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The Pod Hotel
- 82 reviews
- Neighborhood:
- Midtown East
"I LOVE this place. I've stayed here twice in the past year for business trips and it was perfect. Small hotel rooms--but hey, this is New…" read more »
34 reviews for The Benjamin
More than ever, im convinced that its a mistake to head for the name brand hotels in New York. Boutiques are undoubtably the way to go, and The Benjamin is a perfect example-- a refreshing change from standardized rooms and services.
They've chosen to focus on giving guests an amazing sleep experience and they do a brilliant job of it, and then go above and beyond by giving some of the most enthusiastic service I've ever experienced. They truly encourage you to use their services many of which are available at no additional charge.
Prior to arrival, we were emailed by concierges eager to make our stay as perfect and individualized as possible. I wasnt sure which pillows to select from their extensive pillow menu, so instead I just told our concierge about our sleep habits and problems, and let her make suggestions. When we arrived, several pillow options were waiting for us including a down pillow, a water pillow, a five foot body pillow and a buckwheat pillow.
The room was much larger than you'd expect in manhattan, and everything about it whispered-- relax, sleep well-- from the muted white tones to the fluffy linens and towels. Even the lighting bose stereo was tuned to play restful music when we arrived.
A sleep assistance menu let us know we could order milk and cookies or hot cocoa before bed (and we did!) and they had lots of spa services geared toward helping you unwind.
The room was spacious, and included a pretty large kitchenette with a well stocked fridge (not minifridge), china, glasses, mugs, and silverware, as well as a great desk area. The only drawback? How can any hotel still not offer free internet? The idea of paying 15 bucks a day on top of NY prices for something that should be standard astounds me, and the internet service is never good, even when you do give in and pay for it.
But aside from the lack of free wifi, I highly recommend the unique services of The Benjamin.
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I stayed here a few months ago while visiting Midtown East on business. After learning of the hotel's Sleep program via Yelp reviews, I wanted to see for myself whether this place would live up to the hype. Luckily, it did. I booked two nights on http://www.getaroom.com and in turn got a rebate offer.
This hotel proves that even boutiques can hold their own. My stay here was more enjoyable than that in some of the big-name properties. I stayed in the One Bedroom Suite which, although small, was comfy enough to get a good night's sleep. The service wasn't as good here as in other hotels in which I've stayed, but I would definitely come back again.
I stayed here for my 4 day trip to NYC in August 2009. The service of the staff was excellent. Upon checkin, we were upgraded to a mini-suite which consisted of a fairly standard sized room with a very small kitchenette across from the bathroom. Didn't really use it much, but it was a nice touch. Furnishings were very nice, and the customized pillows were wonderful. Like most NYC hotels, the room was a bit small, but certainly adequate. Downsides includes the construction scaffolding, but it seems like about 20% of NYC has scaffolding at any given time. Also we were on the 4th floor, and there was an odor that was probably coming from the kitchen. But it wasn't unpleasant, just consistently there. I got this place on Priceline, and for what I paid, I was extremely happy.
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Very nice old school NY hotel in a very convenient location, right off Lexington Avenue. I've stayed here 4 times now and the service has been great but one of the 2 elevators has been out of service two of those times. There are plenty of choices in NYC so whether you go to the Benjamin or not may depend on price. The city was on sale in August so a one bedroom suite for under $300 a night was a good deal. If you are a pillow connoisseur you'll enjoy their pillow menu!
My son and I just stayed here 3 nights and it was wonderful. The staff was so friendly and helpful. The room was very quiet as were the hallways and rest of the hotel. The bed was very comfie and a nice bathroom and kitchenette.
We booked on Priceline and got a most reasonable price. The elevators were just a bit smallish and slow once in a while, but this wasn't a real issue.
The hotel is in a very desirable location close to many things and taxis and the subway are also close. Was very pleased and would definitely stay here again.
