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The Belleclaire Hotel
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
250 W 77th St(between Broadway & End Ave)
New York, NY 10024
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
(212) 706-4321
- Nearest Transit:
-
79 St (1, 2)
72 St (1, 2, 3)
81 St - Museum of Natural History (A, B, C)
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
61 reviews for The Belleclaire Hotel
Review Highlights
"Fantastic Upper West Side location."
(in 13 reviews)
"Flat screen TV screens on the wall."
(in 6 reviews)
"A few blocks east is central park, NW is riverside dr."
(in 11 reviews)
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61 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah L.
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5 Stars
I blindbooked this hotel via Hotwire for an overnight stay for an incredible price of $91 plus tax. I did some research on Better Bidding before placing my bid, and there are two 3.5 star hotels on the UWS that would have been a match. This was one of them. We had no problem getting from our bus drop off point to the UWS, but then spent 20 minutes finding the hotel. To our embarrassment, it was right next to the Bra Smyth store on the corner. In our defense, the building is currently covered in scaffolding and the hotel's HB sign really looks like the logo for a construction firm...
Our room wasn't ready but the front desk agent offered to upgrade to a double standard room for an additional $30, which I declined, as we were only staying the night. When we came back around 5:30pm, our room was ready. It's pretty small--the smallest room I've ever stayed in NYC to date. However, the room can hold a bed, desk, TV, and the bathroom had its own shower stall. I find the wood floors to be odd (more work for housekeeping) but they do add a bit of warmth to the room. The LG flat screen is nice, but what's the point of having a high def TV when all the channels are in analog? Sorry, the picuture looks like crap.
It's a short walk from the 79th St stop on the 1 line. We went to Astoria, Chinatown, and Midtown and found that the shortest trip was to Chinatown. It's also walking distance to Alice's Tea Cup, Central Park, and the museums.
The only thing I did not like about our stay was the jackhammering in front of the hotel that began at 7:15am. Otherwise, I enjoyed our stay here and found the staff to be accommodating and responsive. The self-serve hot water, tea, and cocoa station in the lobby was also great for those chilly mornings. Complimentary internet was also a plus--no drop in connectivity during our stay.Listed in: Inn and Out: Hotels, NYC Where To Stay
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Review from Roma M.
12/2/2011
I love the boutique hotel experience for 3 reasons: they`re generally aesthetically-pleasing, typically found in great neighbourhoods and customer service is usually fantastic.
We had the deluxe queen; the room was huge(for nyc standards) and clean but distinctly minimal with a few additional touches here and there, like the Ipod dock and bay windows. I`ll try and mention other things that haven`t been mentioned yet.
Cons:
- Being on the Upper West Side, there are very few subway stops nearby. This is a major negative point for me.
- There isn`t very much to do nearby at night, save for great restaurants
- Staff is usually busy and customer service is decent but not quite stellar
Pros:
- This neighbourhood touts some of the best restaurants and bakeries in Manhattan
- It`s pretty quiet and makes for an excellent stroll
- Great vintage stores and boutiques nearby
- Inexpensive. The room we had was just under $200 a night.Listed in: NYC
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Review from Sevelyn C.
Washington, DC
10/24/2011
Plusses: amazing location (Harry's shoes, Zabars, Viand coffee shop, Barnes and Noble, subway lines); clean, elegantly appointed rooms; quiet, comfortable sleep; and helpful, friendly staff members.
So-so: A/C unit in window was a bit noisy. Mitigating factor: Most NYC rooms have noisy window units. Also pricey for what they offer.
Baddie: Boiler problems one morning during my stay = tepid water. Mitigating factor??? A breakfast voucher.
Your call. -
Review from Arvi D.
Santa Clara, CA
2/5/2012
Flew into NY early in the morning and although check-in is not til 3pm, they were able to get me in way before lunch time & gave me an upgraded room! Paid just a little over $100 for a over $200/night room? What was there to complain about? Staff was super friendly. Only downside is the construction noise across the street, but even still, I was offered to be moved if it was an issue. I didn't mind because I enjoyed the view from my room. Will definitely stay there again!
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Review from Kristen W.
Castle Rock, CO
2/1/2012
I am torn between 3 and 4 stars. The hotel itself gets 3 stars but the neighborhood gets 5! (Averages to 4) This little establishment makes you feel like a local. You can enjoy breakfast across the street then walk over to Central Park to burn it off. It is close to the subway station and it is priced competitively! I enjoy beginning on the upper Westside as it has such great restaurants and people watching. We will always consider the Belleclaire when visiting NYC. The family suite is two rooms but a bit cramped. Next time we will just do two separate rooms!
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Review from Sherry S.
Arlington, VA
1/26/2012
Great boutique hotel next door to Papa Beard's Cream Puffs and 2 blocks from subway. What more could you ask for? We stayed last weekend and were upgraded to a king size bed. When the receptionist learned we were celebrating our anniversary, they sent a bottle of wine to our room. Others complained about the elevators, but they were quick for us. Maybe the hotel fixed this due to the complaints. Overall a pleasant stay.
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Review from Bill W.
Harrison, TX
10/12/2011
Great location, below average room, less than stellar staff.
