all the fixings, including real cream. I couldn't spend a lot of time hanging around and drinking coffee in bed, so this wasn't an issue for me. Travel cups with lids are provided.
I would definitely stay here again. My experience was very pleasant, no complaints at all. -
Review from Derrick L.
PECK SLIP, NY
11/6/2011
The Fiance and I stayed here over the weekend and we had a great stay. The hotel was recently priced, averaging about $200 per night. The room felt like home, with a kitchen and and good size bathroom. Their beauty products were from http://www.philosophy.com. Good Stuff!
Definitely staying here again next time we visit!
thanks! -
Review from Laura W.
7/27/2011
Loved the location of the hotel, midtown is a great spot to travel to the rest of NYC. There is also a subway stop a few blocks north so getting around was a breeze.
The hotel room was really big, bigger than I was imagining for Manhattan. We had two queen beds, nightstand, desk, chair and dresser with the TV. The bathroom was a little small but nothing uncomfortable.
We were on the 2nd floor where the lounge is and we could hear other guests in there really late (around 3am) which was annoying. But it wasn't a deal breaker for me.
I would totally come back here next time I'm in NY. -
Review from Gloria D.
2/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Spent the night at the Affinia 50 last night, and it was an overall pretty great experience.
I was upgraded to a suite, for free. Nice.
The room was HUGE, clean and quiet. Nice.
The staff was very helpful, and friendly. Nice.
The bed was comfy, the shower was piping hot and they provide super fluffy bathrobes. Nice.
Breakfast was delivered quickly and was reasonably priced. Nice.
It made me wish I live in NYC and not an outer-borough. Pretty SWEET. -
Review from Cassandra r.
Scottsdale, AZ
7/1/2011
Terrific location and surprisingly large rooms for new york.
Close to restaurants and tourist locations.
Staff were friendly and helpful.
Would definitely recommend for a family stay. -
Review from Connie B.
Houston, TX
11/20/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I have been staying at the Affinia 50 since 2003, back when it was called the Plaza 50.
This is my hotel of choice for business trips to New York. The hotel is centrally located, with easy access to several MTA stations - Grand Central, 51st, 53rd - and close proximity to 2nd Avenue, which is almost lined with restaurants.
I usually get upgraded to a suite, and for a week-long business trip, it is really great to have a full-size refrigerator and a stove. The rooms are clean and nicely sized, and the service is personal and friendly. -
Review from alan r.
Cupertino, CA
11/30/2011
I had a great stay for a week with Annette, Brad, Stef, Gloria, Lisette, the guys out front really made it so very easy to enjoy the apple. I get it now I really do
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Review from K H.
Atlanta, GA
1/4/2011
2 or 3 I could lean either direction,
So avg rate of around 200, non peak time frame is a good price point and saves a good 100 bucks from a 4-5 star hotel.
(considering not a highly booked weekday slot)
so the pictures say most of it
I checked in and a bit small, but almost expected in the lobby.
Its a very homely type feel, like a cross btw inn & boutique hotel
outdated tv (even with hbo free)
the bed was comfy enough and you do choose your own pillow type
Overall its location & price.
Its within walsking distance of bars, but like $7.00 ride from heart of times sq
and a blk from subway
Concierge has a desk & will answer yr questions eventually- but frankly they seem to read all the information off the screen, not like they know much first hand
Small elevators ,frequently shared with employees.
Front desk was warm & inviting
I really like the club level , very chill and prefer to hang there than in the rooms they offer
They have a lil mixer of sorts nightly so it has a couple of perks
for business travelers with a budget it may be a dream with fridge and spacious rooms
For vacation, the shower was small, didnt care for the type of soap/lotion products- its really Location & Price -
Review from Sarah B.
Richmond, VA
11/16/2011
Had a great experience last week.
After a bad night at another very expensive hotel,
Affinia 50 found a great room for us and treated us so well.
Great mini bar. Cool pillow selection. Friendly staff.
Everything was clean and trendy without being weird.
Cozy and comfortable!
I left my very expensive laptop charger in the room and they found it and mailed it to me in no time!
Thank, Affinia!! -
Review from Michael G.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2011
We stayed for 5 days with our toddler and only on checkout did we discover that the fast food smell in our room was from the McDonald's next door. Management put us there despite knowing about it.