This hotel is in a primo location on the east side. When one walks into the lobby, the noise, the heat, the cacophony ends. The staff is amazingly helpful, courteous and efficient. The bar is perfect. The room amenities are top grade. The linens are soft, clean and comfortable. The choice of pillows extensive. The beds totally comfortable. The concierge got us tickets to Billy Elliot with minimal service charge. I'm a raving fan of the Benjamin.
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This is a wonderful hotel for a reasonable price (they often have deals online). They have luxurious and spacious suites, which is great when I have the family with me and they treat us like royalty. Clean, exquisitely comfortable beds, the posh pillow menu, fantastic service. I love the Benjamin. My daughter and I would like to live there.
Hubby and I stayed here on a recent trip, and I've got to say I was pleasantly surprised. Non-pretentious boutique hotel that had all the amenities without all the pomp. Located on the east side of mid Manhattan, it's within walking distance of so much that we walked nearly everywhere we wanted to go and only took the subway once. It's located across the street from the W Hotel and Waldorf Astoria so it's in pretty ritzy company. Even better, I booked on http://Priceline.com and got the room for $150 a night. Wish I had bid even less, but I might have ended up with a lesser hotel. They even have a pillow menu - ever heard of such a thing? Your choice of 10 different pillow styles [ we both loved the ones we chose). I would not hesitate to stay here again on our next visit - all the employees were so nice and courteous that we both felt very comfortable. I'm subtracting one star because the carpet in the hallways looked like it needed cleaning or to be replaced - only negative I could find. Oh yeah, and the lighted magnifying mirror in the bathroom is awesome! We are remodeling our master bath, and I've asked my husband to install one just like it - fabulous for tweezing eyebrows - I might be able to stop paying for it now!
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My parents live in Manhattan, and I would still consider paying to stay here instead of staying there for free.
First off, the first floor is ornate but not ostentatious. High bright ceilings, marbled desks, a poshly dressed valet. I already knew I made the right choice before I even got in the elevator.
Despite the fact that I booked this hotel through a discount travel place, I was given one of the 2 rooms at the top floor of the hotel. Penthouse baby!!!!
I brought, as Carrie Bradshaw would say in the final season of SATC, "my luv-ah" upstairs with a pint of decadent chocolate ice cream. I was grateful for the kitchenette for supplying us with real metal spoons. "My luv-ah", adorned in the soft, comfortable provided bathrobe, dined on the ice cream, intermittently feeding me as I prepared for our night out.
Don't even get me started on the pillow menu. They have pillows for every occasion. Soft squishy pillows, water filled pillows, pillows with speakers that hooked up to your MP3 players, Swedish contour pillows, etc
In their need to make your stay as restful as possible, they offer sleep-inducing facials, massages, body treatments, as well as snacks (warm turkey sandwiches, PB&J on banana bread, warm cookies and milk). I did not get the whole resting experience they offered though as "My luv-ah" and I were busy.
I didn't take advantage of the spa treatments, but I walked in to ask a question or two, and the spa seems as wonderful as the rest of the hotel. And if you are not planning on resting while you are there, they also have a workout room that is accessible 24 hours a day.
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I've stayed twice at the Benjamin and was never let down. Staff is superb - friendly, attentive, and responsive. Rates are decent for NYC (esp using Priceline), location not bad, and rooms are clean and large enough for two. We did have a problem with a minor water leak in the room from a room upstairs the the first time we stayed - they insisted they upgrade us to a larger room.
Ask for one of the rooms with a balcony if you aren't staying in the winter. It is comfortable enough for two to sit out, have a glass of wine, and watch the city in the evening before you hit the town.
Our recent trip to NYC was extended by two days for business reasons, and we took the opportunity to move out of the W hotel around the corner (which I was disappointed with) and into the Benjamin. Immediately, we were more comfortable and happy to be staying the extra time in the city. The staff were friendly, the room was much larger (for roughly the same money) and more comfortable, and the atmosphere was all together pleasant.
Pros: Friendly and welcoming staff, Pillow menu, large room for the money, free (tasty) breakfast.