Checked in and found there was black mold growing all over the bathroom. We left for an hour or so and came back and the room was full of chemical fumes, so it did get cleaned and quickly, but who doesn't notice black clumps growing in the grout, along the window, and up the walls when cleaning a bathroom???
Emailed before arriving to see if the rooms had a safe. I was told yes, but upon arrival found this to not be true. I emailed back to let them know I was unhappy about being lied to and to date have not received a response. Front desk said none of the rooms have a safe and shrugged me off.
Elevators worked about 80% of the time. Only ice machine is in a fire exit on the first floor. Free Wi-Fi each hour and you have to log back in. Main Door to my room had a 1/4" gap around three sides, and light from the hallway shined in all night. Bathroom door's bottom corner was cracked off. Tiles in the bathroom floor around the door were not grouted in, just loose and (as my foot found out) sharp edged.
All in all, not a good value (especially after their bragging about a multi-million dollar renovation). I know you don't go to NYC for the room, or a view (which mine was of a wall of the building next door), but one does kind of want to come back to a place free of mold, broken doors, and not have to walk up 10 flights of stairs to get to sleep.
Upper West Side is a great neighborhood, but I will seek out other accommodations for my next visit. I wanted to like this place from the pictures on their website and the price, but reality set in after the first day. Pictures are deceiving, and higher cost does not equal better value... -
Review from Rose L.
New York, NY
6/18/2011
If you're expecting upscale amenities and a 5-star establishment, I suggest going elsewhere because you won't find that at the Belleclaire. I stayed here yesterday with my boyfriend for a night away from our hectic life and it was just what we wanted.
I like my bad news before the good so I'll start with the Cons.
CONS:
-Both elevators were out of order. We got on one a little after midnight and it wouldn't go past the second floor because the door would get stuck. The other elevator was out of service completely and by morning, we had to use the service elevator.
-Took about 5 minutes to actually get someone on the phone from the front desk. Considering this is a relatively small hotel, that shouldn't happen.
-If you let your mind run away from you, you might get creeped out by the environment (or maybe it was just the shock from being stuck in an elevator hotel).
PROS:
-I booked for the wrong date but the staff at the front desk quickly corrected that mishap.
-Check-in was super easy (make sure to book online).
-The room was really clean compared to other hotels.
-The AC was working fine and had me freezing after 5 minutes.
-The water temperature/pressure was just right.
-FREE WIFI!!!
Overall, we had a pleasant stay and would recommend the Belleclaire if you're not looking to stay too long in the city and you want to save a few bucks. If you've got the midnight muchies, turn the corner and head into Big Nick's. Delicious food, funny drunk people, and an insane menu!
Make sure you also go with the Deluxe Queen room to avoid any problems. The economy/standard rooms might be where the complaints lie. After all, you get what you pay for. -
Review from Nora S.
Brookline, MA
5/10/2011
First of all, the location of this hotel is excellent - very convenient on the 1 subway and just off of Broadway on the Upper West Side. This is not a luxury hotel, but rather a comfortable and modest option that is hard to come by in New York.
They've obviously been in the process of making some huge improvements. The furniture, carpets and some other aesthetic touches appear to be very new. The bathroom in my room, however, was not only outdated, I couldn't decide if it seemed more like a college dorm, a hospital, or a jail. Some more improvements could definitely be made in that department...
Also, I have to agree with my fellow Yelpers on the issue of the elevators. This has got to be the slowest elevator on the island of Manhattan. Only one is functioning, so give yourself an extra 18 minutes travel time to get downstairs (I'm not kidding... at one point on a Saturday night it actually took us that long).
There's no breakfast provided at the hotel, but they do have complimentary tea and coffee in the lobby. They also can arrange room service through a diner down the street. Overall, for New York (especially if you're going to spend most of your stay out and about) this is a great option... -
Review from jordan w.
Manhattan, NY
6/17/2011
The choice you have to make with Hotel Belleclaire is do you want to get bitten by bed bugs or do you want roast underneath your covers because the AC doesn't actually work. Well, I guess either way you won't be sleeping much because what the AC window unit lacks in effectiveness, it more than makes up in LOUD NOISES.
The room was small and the furniture was the only saving grace. The bathroom was also quite nice but i sprained my ankle twice on the bathroom door ledge because the bathroom is on 6 inches higher ground than the rest of the hotel room and so the ledge always win.
I am surprised to find other ratings of 4 stars and above, maybe others have extremely low expectations but I can assure you even for the price, there are better options in NYC. Just look at hotwire, priceline or something else. And last but not least, one of their elevator has been broken for 6 months - that pretty much sums up how much the management gives a crap about their hotel.
Hands down, the hotel belleclaire was the worst hotel I have ever stayed in and I hope others do not get misled by their rating (it really should be a 1.5-2 star hotel in my opinion). -
Review from Jen C.
1/2/2011 1 photo
This review is based on an economy room with a shared bathroom (between 2 other rooms). It was inexpensive for New Year's weekend and most of the reviews said sharing a bathroom was never an issue, so we went ahead with this cheapest option.
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PRICE - The price was good for a prime location in the Upper West Side during the holidays... we paid about $180 a night with taxes.