No wi-fi in room, no coffee maker, no microwave. They encourage you to go down to the "club room" which closes from 11-7 each night, so if you are working to deadline, you turn into a pumpkin at 11pm. So much for the city that never sleeps.
Maid service was lousy. We travel frequently and have never had such a poor experience - they were looking for excuses to do less. Bell service was excellent however, rain or shine. -
Review from Tessa C.
8/16/2006
I've stayed at this hotel a few times for business. It's reasonable for business travel if you need to stay in midtown.
the facade of the hotel is really tacky - it has a faux glass sparkle curtain on both sides of the entrance with affinia's cheesy logo of person's face with its hat tipped towards the viewer.
but the interior is okay. has a reasonably sized foyer with a water feature - a large padded bench to sit on while waiting. Checking in - you can indulge in a small glass of blended juices while you get your key.
heading to your room - you pass by cool x-ray photos of various products - a pleasant design surprise for hotel decor. the rooms are reasonable in size, a/c isn't easy to control - the fan is automatically on, beds are comfortable, bathrooms are modern and clean in a warm palette of taupe, brown, and dark red. aveda toiletries are nice.
the 2nd floor lounge is nice - you get free copies of nyt and wsj. they have 2 large screen tv's for you. from 6-7pm, they have a free wine and cheese happy hour - which makes up for the $15 breakfast that alex f referred to.
but i have to say that the $15 breakfast has really great bagels for the smoked salmon spread - fresh fruit - yogurt - cereal - toast - pastries and a good selection of juice, coffee, and tea.
one nice thing that i like - is that the hotel staff will invite you to come to the lounge anytime that you're in the city even if you're not staying with them. it feels like they really want you there.
some of the rooms that i've stayed in have a kitchen - but not clear if you have to pay more for to get a kitchen.
people staying at the hotel seem to be a mix of business, families on holiday, and large groups from tours. -
Review from Refugio G.
Houston, TX
5/28/2008
Simply a magical place for me.
I loved the set up and faux english doormen.
Me thinks this is the place I will stay everytime I go to the big apple!!Listed in: Rest your weary head o'road…
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Review from dave m.
Santa Monica, CA
5/18/2007
Stayed in a junior suite, the room is huge! It easily has room for 4 people. We were on the 16th floor with a balcony and had a great view of all the taxi cabs in the city.
The staff is very friendly and can answer any questions you may have about the city. They definately make your stay special. Its in a good location, close to restaurants, shopping, rockerfeller plaza.
I'll definately stay here again.
Tip: from 6-7pm they have free wine and cheese, and on tues they give a free massage. -
Review from Ben L.
Millbrae, CA
11/18/2008
Affinia 50 has no business marketing themselves as a Pet friendly hotel. While we certainly met a few very friendly employees at Affinia during our stay, our general experience was very poor. We traveled from across the country to stay at Affinia 50 because they dedicate a lot of time on their website talking about their pet services, etc.
However, our trip was nothing short of disappointing. While we were out, and our dogs were in the room, we received a few calls on back-to-back days from the front desk manager stating that our dogs were bothering guests by barking. One woman (Carmel?), was particularly rude on a couple of occasions, accusing us of costing the hotel money because they had to comp nights to other guests.
Now I certainly can sympathize with a guest being annoyed at constant barking. But, these instances occurred between the hours of 3-6pm each day so it's hard to imagine they were keeping anyone awake. Additionally, I would expect, as a guest paying $500+ per night), that a hotel that markets itself as pet friendly, and goes out of there way to advertise their pet services, doesn't have a better solution than having to pull me out of dinner with friends I haven't seen since college, to come back to the hotel to be with dogs.
I can assure you that our dogs (2 - 12 lb Shih-Tzu's) are not unusually misbehaved. Like MOST dogs, they are anxious in uncomfortable surroundings and with unusual noises. The ladies in the room next to us were particularly loud and I could tell it would alarm our dogs. We were also on the third floor so the street noise could also be a bother.
Again, if I were to advertise my hotel as pet-friendly, I would have to be prepared for a range of pets, some that are super quiet, to others that might bark. I was quite upset at the folks that called me when they insinuated that they never get loud dogs. Seriously? Are you kidding me?