Cons: We were slightly disappointed that room service refused to take an order off of the all day menu with 10 minutes or so left in their advertised service window. This is understandable though, and I wouldn't have even asked if we weren't so hungry and exhausted.
I visit NYC relatively frequently, and will plan on returning to the Benjamin again next time even though it means not earning the points I receive at the others hotels nearby.
I chose The Benjamin based on yelp reviews. We loved our experience and their hospitality. I have previously stayed at other 4 star hotels in the city and was disappointed, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
We had a gorgeous spacious room with; a 32" LCD TV, full marble bathroom, wet bar, micro, full length mirror, & awesome linens. I am a fan of Elemis and enjoyed the provided sundries. The bed was super comfy even though it was a queen.
The staff was great & provided so much attention to us and helped out here and there. Then on my last day I traveled to the lounge upstairs-how relaxing and comfortable.
I will use this hotel again in the future and use more of the amenities.
For anyone not familiar with the neighborhood its in the middle of everything without the hubbub.
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Great place, great location and our room had a kitchenette with a full size refrigerator and microwave.
So let me tell you about my stay at the Benjamin and why I will come back and recommend that you stay here as well.
Short version
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1) Pillow menu
2) Spa services
3) Close enough to everything - central park, theater district, etc.
4) Amazing service
Long version
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I booked this shindig as to surprise for my g/f (now my wife) for our 1-year anniversary. The room that I initially booked was too small. The mgmt had no problems upgrading me to a balcony suite instantly and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. The view from the balcony is nice.
This hotel is known for its menu of 10 pillows. Buckwheat, Swedish, Water, Magnetic, Full-size body, Memory-foam are just to name a few. We actually couldn't decide, so they gave us all 10.
As an after-dinner "snack" I ordered chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne to set the mood. The concierge was the coolest mofo in helping me out. To set up the surprise, he had me give him a wink & a nod when we came down for dinner so that the strawberries & champagne could be sent up to the room without her there.
The spa service on 3rd floor is incredible. There is a gym and a block of rooms where you get massage. We got the massage package and it was uplifting.
When came back into the room, I attempted to open the window to let some breeze in, and lo and behold - it fell on me. Came out of its hinges and fell right on my shoulder. I called the manager and she gave us an additional night for free. (I guess it's better than a lawsuit).
This was right around the time of 9/11 (2005). I get a call in the morning from the front desk saying they need to move me to another room without a balcony. WTF I think to myself? I was promised a room because A WINDOW FELL ON ME. It turns out that our beloved Prezidint was staying across the street and the Secret service took over all of the balcony suites as a security measure.
I was furious to the point where I was demanding that he himself call me and explain the situation. (I mean a friggin window fell on me! Have I mentioned that?). They offered to move me down the street to Affinia 50. I told them I didn't want to move - I booked the Benjamin for the pillows damn it!
They ended up compromising with me by giving me all 10 pillows to take with me next door (picture the Bell Boy carrying 10 pillows down 50th st along with our suitcases) and a nice balcony suite.
As you can see, they are very accommodating and I don't think it was just because of the window thing. We loved it so much, we spent the night after our wedding reception here, and we are definitely coming back for more.
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Everyone is right about this place being very comfortable, well appointed, with fantastically good employees. But I've stayed here now twice, it is has just about the worst Internet service of any hotel I've been in. I don't know whether the ISP is throttling the speeds, or whether there's a technical problem with the installation, but I constantly get time out errors when at this hotel, and the general download speeds are terrible. If Internet access isn't important to you, then it is a great place to stay. But if it is, then this is not a place for you.
Update: After an unhelpful exchange with technical support for the broadband service The Benjamin had selected (IP3 -- and when will hotels recognize that when they outsource essential services they are outsourcing their brand), I tried switching to the wireless service inside the hotel. It had none of the failure problems that the wired service had, though it again was not impressive in performance. But this clearly indicated that there was a problem in the implementation of the wired service at the hotel. Who knows whether it will be worth it to IP3 to fix it.