CONVENIENCE - it is a couple blocks from the 1 subway, which makes travel a lot easier. Additionally, its located very close to Zabar's, a highly rated deli. Outside of the hotel are many eats, ranging from Nick's Burgers & Pizza (24 hours), to fruit markets, to chains like Cosi, so if you want an area where there's still things to eat late night without rubbing shoulders with a gazillion tourists, this is ideal.
FRIENDLY SERVICE - bellhops, front desk, manager..all very helpful.
ITEMS - appreciated the flat screen and ipod dock.** Did NOT appreciate the ipod dock alarm not being reset from the last occupants, as it woke us up at the crack of dawn one morning. **
CLEAN - bathroom, room service all clean. I'm a pretty huge neat freak and was worried about the shared bathroom being an issue, but every time I stepped in it was as if it was just cleaned and wiped down.
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AMBIANCE/NOISE - The halls of this hotel are a little The Shining-esque, which creeped me out a bit especially during late night hours. Lighting is decent in the room, but there is only one small window in the economy room. Not much of a view though; you can just see the window of another room 3 feet away. That and roof. Doors/walls aren't soundproof... neither are the ceilings =p
PIPES !!!!!!!!! - If you book the economy room, be wary of LOUD, BANGING pipes that go on throughout the day. They were sporadic and we couldn't do anything about it.
COMFORT - Eh. I love lots of pillows and sleeping in hotel beds. But for some reason it did not feel very comfortable settling in. Also, it was extremely hot in our room, even with the heat off and windows open on a winter day. Is there central heating as well? We could not sleep through it comfortably...
ELEVATORS - Snail slow, as other reviews mentioned. It will take you 10 minutes to get up and down, vice versa. No joke. And our floor button light was broken so we could never tell if it was going up or not.
I won't be back unless I book a nicer room with a view of the streets. This is a good budget stay if you are in during tourist season and everything else is booked. -
Review from Heather S.
New York, NY
10/1/2011
We booked online and got a good deal. When they found out it was our wedding night they sent us a complimentary bottle of champagne and box of chocolates. The bed and pillows were extremely comfortable, the room felt like a sparse, clean, neat, organized city apartment. Great location, on the corner of Broadway near plenty of restaurants and shopping. The staff are extremely friendly and polite. Modern and simple atmosphere.
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Review from Raul N.
3/16/2011
While staying in New York on business, we found some cheap rooms at the Belleclaire Hotel of http://Hotels.com. The location near Central Park was convenient, and it was close to several of the meetings we had planned for our trip. Plus, the subway was just a short walk down the block from our hotel, making it easy to get out to other parts of the city.
We checked in pretty late at night, and managed to get to our rooms quickly and without any hiccups--a smooth check-in is always welcome after a long day of traveling. The rooms weren't anything too special. We had the individual rooms that were a little small, but nicely furnished. Mine had a narrow hallway that made it feel a little more cramped than it was--it was a bit of a squeeze to get into my room with luggage. But there was a king bed that was welcome after a long day out and about. They offered a flatscreen TV and mini-fridge, but both felt like random additions to the room. And I appreciated the free in-room WiFi, even if it ran a little slow at times.
The bathroom was nice and spacious, but I couldn't get over how difficult it was to take a shower! The shower curtain was too short, so as soon as I turned on the water, the shower curtain billowed up.
I do have to agree with other Yelpers about the noise here. The walls are pretty thin, and I heard everyone passing through the hallway outside my room. And then there was the wonderful chorus of sounds that emanated from the pipes in my room--how relaxing, only not.
Was the Belleclaire the most glamorous hotel you could stay in in New York? Not exactly, but it sure was convenient. -
Review from Jeff A.
Washougal, WA
11/23/2011 4 Check-ins Here
This place has some nice, clean, quiet, trendy looking rooms. They're somewhat small (not cramped), but why do you need a big hotel room when you're in New York -- get outside and do something!
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Review from Grace K.
Los Angeles, CA
11/8/2010
This was my first trip to NY actually paying for a place to stay. If i had to pay again i would def stay here again.
SERVICE: 4
Our bellhop Sare was extremely helpful, polite and friendly. As for the rest of the staff, some seemed happier to be there than others, but all were pretty friendly
LOCATION: 4
Great location for the price! The neighborhood was nice and everything was conveniently close by.
CLEANLINESS: 4
Everything looked clean to my naked eye!
AMBIANCE: 3.5
It depends on what you prefer. This is an older building so it has that feel (which i love) but they def tried to modernize it with the furniture. Rooms were pretty nice, although i've had nicer at best westerns and days inns, but it's def nothing to complain about.
PRICE: 4 -
Review from Rebecca M.
San Marino, CA
8/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Great find for nyc! Good prices for a great hotel. The staff is all extremely kind and helpful.
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Review from Teal K.
Lakehead, CA
8/29/2011
This is one of the worst hotel experiences I have ever had. The location is awesome. The lobby is beautiful. The staff seem nice....BUT - the accomodations were awful. And I mean seriously awful.