You would think a pet-friendly hotel would:
a) have a floor dedicated to pets or pet-owners... we had a neighbor that also had a dog that we heard barking so I'm not convinced all the barking was always from our dogs
b) have alternative solutions for guests that did not want to stay on the same floor as other pets
c) have better recommendation for dog services. To try to comply, we asked the concierge for doggie daycare, etc. but the concierge admitted that Affinia had no partnership, or first-hand experience with any of the establishments he listed. Thanks but I'm quite capable of doing a search on the Internet as well.
d) have recommendations for dog parks etc. In fact, the front desk gave us the wrong address for a dog park that was located on 51st and FDR (the front desk told us 41st and FDR)
At the end of the day, we had to buy a pet stroller/carrier to take our dogs everywhere with us the last 3 days of our trip. We also put our dogs in day care one day that literally brought my fiancee to tears.
This was supposed to be a special trip for us, our first together to New York. Instead, we spent an extra $300+ take our dogs with us, had many of our plans ruined, and had to deal with some really mean-spirited front desk folks.
I'm sure you're thinking, why bring the dogs? Trust me, that was an option, but again, the website claims that Affinia 50 is super pet friendly.
I've never been the type of consumer to complain much but because we spent over $3,000 on our stay, I feel very justified. -
Review from Allan C.
Saint Louis, MO
3/24/2009
7 guys shared one suite here. The bathroom didn't have a vent, which, fortunately, didn't become much of an issue.
The service was great. Excellent location.
They are falling behind the times as the tv was still a CRT as of this review.
Having two balconies to the place is great, too. One thing to keep in mind was that the fridge was at its warmest setting when we came in.
Should work send me this way, I'll want to stay here.Listed in: Memories Old and New
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Review from Blake W.
San Francisco, CA
10/23/2007
First off the rooms are huge. And not just for New York. Admittedly I was upgraded to a larger room because mine wasn't ready, but still. I had a small kitchen (YES!) with a full sized fridge!, a large bathroom and tons of space in the bedroom. Most hotels in New York have rooms so small you can't fit an ironing board in them and they charge more than this place.
Stars knocked off for terrible elevators and faded 70's decor. The staff was great though.
The gym was pathetic, even by New York hotel standards. Look, here's the thing. I like to work out and even lift weights. But I'm not a terribly strong man. (Any friends of mine reading this are laughing out loud right now at my understatement). When the hotel gym's set of dumbells is not enough weight for ME, you know there are problems. I throwing the heaviest dumbells around like they were pillows. Trust me, I see myself naked all the time. That's pathetic.
Great location though if you are in midtown east.
Also, a very Euro crowd at the hotel, which makes me think it is a European chain.
Oh, and prices are expensive but not outrageous for New York. I think my room was about 400 dollars a night...I wasn't paying though, so I can't give you an exact figure. -
Review from Luke R.
North Hollywood, CA
10/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
For a Manhattan hotel, this place is great. It's expensive, but the service was fantastic. And like I said, you can't really find a decent hotel in Manhattan for less than $400 a night.
The Damman soaps in the bathroom, assortment of 10 pillows, and the very accommodating staff were all great. I was working midnights while I was there and they cleaned my room at midnight instead of the morning so that I could sleep during the day without interruption.
The lounge is comfortable with couches, chairs and tables. There are also a few rooms for meetings that I saw being constantly used.
The only bad thing was the fact that wi-fi was $14 a night, which I refused to pay for. -
Review from Max S.
1/6/2009
I got a complimentary room here after the Secret Service making me give up my balcony suite at the Benjamin (see why here: http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
The balcony sweet is not bad, although the view is not as nice as from the Benjamin, but the room service & staff were very friendly.
The theme is kind of cool and this place is very tourist-friendly. Definitely worth checking out. -
Review from rino k.
Los Angeles, CA
2/16/2009
I got a steal of a deal through http://hotels.com and booked a guestroom at the Affinia50 for about $150 per night. My room didn't have a kitchen, but i didn't need one.
Every single member of the staff I encountered was very friendly. Our room was towards the back of the building, but I didn't mind since it was probably quieter than having a room facing the big streets.
The room is definitely spacious for New York, and it really feels comfy. I don't know what it is, the lighting, the decor, or whatever it may be, I really felt at home. The bathroom looks very fancy, but critically lacks counter space, and as a girl, that was quite a bummer. But the shower was also uber fancy and had a temperature control dial! I'd never seen that before.
Highly recommended for business travelers and tourists alike! -
Review from Jerry J.