Truly a 5 star hotel...top notch. Great staff and beautifully appointed rooms. Real luxury.
A lot of space for a room in Manhattan, and all the contemporary amenities expected by the contemporary hotel patron.
This is my favorite place to stay in NY. The service is incomparable. I love the pillow menu, room service is excellent. The beds are superb.
The first time I stayed, I'd taken the red-eye from SFO, arriving in midtown at 7:30 a.m., with a noon meeting. I thought I'd drop my luggage off at the hotel before checking into my office, and they told me my room is ready now -- did I want to go up? You bet!
Was able to have a nice breakfast, shower, and nap prior to the meeting. Plus, they pressed my suit in the meantime!
It is centrally located, and there are some great restaurants within a 3-block radius.
Value = excellent.
Comfort = excellent.
Location = excellent.
Room size = excellent.
Business set-up/desk = excellent.
Bathroom = excellent.
Room service = excellent.
Overall service = excellent.
The Benjamin, I love you!
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I read a review of this hotel where they said they replaced their windows to keep out the noise. I was skeptical.... but it was absolutely true!! We have stayed here twice and will come back to this place whenever we come to NYC. I love the pillow menu and the room was super clean, tastefully decorated, and quiet!! Convenient location to the walk to mid town or to the subway. There is a spa in house and restaurant but we hadn't tried them. Maybe next time. Everyone working there was so nice and helpful too.
note: a few doors away is a breakfast place that serves inexpensive full breakfasts and lunch. We ate here every morning and it was good, fast, and inexpensive.
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Wonderful hotel for the business traveler. Rooms have a large desk, with printer and fax! What a great touch to have a pillow menu too! One negative - the gym/Fitness area is very small.
Staff was very helpful and this hotel's location is perfect - walk to Time Square, Rockefeller Center and my office.
If you can afford it I highly recommend it.
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"We promote sleep here"
Direct quote from William upon our arrival.
I knew I'd like the hotel from the get-go.
Staying in NYC will always cost a pretty penny, this hotel is worth every cent.
I absolutely loved the tasteful decor of the room, turndown service, classical/ambient music awaiting us upon our arrival. Bathroom mirror was nifty, I turned out the lights & used the "evening" setting to get beautified. Highly recommend the studio suite, very large for NY hotel room.
I was pleasantly surprised. Great staff & service.
I love dirty pillows. I mean, pillows. The pillow service is enough reason alone to stay here once. I could barely find my beau beneath the body pillows, magnetic, supportive & the other 7 pillows we had brought up.
I will be back to indulge in the spa & more decadence. Fo' sho.
I am patting myself on the back for finding this gem.
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The small, descrete lobby and friendly staff mark the first signs of good things to come at this hotel. The quiet rooms, fabulously soft bedding, and superior breakfast room service are three more. The hotel is literally around the corner from the more famous Waldorf Astoria which is a great place for an afternoon tea or scotch, but the Benjamin knows something about privacy and service that most hotels around the world could take a series of lessons from. Truly one of the most impressively and professionally run operations in the entire country, I suspect.
Fabulous. Although I must admit I wouldn't be staying here if The Firm wasn't footing the bill. The single room is more spacious than other hotels I've stayed at in NYC (San Carlos and Waldorf). Service staff is very friendly and accommodating. Room service food is great, but, of course pricey (again, The Firm paying soooo)
Great location for my purposes - a few blocks from the NY office and great shopping for my off hours.
I love the Elemis shower gel they give you every day, although the shampoo & conditioner flattens my hair terribly.
The TV clicker leaves a little to be desired - or maybe it's the tv - they don't seem to communicate unless you are standing on your head and and have your arm at a 45 degree angle when the wind is blowing 25mph from the west.
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Amazing service and beautifully appointed room at the Benjamin. I had the pleasure of staying here during my last visit and was very impressed. Had several great nights of sleep from their excellent beds and pillow selections (one of their claims to fame). One of the more under-the-radar hotels in the city, I think. But that's OK...better for me!