My mom and I were staying for a week and were looking for a bargain - big mistake! The first room we were put in was on the lowest floor. There was a window air conditioner that was FILTHY and didn't work (unless you count a sickly whining). The window above the AC unit didn't close all the way and there was a fire escape leading directly up to our room. Safe, right? The bathroom was also dirty and super tiny. The only lights that worked were the overheads which made the room look dingy and small. The view was of the fire escape and a brick wall of an adjoining building. Not cool.
So, we went back down to the lobby to ask for another room. They gave us one on a floor where renovations were still being done. Plastic covered the hall floors and there were workers and saws going everywhere. Once inside the room, we discovered that it hadn't been completed yet. The bathroom was disgusting with exposed rusty pipes and you couldn't even see through the one window in the room due to the dirt, bad AC unit and a crumpled Macy's bag stuck between the panes of glass. Gross.
If you want a good deal, stay here. You get what you pay for!!! -
Review from Ashley S.
7/17/2010
Prelude: My boyfriend and I were visiting the city and we wanted a cheap place to stay at and we found this on http://expedia.ca for under $100 per night.
I was a little afraid after reading the reviews on yelp, but for the price, we decided to go for it. We got a shared bathroom double bed room.
Pros:
- location is very conveniently located near lots of little cafes and restaurants so you can always walk out and get something on a whim
- also located very close to the subway station (about 5 minute walk)
- the comforter and sheets were soo comfortable; if I wasn't in NY, I wouldn't even get out of bed!
- the shared bathroom was not a big deal at all; I never heard anyone actually using it and it was always clean and well maintained (as was our room)
- the sink inside the room is a little odd, but ended up being a plus for brushing teeth, etc.
- the hotel staff was nice and helpful when we asked them for recommendations for restaurants and such
- there is an internet cafe downstairs so in case you don't bring a computer there's always that option
- the tv was very nice
Cons:
- the room was a little small, but for what we paid and got, it was all good
- the elevator was a little slow, but again, it really wasn't a big deal; I know a lot of people complain about the other one being broken but it wasn't that bad
Overall, it was a great experience and it just added to my love for NY. This summer, we booked once again with this hotel and I hope we have another equally great experience with them! -
Review from Myca T.
San Luis Obispo, CA
10/11/2010
Great hotel for the money! I loved the location, being so close to the park and so many great restaurants! The subway was two - four blocks (depending which one you wanted to go to) and easy to get to things.
Hotel is clean and orderly (with the exception of their elevator, which I think is still being worked on). Clean sheets, floors and restrooms. Modern feel to the rooms, with the LCD TVs on the walls and simple lighting fixtures.
We were sad to leave this place.
PS. Zabars and the Westside Market are fabulous and close by! -
Review from Mindy W.
Chicago, IL
7/4/2010
This was one of the cheaper hotels that I looked at. The one that was around the same price range but a little less was a Days Inn which was 20 blocks north which I heard was not a good area that you would want to be in, so I cancelled that reservation and went for this one. I'm glad I did though; it met all of my expectations.
Decent hotel. Good service. Reasonable price. AWESOME location. Just steps away from Central Park and a few subway stops away from Times Square. Felt safe walking around, and bad news for fashionistas and shopoholics, you have Barney's right down the street along with a lot of other good stores for you to explore and drain your wallet. The rooms itself were nice. Newly finished hardwood floors. Flat screen TV screens on the wall. Bathrooms were bearable. http://Hotels.com offers lower prices, so check that out if you're on a search for deals. I recommend this hotel to anyone who's on a budget but still wants more than your average hotel.
Only downside is that they do not offer complimentary breakfast. Shouldn't be a problem considering that there are restaurants all around for you to choose. -
Review from L K.
Westchester County, NY
10/2/2008
One of the most hilarious hotel experiences I've ever had took place at the Hotel Belleclaire. Located on the Upper West Side, close to many attractive amenities, the hotel is cheap and initially seems like a good choice for people who want to spend time in NYC without going broke.
I stayed at the hotel several years ago, during the always-busy Thanksgiving weekend. As you can imagine, decent hotel rooms in NYC were few and far between. I was going to a show with my then-boyfriend and wanted a hotel that wouldn't force us to traipse to the other side of Manhattan once the evening was over, and Hotel Belleclaire seemed to fit the bill. Plus it was within our limited budget, the online photos made it look great, it had gotten decent reviews, and I needed to book something quickly. How could I go wrong, I thought?
How, indeed. Picture it: the boyfriend and I arrive, bags in tow, at the door of the Hotel Belleclaire. The entire building is covered in scaffolding. A tad surprising, but then again, this is New York. Buildings are under construction all the time. We walk into the lobby - the hotel's small, sketchy gift shop is crammed into a corner near the front door - and proceed to the front desk.
Check-in goes smoothly, although the desk clerk gives me the eye the entire time. Boyfriend is a bigger person and ignores it. The lobby is small but bustling, and looks exactly as it does in the photos. We are pleased about our good find and are looking forward to a nice weekend. And then the elevator doors opened.
The Hotel Belleclaire is an old hotel, and the elevator reflects this. Two people and a good-sized piece of luggage are about all that is going to fit on that thing. Crammed against our suitcase - because this was all we could do and still allow the doors to close - we pressed the number for our floor and were whisked upstairs. Well, I take that back. We were not whisked. We creaked upstairs. At one point I actually wondered how long it would take the FDNY to extract us in the event that the elevator broke down.