San Rafael, CA
1/2/2007
This may be a fine hotel but be wary of misrepresentive booking practices. I went to the booking website and was quoted a very attractive rate for my chosen dates. When I returned to actually book the room the site was down and the live reservation agent and his supervisor quoted me rates over $100 higher per night than the site had. A call to the hotel's manager was not returned.
There are many fine hotels that honor their on-line bookings, this one apparently does not. Bait and switch? Avoid. -
Review from Alex F.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2006
This is the second time I've stayed at this hotel and so far I've liked it. Friendly service, great area, and the rooms and hotel itself are really nice. What's great is that they even have rooms with kitchens, and this time we got one of those. Even though we are eating out, it's nice to have. I honestly have not tried out the work out room yet, but will, and I haven't checked out their breakfast yet, but I'm sure I will, and so will update that info as soon as I do. The one thing that disappoints me is that I think I might have to pay for the internet...however I'm going to double check that because it makes more sense for it to be free. That will cost the hotel a star though if it turns out internet is not free. I will update by the end of this trip.
* UPDATE * Internet isn't free so I removed a star. I think that free internet should be a mandatory bonus of staying in a nice hotel - something you throw at your guest as an extra out of appreciation.
* UPDATE * I finally went down to check out the breakfast. I was shocked. It's $15 - and all they have to show for it is some pastries, fruit, cereal and coffee. I saw smoked salmon on a sign, but didn't see the salmon. If they had a normal and hot breakfast that I could order, it would be understandable, but there was nothing there. And the kicker....if you want just a coffee and no breakfast....$3.25. This cost them a star.
I also checked out the fitness center. It actually wasn't bad...brand new equipment. Quite a few cardio machines for a small hotel gym, and one universal weight machine.
Once again, this is a nice and not cheap hotel. I loved it but was disappointed with the two minor things that I felt degraded them a bit. The reality is that its still a good hotel though, and its not that big of a deal to pay for the internet (although I think it should be complimentary), and if you're visiting New York, you'll be eating out, so the overpriced shady breakfast doesn't really matter. -
Review from Christina T.
Spring, TX
5/9/2011 5 Check-ins Here
LOVE LOVE this hotel! It's close to my office, the staff are super friendly, the accommodations are wonderful and worth the money. Their romms are a good size especially for a New York Hotel. This is my go to place when I come to New York. It's also close to the subway system and other great attractions.
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Review from jason p.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2008
Seems like everyone that has reviewd this place has stayed in a Jr. Suite. They don't lie. The rooms are huge, priced great, and is good location in midtown. You can't beat it. The service was great and I don't know if any other place could put this type of combination together for the accomodations you get at Affinia 50.
Stay at this place. -
Review from Olga E.
New York, NY
3/2/2009
I stayed at this hotel once and was very pleasantly surprised. This is definitely not a high-end luxury hotel but rather a typical boutique style hotel. For a 3-4 star in NY, this place is rather good.
The rooms are large and comfortable with soft beds and nice comforters. The bathroom is also a pretty good size, with a tub. I believe some rooms are better than others for the price. A friend of mine stayed at the same hotel with me and his room was VERY large.
The lobby is quite small, though, but there are nice touches. The bellboys wear bowler hats and there's a 1910s-1920s Jazz feel to the hotel. I can't remember whether the breakfast was good, but it couldn't have been too great, as it made no impression on me. -
Review from CeeCee R.
Boston, MA
3/9/2010
Stayed here once before and decided to go to Affinia 50 due for convenient reasons. Love the fact that the hotel is pet friendly.
The one bedroom suite was great, price point was also decent and the room was spacious.
Disappointed with the following:
-Front desk were not helpful and professional during our stay. Can't even hook us up with a late check out. in addition, they had no clue the name of the parking garage across the street from them and were not even trying to help us to find out over the phone.
-Concierge, he was just good for nothing. Can't give us any recommendations and was not helpful at all.
Not sure if I would be back there again. I would probably be willing to pay the extra funds to go to a Starwood hotel to get the better service. -
Review from Keith M.
Newburyport, MA
7/7/2009 3 photos
I spent two nights here during the 4th of July weekend. I ending up getting a smoking deal for $200 / night for a suite I booked many months in advance after a colleague recommended it.
I took the train in from Grand Central, about a six block walk or a small cab fare. Everything in Midtown (Times Square, UN, Central Park, Rockefeller Plaza, 5th Ave.) was close walking distance if you are in at least half way decent shape.
