This property is located in the Midtown West/Chelsea area of Manhattan, on West 29th Street between 7th and 6th Avenues. Many shops (not high-end, though) and restaurants are nearby, as is the Fashion Institute of Technology. The hotel holds 236 rooms spread over 26 floors. Reportedly, the penthouse suite features high ceilings and a terrace. Self-parking is affordable at $25 per day (or $45 for valet), although we did not use it. The hotel allows pets with a deposit remitted for possible damages. Check-in time seems late at 4:00 pm; however, the hotel balances that time with a check-out time of 12:00 noon. (We sometimes see a 3:00 pm check-in and 11:00 am check-out.)
The hotel building sets back from the sidewalk/curb of West 29th Street, which allows room for outdoor patio dining in front of the hotel in warmer weather. The lobby is small, with just enough room for the front desk, a small podium for the tour desk/concierge, and a small seating group of two chairs, a sofa, and some end tables. Restrooms, the business center (two computers and one printer), and the fitness center (five machines, a water dispenser, and towels) are located in the basement. The hotel restaurant, called Chelton’s Bar & Grille (CBG), contains a small bar and seating in the bar area, as well as additional seating in a glass-enclosed atrium. This hotel has two elevators, and we always seemed to wait for a ride.
Our room was undersized, even by Manhattan standards; it was only wide enough to hold a king-size bed with a small nightstand on each side. (I read in a previous review that the standard rooms are only 200 square feet.) A free-standing wardrobe held a smaller-than-normal ironing board and iron and a few hangers, as well as a large (non-charging) safe. Next to the “closet” was a console that held the flat-screen TV, and beside that was a small desk with rolling chair. Because our room held no lounge chair, there was nowhere to sit to watch TV other than on the bed. The TV console held coffee-making supplies and an ice bucket in one of the drawers. (Vending machines are located approximately every fifth floor in this hotel.). Our room was on the 23rd floor, which is one of the floors dedicated for HHonors members (although no additional privileges accompany those rooms). As Platinum HHonors members, the front-desk clerk offered us the choice of breakfast for two the next morning, or an additional 1,000 points (we requested the points because we had other meal plans). The size of our bathroom was adequate, and it contained a combination bathtub/shower unit, toilet, and small sink/vanity. The vanity was small, but because the faucet was positioned in the corner, it seemed larger than it was. A shelf above the toilet held complimentary toiletries - two soap bars, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion). (Although Doubletree used to supply Crabtree and Evelyn toiletry products, that brand has been phased out for something less recognizable.)
Honestly, we will not stay at the Doubletree Chelsea again, unless we reserve the penthouse suite! With so many other Hilton properties in the city from which to choose, we prefer a room that is not so tiny.