Finally, we arrived at our floor. The elevator doors opened to reveal a harshly lit yellow hallway, with thin, drab carpeting that was stained in spots. Framed black-and-white photographs of NYC were hung on the walls. Maybe it was the lighting or the bad paint job, but those photos looked sad and bleak instead of artsy and inspiring, which I assume was the angle for which the hotel staff was aiming.
We'd booked a room with a shared bath - I don't really recommend this, only because sharing a bathroom with strangers is sort of creepy, but it was the best that I could do on that particular weekend. The bathroom was done entirely in forest-green tiles, the lighting was dull, and the fan didn't work so well, causing steam from the shower to build up and cling to everything. Plus, the pipes began shrieking whenever you turned the shower on, and since our room was right next to the bathroom, we were treated to quite a serenade when our neighbors took a shower.
As for the room - well, let me start by saying that the rooms look nothing like they do in the pictures. I don't know where they took the pictures that are on the Belleclaire website, but I didn't stay in a room with furniture even close to what's pictured there. Only the lamps were the same. The bed had the same lumpy, institutional-quality mattress that I slept on in college; the furniture, while of a sleek modern design, was fairly cheap; the carpet was still stained; and the in-room sink came complete with two plastic drinking cups. I wasn't looking for cut glass stemware, but come on - plastic drinking cups? Come on!!
I don't know what was more hilarious, that or the toilet paper stacked in the closet. You can take your own roll with you to the bathroom! Or perhaps it was the fruit sticker plastered to the mirror (so much for maid service). Or the ancient radiator that made the place feel like the Sahara.
My boyfriend started laughing when he saw the "in-room CD player" - it was actually an alarm clock with a built-in CD player. We'd spent 5 minutes hunting for an actual CD player before making this discovery. Then he got a load of the "game console" - a joystick that looked like it came from someone's Atari set. Apparently they have iPod docking stations in the rooms now. I doubt they can screw that up, but then again I didn't think they could stretch the truth about a CD player, either.
But the highlight of our stay was the next morning when my boyfriend went to pull up the windowshade (no curtains). The shade fell off the window, smacking into the radiator on the way down before falling into a triumphant pile on the floor. We couldn't get it to affix to the window again. Not that I was much help, though - I couldn't stop laughing.
Hotel Belleclaire - it's cheap, cheap cheap. But I give it 2.5 stars, because it did provide me with a bed and some funny memories.Listed in: New York, New York, Bad to the Bone, Hotels & Motels
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Review from Michele C.
Somerville, MA
7/20/2011
We really enjoyed staying here during the blizzard of Christmas 2010! The hotel is so conveniently located that we didn't need to worry about going very far for food or entertainment. The hotel gets their room service orders from the diner across the street, so the delivery is fast and you're only charged the diner's regular prices for the food! A subway stop for the 1 is just 2 blocks away and it's a short walk to Central Park. The rooms themselves are small, but very clean. I recommend staying here if you're visiting the city. You'll even save a few bucks, as this place is reasonably priced compared to similar hotels.
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Review from Chuck k.
3/31/2007
Good prices, nice rooms (if slightly small), decent location. It's 2 blocks from the subway, across the street from a 24 hour diner, in the same building as a 24 hour pizza and grill place. And 3 blocks from H and H bagels and Zabars.
The first room we recived was small, and we were told we'd have to move due to remodeling. This was a pain, but not the end of the world. However, at 8AM or so we started hearing drilling, and people yelling in Spanish and English and talking on walkie talkies. Then, around 9 AM they started drilling through our walls (at least it sounded like that).
I complained and we were comped a night. Plus they moved us to a bigger room!
All in all a nice place, hopefully the remodeling will be done soon! -
Review from Stacy C.
Houston, TX
12/15/2009
I booked this hotel for a weekend trip my mother and I had planned. In fact, my mother had taken it upon herself to initially book a terrible idea of a hotel for us that she found on a hotel website. After I checked the reviews for the one she booked I immediately forced her to cancel and book at this spot (even though the reviews didn't seem to be glowing, they certainly weren't as bad as the first place she picked).
I totally disagree with most of the less than stellar reviews. This place was great and, let's be honest, who should really be spending a lot of time in your hotel while you are in NYC anyway?
We got to the hotel and found out that our booking was incorrect. No problem, they switched us to a double room. Great. The room was spacious, clean, and I dug the motiff which looks just as it's advertised. The room initially smelled like heavy cleaner and bleach which was a turn off but I would take that extreme over the opposite anyday. The beds were large and comfortable. The bathroom had ample towels and bath supplies and if you are taking a minute to relax they have a flat screen TV for you and an ipod dock.
The neighborhood is quaint and quiet, which is a nice change if you are doing the touristy Times Square stuff. It's very close to a convenient subway line and offers a couple of great restaurants.
The best part is the price tag was completely affordable for what we received. I would definitely stay here again. -
Review from Amanda L.
Brighton, MA
1/4/2008
I remember looking at the pictures for this and thinking, "wow this is really nice". I was OK with the shared bathroom, if it meant saving some money.
Can I tell you, the pictures don't look ANYTHING like the damn rooms.