I was able to check in an hour early which was nice. Everything in the room was clean, comfortable beds, nice bathroom, and decent kitchenette. I have to take away a star for the elevators. These things took forever during peek hours and were always crammed. I would have also liked free internet. However, I don't know what the standard is for NYC hotels.
I would consider staying here again on my next trip to NYC, if the price was right again. -
Review from Lisa C.
1/14/2011
Let's start out by saying that this review is based upon one stay over the course of one week.
I chose the Affinia because it was close to the office where I would be working that week. I also am familiar with that area of Manhattan, so I would not be "lost". Also, the hotel was close to a subway station that could easily take me to the other locations I would need to visit while there.
When I arrived, I was promptly greeted and ushered inside by the friendly and helpful staff. Checkin was a breeze. Upon asking the lady at the front desk for an interior room, I was easily accommodated. I am glad, since I am a light sleeper.
I must say, I could not have asked for a better room for myself. It was at the end of a hall, around a corner and faced onto...nothing. I am not one for great views, especially in Manhattan. I am not accustomed to the street noise. The room was not huge, but it was good enough for one. The desk was very nice with lots of room to spread out and work. There was a nice chair to sit in and read, which was lovely. I am a reader. The bed was nice and plush with herds of pillows. I also made use of their specialty pillow service and got a memory foam pillow. HEAVEN. The bathroom was nicely appointed and the shower head was not a dribbly mess but a real nice blast. The complimentary toiletries were also nice quality. The room also came with a huge old fashioned TV (like I cared, I'm in NY and there is enough entertainment on the street) and a rather nice radio/alarm clock. I liked the radio/alarm clock and never turned on the TV.
The hotel staff was really nice every time I asked them for help or information. They were a pleasure to deal with. The bellman was especially wonderful. I honestly wish I could remember his name. The service was put to the test on the night I got to the room to find FREEZING air pouring around and under the door. When I opened up I realized that the room was about 30 degrees. I walked around and at first could not determine what was wrong. Finally I realized that the top window sash had been opened or slipped down on both windows. I called the desk and within 10 minutes, people were up in my room trying to fix the problem. As I had tried to close the windows, I knew there was something wrong. Apparently, those windows need real brute strength in order to get them pushed up and then closed. Two men worked at it with one of them standing on top of the A/C unit. Finally, they got them closed and I could start warming up the room. YAY! Both guys were really nice and we had a nice chat before they went on their way.
The only real bummer for me was the cost of internet service from the hotel. At 14 dollars a day (24 consecutive hours) it is way too expensive. Honestly, if motels can give you internet service, why can't a nice hotel? Anyway, I was lucky and could glom onto the wireless service from a near by establishment. SCORE! You can also go downstairs to get on their wireless network, but it was a pain and only was free the first time you log on, as far as I can tell.
Less of a bummer but it could trouble some, the Affinia has room service, but it is not within the hotel. It comes from Mint, which is down the street. The selection is limited, especially for western food, however there is also a good selection of Indian food with vegetarian options. In room breakfast can be ordered using a door hanger card, which is a nice option and it was not badly priced.
As far as location, you are close to a subway station, near Park Ave., near 2nd Ave and within easy walking distance of Grand Central, if you have a mind to walk on down.
I recommend Affinia if you desire a more boutique-ish hotel experience. It is pricey. If I were paying for the stay from my own pocket, I would not have been able to afford it. If you're on an expense account and it is within your budget, I would say stay here. I'm giving it only 3 stars because of the expense and the high price of internet service. I wish I could give 3.5 stars. -
Review from Flower T.
Woodland Hills, CA
3/23/2009 11 photos
I had a great stay at Affinia 50. All of the hotel staff are friendly and helpful.
I love the Affinia family hotels including East Gate Towers.
Affinia 50 is located in mid-town not to far from Central Park and right next to the Waldorf Astoria.
I always prefer staying at the Affinia family hotels during my visits to NY and Affinia 50 is now my favorite and 1st choice when considering my stays in the city.
Monday through Thursday they offer free cheese & wine I believe noon to 7pm. You can't beat free drinks!
They also have a great breakfast buffet for $14.95 per person every morning until I believe 10am. The hotel is great for business meetings, celebrating events.
The thing I love the most about the hotel is the fact that the rooms are huge 650 sq. ft. bigger than most apartments in the city. The beds are comfortable they even offer pillow preferences, lol.