Nice sofa, and living room area. Great central location, and good for tourists if you want to easily access the city as it's above the Lexington/50th stop - without dealing with the Times Square crap.
Decent sized health-club with steam room, and had an incredible massage at the wellness spa. Very professional staff. Room service food was good, but expensive - breakfast was about $50. Will definitely return...
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I don't usually get to stay in hotels in NYC, since I live here and all, but I had a random opportunity to stay here for a few days and it was HEAVEN.
The bathroom is bigger than my living room, almost. The bed, and the pillows amazing.
This place bends over backwards for their guests and I guess they should since this place is a pretty penny.
If you are comparing this place to any of the chains in Times Square, pay a little more to stay here!!
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The staff was extremely friendly, and the rooms are what you would expect for the price. You cannot beat the great location. And the kitchenette was also great to have for cold beverages.
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One of the great old New York hotels. For business or for fun, if you can get in at a decent rate, grab it. This is not a high-rise see-all-you-can from your room kind of a place. It is a great place, steeped in tradition, and with very good service. Accesssible to anywhere in the New York City.
I came here one time with 2 lady friends on a weekend off from boarding school. The girl, whose father owned some bank in China footed the bill. I happily showed up, and took full advantage of the situation, with no room for remorse. I think it was about $600 for a 2 bedroom suite at the time. The rooms were huge, and packed with wireless internet connections, Bose stereo systems, and a lot of bathroom knickknacks.
Well...I cracked open every friggin' container that was not glued shut. First we cleared out all the airline bottle of liquor, then we started to pop open these glass jars. The jars had granola, chocolate, gummy bears, and some other stuff. This girl kept talking about her dad's millions, so I just kept popping tops off jars. How could a bridge and tunnel Queens boy miss this event!
The bill was $600 on top of the room rate because of the extra food/drinks. I found the menu at the end of the night, and had a toast to Chinese banking. I would not call this room overpriced. You can slip 4 people into this suite for $150 a head.
Its twoo Its twoo.
Very comfortable room, helpful staff etc etc.
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I will definitely come back to the Benjamin hotel during my next visit to NYC (especially if I Priceline it again and get a room for $199 for a Friday night--what a deal!). Our room was amazingly roomy for NYC, and very clean. The service/staff is top-notch and the pillow service is a fun novelty (our favorites were the water and magnetic pillows--least favorite were the buckwheat and memory foam). I probably should give the Benjamin five stars, but I'm holding out because the decor is a bit boring. The look of the lobby and rooms seems uninspired (in a "stately" kind of way), but certainly, this is not a "boutique" designer hotel, so it doesn't make that much of a difference.
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Great hotel! I LOVE the pillow service that they have - 10 different kinds of pillows to choose from and they'll bring you any one you want at any time! The room was very spacious, clean and nice, and the bed was big and super cozy. There was a kitchen, and the desk even had a printer/fax, which I thought was very technologically advanced of them. It's a great place to stay when you're traveling for work, especially if you work in finance (it's right near all the firms). I also found everyone there to be really nice and friendly......I'd definitely go back.
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spent a week here recently and this hotel was great. the entire place is well kept and rooms are nicely appointed and spacious. The staff is literally the best hotel staff I have ever encountered. Incredibly amiable, helpful, and accommodating. Internet is sub par though and pricey
Great hotel. Good location. Decent gym. We've tried a few in NYC and will go back to The Benjamin. BTW- it's not only women that love those make-up mirrors as another reviewer states. They are great for shaving.
We stayed at The Benjamin Hotel this past weekend while attending a wedding in Manhattan. This hotel is right in the center of everything. It is within walking distance of Times Square, and all the big attractions. The lobby is gorgeous and the staff was very professional and helpful. If not for the hefty pricetag, I would definitely stay here again. The rooms are spacious, and the full sized fridge is a plus. Only negative is the super small bathroom.