But that doesn't necessarily mean I didn't like the place. It was good for what it was worth. I didn't particularly care for a great view, as I didn't plan on spending much time there anyway. The shared bathroom wasn't terrible, but it was great. I liked the fact that it was extremely close to the subway. I don't know if I would stay there again, only because I think I would try to find a cheaper place (and without sacrificing the bathroom for it). -
Review from Marvy A.
San Jose, CA
4/23/2008
This is the second time we've stayed at this hotel. The location is wonderful, close to EVERYTHING! The subway, Zabar's and H&H Bagels is 2 blocks away, there's a 24 hour diner right across the street and just about everything else you need within reach!
The only downside would be the size of the room. We stayed in a 2 bed room (2 doubles) and didn't have any room or space to put our luggage on. It was, however, clean and the staff was always helpful! Plus, you're in New York....small spaces are to be expected!
Will definitely stay there again! -
Review from Jaii F.
San Francisco, CA
3/27/2008
I stayed three nights at the Hotel Belleclaire and I was totally comfortable and happy with my entire stay. I had a Queen suite with a private bathroom. The rate for this time of year is $229 per night (weekdays) and $249 per night (weekends), plus the hotel is currently offering 10% off for a stay of three nights or more. This is pretty much unheard of for a decent hotel in Manhattan.
This hotel also offers a shared bathroom option at a lower rate. You may want to check http://tripadvisor.com for feedback on that if you are interested. The place seemed clean so I would say take the normal precaution of a shared bathroom and shower in your flip-flops, but that it is probably OK.
My room was large with a plasma TV, ipod speakers, an Alarm Clock/CD Player, refrigerator and hairdryer. I had a large closet, good sized bathroom, comfy bed and a great view - and blackout blinds! Great for those of us who like to check out the nightlife.
Everything was clean, safe and nice and near public transit and coffee. It's not the kind of place Trump would own or stay, but if you're young and have any Ikea furniture in you apartment - you will be stoked on this place. There were also a lot of Europeans and families here and everyone seemed pretty happy with the hotel. They also offer room service and there is a fitness center.Listed in: New York
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Review from Sam L.
Honolulu, HI
11/28/2009
Fantastic Upper West Side location!
We stayed at this hotel to be in close proximity to the Macy's parade a few avenue-blocks east on 77th & Central Park West Ave. Not only was it great for our first ever Macy's parade, this hotel just happened to be in a really great spot for everything a traveler would need. Subway & bus tops are really close by (or any hotel on Broadway for that matter), 24-hour diners and deli's are just steps away (Manhattan Diner kinda sucked, Europa Delivery serves up nice cheesy cheesecake), and right around the corner on the same block is a 24-hour grocery market (Westside Market).
And, if you're into the real NYC foodie experience, H&H Bagel and Zabar are right up north on Broadway while Gray's Papaya is down south east. For me, I was happy to have two Starbucks flanking this place close-by north and south on Broadway as well. There are also some nice clothes shops north and south of the hotel if you want to tone down your tourist look (NYC is all about black, black, black and shades of dark gray attire from head to toe.)
The King Deluxe room we booked was very spacious for a city hotel. Bathroom was a decent size along with the closet space. Some rooms have shared community bathrooms so check your reservations carefully. Our room had a mini-fridge which came in handy for stocking up on bottled water.
Now for some of the hotel's negatives we experienced.
I should've been tipped off when the front desk clerk mentioned assigning us a nice quiet room. When we got to our room and checked our view I realized what she meant. We had a spectacular view of another guest room of the same hotel across the way...basically, a brick wall. This has a double edge in that it tends to keep the room quiet from road noise, but it also makes the room very dark. Day or night, we needed the lights on to see what we were doing.
If you use the window-installed A/C be prepared for very loud raucous noises as it cycles the compressor on and off. I had to use a folded cardboard wedge to tone down the plastic vibration noises between the vents. There is also a bonus noise if it begins to rain outside. You will hear annoyingly loud tapping sounds from raindrops hitting the exterior hollow metal shield for the A/C unit.
If you like your showers hot, you're in luck...if you're patient enough to wait a few minutes letting the water run. The front doors, although heavy and close shut with authority, are not dense enough with material (I think they were hollow metal doors). You can clearly hear people talking and kids run-playing by your front door. The reverse is also true when walking the hallways to the elevator. The wooden floors transmit neighboring thumps, thuds, and crashes from fellow inconsiderate guests which can suck if you're sensitive to that sort of thing late at night...I am. On our visit, one elevator was down for repairs during our entire stay.
To enjoy this great location, all you need is some earplugs, nightvision goggles, and the love of brisk & refreshing showers and you're all set at the Hotel Belleclaire. -
Review from Crissy K.
1/28/2010 1 photo
Loved it here! I would certainly stay here again. I was lucky enough to get the King size room that they show on the website. It had plenty of room, storage, a closet, iPod speaker, great TV, fridge, hot hot water. The only thing it did not have was a safe, but that was fine for me.
The location is near everything, the 79th street metro is a 2min walk. The markets nearby where great for picking up water and light snacks for the room. I stayed here for 6 nights and it felt like home. The staff was very friendly. Highly recommend. -
Review from Amanda G.