The rooms are fully equipt with a kitchen, refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave and even a dish washer!
The room rates are VERY reasonable.
I booked a one bedroom suite for 5 nights 6 days and paid an average of $389 a night. When I checked out I paid $1700.00 +
Most rooms in NY cost an average of $400 a night & have NO kitchens and the rooms are small.
My room had a beautiful view of the city from my living room to my bedroom and the bonus, I had my own private outdoor balcony over looking the city and the Waldorf.
My room had plenty of closet space, shelf space and a bath tub which is a nice luxury in NY because most rooms have a stand up shower with little space.
If you are going to NYC and will be staying more than 3 days the Affinia 50 is a great value & place to plan your stay.
Make Affinia 50 your home away from home they have everything you need! -
Review from Jonathan K.
San Jose, CA
1/25/2010
disclaimer: i got this on priceline for $65+tax per night. i would give it 5* if that were really the going rate, but i don't think it is, so i will write what i expect for a hotel that charges at least double that. (note, that for $65/night, it's a STEAL for midtown manhattan).
the good:
the hotel is conveniently located near the 51st Street (6) and Lex/53rd (E,V) stops; there is a starbucks about a block away (50th and Lex) and a bank of america another block away (between 50th and 51st on 3rd). rooms are quite large, especially for manhattan standards, and they use aveda products so the hotel smells like rosemary and mint (not a bad thing). the bed is crazy comfy with a soft pillow-top mattress, and you get to choose from 6 types pillows (you have to call to get anything other than the standard pillow delivered, though).
hint: if you are on floors 3-5, use the small (but mind-numbingly slow) "express" elevator to the left of the main elevator bank if the main elevators are really crowded or on the higher floors.
another hint: the knobs in the shower can be a bit confusing. bottom knob: controls the water for the tub. top knob: controls the water for the shower. middle knob: controls temperature. poor design: the top shower flow control knob overlaps with the middle temperature knob, making it hard to work either one when the shower is on. -.-
the bad:
i was in room 306, and the rooms that are facing 3rd ave. get a LOT of street noise at all times of the night. it's not TOO bad, but there's enough traffic out there to keep you awake if you go to bed before midnight.
also, some general maintenance issues that i would not expect from a hotel of this caliber: there was a big stain in the room, like someone spilled a cup of coffee, but it seems to never have been cleaned and now i think it's just set. two bulbs were burnt out (one in the bathroom, one in the floor lamp in a corner of the room). i guess it's my duty as a guest to report it, but i'm sure it's obvious to housekeeping that there is a burnt-out bulb, especially in the bathroom.
nit-picky: i think one of the bathroom lights is on a timer? so the one that illuminates the shower/tub turns off after a while, so while it's not really that dark, it's quite a shock the first time it happens.
would have been nice if the tv were a flat screen. internet is $13.95 for 24 hours. yuck.
i'd totally stay here again if i get a great another deal in priceline, but imho it's not worth over $120, manahttan or not. -
Review from Fancypants X.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2009
My BFF & I stayed here for 10 days (for about $190 a night) & it was a comfortable place to call home for that time. Not ultra high end by any means, but it is a cute boutique hotel. The lobby is small, neat and unimpressive. Our room (which was a regular Guest Room) was roomy enough to accommodate both of us & all our stuff. My bed was extremely comfortable & I liked how you can pick the type of pillow you want. Bathroom is a decent size (but didn't have enough space/shelves for our products.) The club room has internet and a cozy set up with couches & TVs; it was a good place to lounge after we checked out, but didn't have to be at the airport for a few hours. I love the location- it's right in Midtown next to the Waldorf & a close walk to Rockefeller Center. Their staff was extra helpful with recommendations and directions. The only thing I didn't love were the elevators- they were super slow.
I would definitely stay here again. -
Review from Jen R.
Oceanside, CA
6/17/2008
A really nice hotel to stay at for a decent price in a good location. The room was very large and the people were friendly yet not overbearing. Noice.
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Review from Angela B.
Wilton, CT
10/10/2010
Great gem!
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Review from Lawrence K.
Lake Worth, FL
10/23/2010
When we booked our trip to NYC, we needed a suite as there were 6 of us traveling. We found the Affinia 50 and were excited to find a great accommodation. 2 queen beds in a separate room and a pull out couch for the kids. The hotel itself is located about a mile from times square and 2/3 mile from Grand Central. It is next door to a night club and there are some interesting characters at night.
