On my most recent adventure to New York City, I had the pleasure of staying at the Millennium Hilton New York Downtown. The high-rise structure offers some of the best views of lower Manhattan you will ever see. Upon entering the lobby, I noticed that the entire Hilton chain is helping to raise funds to assist those effected by the recent wildfires in Australia. I was very happy to see a corporation doing their part to help others.
There were many things about the property I enjoyed and one I thought needed a bit of improvement. Let’s start with the hotels best feature!
The Location
We all know the saying. Location. Location. Location. Quite frankly, the hotel’s location is absolutely perfect on so many levels. Not only is it directly across the street for the World Trade Center campus, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and the Oculus, but it’s also within a block of numerous subway stations. A journey uptown to Penn Station or Times Square will only take you about 15 minutes and the hotel is within walking distance to the South Street Seaport and Wall Street.
The Room
As I entered my junior suite, I saw it was equipped with a small seating area in addition to a desk and chair. As a rounded the corner I noticed a decent sized bathroom as well as a closet space, perfect for business travelers. But the pièce de résistance was the bedroom which featured two walls of glass and overlooked the World Trade Center and the Oculus. I arrived in the evening, so the view was simply breathtaking and made for some wonderful late night photos.
The Pool
Yes, you read that right. The Millennium Hilton New York Downtown has a glass-enclosed indoor swimming pool. This is quite a rare treat for a New York City property. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at a hotel in the city with a pool. Those traveling with children will love this feature of the hotel and I was also happy to see that the pool is handicapped accessible.
The Restaurant
Church & Dey is located on the third floor of the property and although I only had the chance to enjoy the buffet breakfast, the real treat was once again…the views. Church & Dey overlooks the entire World Trade Center campus. Where else can you enjoy morning coffee while gazing at some of the most iconic structures in New York?
The Fitness Center
This is the one amenity I wasn’t too pleased with. The room itself recently underwent a renovation and some of the cardio equipment looked new. However, there was a limited amount of free weights and they appeared to be a bit old. The protective rubber on the weights I was using was actually falling off and there wasn’t a multi-gym either. Don’t fret, I was assured that free weights and other former equipment will be replaced in the second phase of the renovation.
In all, I was very pleased with the property and would recommend it for both business and leisure travelers. It is a bit quieter at night than midtown properties, so don’t expect a bunch of street noise at 3am - an added bonus.
Enjoy the Journey!
Rainbow Rating: 4 out of 5