4/2/2007
I was told upon checking in that we would have to switch rooms after the first night. Then to cap that off, we were awoken by NUMEROUS workmen at about 8 am. They were talking directly outside the door, and pounding so hard on the walls i literally thought they might come through them. (Not that any of this is the fault of the workmen. The blame lies with the hotel.)
After making my unhappiness clear to the management, they upgraded my room the day we had to move.. Even better, they comped a night!
Initially, i was very disappointed, but they definitely made right by me.
The hotel is in a great location, (walking distance to H&H, Zabar's, and Manhattan diner) and very close to the subway.
The rooms are cute, and have new bathroom fixtures, and furniture. They're clean, and housekeeping comes no matter what time you leave your room!
They are currently finishing up the remodeling. I think when this is done it will be better than ever.
I would definitely stay here again.I just worry that the prices will go up after the remodel is complete. -
Review from Blake J.
Washington, DC
5/22/2009
I've stayed at this hotel on two occasions over the past month and have been very satisfied each time!
The hotel is located in the Upper West Side area of NYC. Within easy walking distance of Central Park and outside of the hustle and bustle of Midtown, but not so far that it's inconvenient. There's a metro stop two blocks up on 79th or 5 down on 72nd. Great area!
The first time I stayed here was the was last week in April. I was able to get a room with a queen bed for $120/night, plus about $20 for taxes.
The room was a decent size (especially for NYC). Hardwood floors, nicely laid out, and well decorated as shown in the pictures posted by other reviewers.
My second visit was this past week. Rates had gone up since my last visit, so I opted for an economy room, which was a room with a shared bathroom. I was a little hesitant at the idea of sharing a bathroom, but it was only 2 days.
The economy rooms have an interesting setup. When I first walked down the hall and saw my room number on a door with two other room numbers, I was worried we were all sharing one big room. I slid the key card, opened the door, which opened up into a smaller hallway with four doors, one of which was the bathroom. The rooms themselves were on the small side, but not overly so and had a mirror and hand sink. The bathroom was very clean and I didn't once see any of the other occupants. I was pleasantly surprised by the experience!
I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a nice, comfortable place to stay on a NYC visit. -
Review from Kellee K.
4/29/2011
We stayed here for 7 nights while visiting NYC. Nice hotel, larger king room than expected, comfortable accomodations and convenient location... all for a reasonable (by NYC standards).
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Review from Cristene M.
Chicago, IL
9/22/2009
My boyfriend and I hotel hopped during our trip to NYC in order to see each neighborhood. Hotel Belleclaire, located on the upper west side, was the fourth place we stayed. We were given a corner room on one of the top floors - this room was very tiny compared to the others (we saw how big the room was next to us). The room was slightly off too, it felt like we were staying in a closet - there was little to no decoration and our voices echoed in the room.
We were disappointed with the quality of sleep we got here. During the night, the walls were so thin that we heard people going in/out of their rooms and the light also shined through the door (from the hallway) because the door didn't fit the doorway properly. During the morning there was loud drilling from construction and the sound from the streets was very loud. I think the street noise could have been remedied with proper insulation.
The elevator is slow and sometimes it's too full by the time it gets to your stop, so you have to wait through maybe 2 or 3 cycles, so try to get on a lower floor if possible.
Overall I felt that this was a Holiday Inn Express type hotel trying to be an upscale hotel. The pluses include the location, LCD TV, refrigerator, and price (excluding the noise). If you can get this hotel for less than $125 and don't mind poor sleep, go for it, otherwise, go somewhere else. -
Review from Luca M.
3/11/2010
Belleclaire is a nice haven for those who do not want to go broke in NYC and do not want to stay in a hostel either.
When we stayed there our room was spacious (even for two plus one extra), though the view from the window was bleak at best.
I highly recommend NOT booking the shared bathroom rooms. Fork out the extra and enjoy a shower and a crap whenever you please.
The service at Belleclaire is impeccable. Our room was too hot and the heater regulator was zonked. I asked the front desk for assistance and came back to my floor to find the plumber ALREADY working on it (fixed in a jiffy). The airline was not doing anything about my lost baggage, so I decided to send them an angry fax. The front desk not only sent it (international), but asked for a trifling sum that amounted to almost no charge at all.
It is true that the pictures aren't exactly representative of the rooms, however I never felt duped or short-changed by Belleclaire.
My standards are simple: I want what I pay for. I want an affordable accommodation, in a clean room, with good service and courtesy, in a good location. Belleclaire fits perfectly. -
Review from Julia W.
Chicago, IL
5/29/2009
I almost inclined to withhold a stellar review, for fear this place may be discovered by too many people and become no longer affordable.
However, our stay was too good not to divulge.
We originally booked an economy room w/shared bathroom. However, upon learning that hubby and I were celebrating our anniversary, they bumped us up to a king for practically nothing!
Our room was absolutely lovely, with a big comfy bed, flat screen tv, dresser, desk, ipod dock...we made ourselves right at home.
As far as location goes, its hard to get much better. You're right on Broadway on the UWS. The areas quiet, but there's still tons to do and it's unbelievably easy to commute from.