My biggest issue was with the service, the shower drained extremely slow. So much so, it would flood the bathroom, then take 20 mins plus to drain so the next could shower. With 6 in the room, we had to plan showers as to not waste the day. We informed the front desk immediately the night of arrival, then the next morning before we left. Nothing, it did not drain. I am OK with that, but at least tell me in a note that you tried! I called again, and again nothing! Also, the pull out bed was so broken down in the middle that you would roll right to the center. Fortunately my children are small enough to sleep on the couch and the chair so we set them up as they did nothing to repair either.
I e-mailed the address on their website upon return, and NO RESPONSE EITHER! For $550 a night, I would have expected better service when things went wrong. I understand that things may not be perfect. However, I do expect that an attempt at least is made to repair or accommodate (a roll away bed for the kids perhaps??).
Also, NO FREE INTERNET! $13.95 per day?? After paying $550/night?? Come on! Motel 6 gives you free internet!
Anyway, based on the lack of response from the front desk and especially the corporate office after the trip, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS HOTEL. -
Review from Dawn O.
Gardena, CA
9/26/2008
Great hotel, is getting 5 stars for our random room upgrade! Originally booked a 2-queen room sans kitchenette but got upgraded for free with a room plus kitchenette.
Stayed with 3 girlfriends, all in our mid-20s - our room was very spacious and accommodated our overflowing suitcases nicely. The staff was very friendly, timely and accommodating. The doormen were extremely nice, especially a fellow named Rome (it's been awhile since we stayed, I hope this is his name) As we were checking out, Rome braved the rain for about 10 mins to flag down a taxi van for us to the airport. Clean linens, quality mini-shampoo/conditioner/body wash.
Another reviewer mentioned the sweet smell throughout the hotel. We noticed too! Asked, and the front desk said it was lavender :) Nice touch, and not overbearing like a strong perfume.
Would definitely stay here again!! -
Review from Deanna L.
Ann Arbor, MI
9/8/2009
Stayed here for one night (Labor Day... Eve?) after mis-booking our stay at the Pod Hotel. After scurrying around on Kayak that afternoon, praying to find a room for under $150, I saw the Affinia 50 for the very excellent pre-tax price of $129. We were checked in by a super genial concierge and got our key for an 18th-floor room. After getting off the elevator, we walk down the hall, open the door...
TO THE BIGGEST NY HOTEL ROOM I'VE EVER BEEN IN. Now look. Full disclosure is I'm in my mid-20s, I work for the government and I do things on the relative cheap. I'm talking (private suite) hostels, diners vs. restaurants, public transit vs. taxis, etc. So for me, I know what I'm getting in NYC for $129/night... and it's basically a clean bed with a foot-wide pathway around it. Maybe a private bathroom. Except here, you guys! Sheer awesome. California King bed? Check. Bathroom where I can lift my arms over my shoulders without hitting walls? Yessir. 18th floor balcony overlooking the city. YES PLEASE!! Plus, the room service breakfast was less than $10/person.
In sum, the room was spacious and clean, the bed was hella comfortable, staff were amazingly friendly and the location -- while not super happening at night -- is less than a block from the E, V and 6, making getting around the city pretty simple. And the area (I call it the Hotel District, I'm sure it's technically something else) is incredibly safe. I don't know if I was lucky and got a great last-minute deal, or if it's always this affordable, but regardless... I'll be back. -
Review from Linda L.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2008
i found this hotel online after searching days for a decent price that would accomodate our big group. Affinia had 2 queen beds and a queen pull out sofa, equipped with a kitchenette and a desk. The kitchenette was a big plus for us, we took the subway to costco for our preparty liquids and even some food for our drunken munchies when we got home from going out! They have a conference area that has couches were you can chill and unwind, a plasma tv as well as computers that you can pay to use. during certain hours each night they serve wine and cheese. The doorman is really friendly and the staff pretty much stays out of your way but if you need anything they are happy to help. It is close to the subway but walking to places wasn't that bad. we walked from the hotel down madison ave to central park then to times square then back to the hotel. for 5 nights we paid a total of about $1100 which is great for new york and thats for 3 beds! but we went in january so im not sure when peak season for vacationing in new york is but i know right now it costs about $400+ a night for october. but definite look out for deals when planning your vacation....but i would def stay again for a price like this!