A few blocks east is central park, NW is riverside dr., the 1,2,3 trains are a block away, as are numerous restaurants and shops.
There was construction going on on the building, but we never ran into any inconveniences because of it.
Overall, it was a wonderful stay. -
Review from Viviana S.
New York, NY
10/23/2009
I stayed there one night, in one of their suites (read: 2 bedroom with 3 queen beds total, 1 bathroom) with a bunch of girls for a bachelorette party. The hotel staff was very courteous and responsive (asking for many extra towels, etc). Rooms were clean and well appointed (no nasty bed linens or old dusty lamps) and modern (flat screens mounted to the walls in each bedroom - admittedly there would have been no where else to put them). The rooms were small, but there was a closet and some dressers so you didn't have to sit on your luggage or anything. The temperature control was a bit dicey, it was really hot in the 2nd bedroom even with the a/c cranked to full. Maybe a fluke of the room we were in (602).
All in all, a perfectly decent NYC hotel for a stay in a nice 'hood and close to public transport (buses pass by on B'way and the 1,2,3 are all within walking distance). If you're coming to town for a concert at the Beacon, this is a stone's throw away. I'd recommend!
Note - "pricey" is for anywhere other than New York. If you live here, it's decent. -
Review from Jana P.
1/5/2011 1 photo
Went to NYC with few girlfriends to celebrate my birthday early and to celebrate another friend's bday. So, we decided to stay here at Bellaclaire on the upper west side of NYC. When we arrived, the hotel was small which was okay because it's NYC. We got our hotel room keys, started to pile into the small elevator which only has one working for the entire weekend. Like what the other review mentioned, there was cardboard on the floors everywhere. We arrived to our room which looked very small but the decor was nice.
So, we decided to go out and didn't come home until 4 a.m. At 7 a.m., I here loud banging noises coming from outside my door, guys speaking loud in Spanish and English, drilling actions started happening, and everything else. So, I got really annoyed so I got out of bed and told them to stop doing what they were doing. At 7:05 a.m., I called downstairs to figure out what is going on and they didn't know what I was talking about. The noise stopped but it started at 8:00 a.m., then I started screaming in Spanish..."basically to shut up... LOL" then called downstairs to see if we can get another room. Then, I called at 9:00 a.m., and at 11:00 a.m. I mean, they should have told us that they are remodeling the hallway next to our room so that we would have got ear plugs or something but I kept calling them for room change and until 12:00 p.m., we were able to change our room. When we got to our other room, we were just glad that it wasn't the 5th floor and after that it was okay.
We loved our hotel because around the corner, there's a 24/7 mom & pop's supermarket, the subway isn't far away to walk, and Chase bank is one block away. So, I don't think I would be back. Our first night there was horrible!!! I think if you decide to go here, you should call and ask about the remodeling because I really don't want you to go through what I went through... -
Review from Sam C.
San Francisco, CA
9/4/2009
It's hard to find a better location at a better price. Hotel is on W77th @ Broadway in the heart of the Upper West Side.
Rooms are spacious and clean with comfy beds, flat screen TV, dresser, desk, ipod dock. Staff is friendly and hospitable. There was even construction going on throughout my stay, but I never was inconvenienced or annoyed because of it.
Area is fairly quiet for NYC standards, and there are lots of neat restaurants, bars, boutique/vintage stores nearby. 1, 2, 3 lines are also close (less than 3 blocks), and a few blocks east is Central Park.
I used a driver to get to and from LaGuardia and it was approx. $25 per way (CHEAP, CHEAP!). Cab fare from Penn Station is approx $15; and both fares include tip.
I'd stay here again in a heart beat....it's truly a hidden treasure as are many of the boutique hotels on the Upper West Side.
Overall, it was a wonderful stay. -
Review from Courtney M.
Chicago, IL
3/2/2010
I chose this hotel because of its terrific location and very reasonable prices for NYC. When I got there, it more than exceeded my expectations. The lobby is very updated, and the staff is very efficient. The rest of the hotel is very charming and has a European feel. The rooms themselves are very spacious and have a modern decor twist that surprisingly blends well its more quaint hallways and corridors. What I value most is that everything seemed extremely clean and well cared for.
I stayed for a second time last week. One elevator (the left one) was not working the first visit. I took it the second visit and the cable and steel broke (I know, how does steel break? It does though, as I saw the fissure and the two broken parts when the door came open and I was between floors). It was pretty scary. No one seemed to really care. I think they could have pretended to care and offer a credit on the room. No. Everyone makes mistakes, but it's how they handle them that counts. So I'm knocking down my original perfect rating. That said, I'd probably stay again. It is still cute, clean, and well-located. -
Review from Shayan R.
2/26/2011
I have to say I did enjoy my stay here but I definitely do expect more. The price is great and the location in upper west side is not a bad place to be in NYC, being walking distance from central park. I came here with my girlfriend and we went to the nice market near this place to get some food for a nice picnic she had been talking about having in the park when we got there. Was a perfect spot for the 2 days we were there but we had decided to spend the remainder of the trip in a times square hotel which to me provides a greater NYC experience. If you need reasonably priced accommodations and don't plan on spending much time in your room (you're in new york, why would you?) then Belleclaire will make you happy.
