IC New York Times Square Master Thread
Aug 4, 2019, 6:29 am
I'm considering using a combination of Ambassador free weekend night certificate, points and UK IHG Rewards Card free nights at this property.
If I use the Ambassador certificate to book a room better than the standard one, will they let us keep it for the rest of our stay?
One of the nights would be 31st December... I reckon in this case we may be asked to change rooms?
Thanks,
Aug 23, 2019, 10:26 am
Aug 23, 2019, 11:37 am
I had been staying on and off since opening and stopped dead in my tracks
after the scam destination fee started
At its best it was a better than average property sadly to many better choices in NYC
Aug 23, 2019, 11:41 am
I assume you also received 10k points for the lack of an upgrade?
Aug 23, 2019, 12:33 pm
Aug 23, 2019, 12:39 pm
Aug 23, 2019, 12:41 pm
Sep 20, 2019, 3:13 am
Sep 20, 2019, 9:20 pm
Does one still get the breakfast credit on award nights at the IC Times Square as if they paid the destination fee?
At Hyatt you get all the benfits if your elite and you don't pay the destination fee on revenue or award yet still get credits to use in gift shop for food and beverage or whatever the hotel happens to offer^
Dec 30, 2019, 4:00 pm
InterContinental - New York Times Square
300 W 44th St New York, NY US 10036
IHG Time Square New York City - Best for Its Location (30 Photos)
InterContinental - New York Times Square
This is our 3rd time staying at IHG New York City Time Square for the holiday season. The main reason to book the stay is to use up the IHG reward points that we normally do not use with other trips.
The main attraction of this hotel is its location near Time Square and theatre district.
Location
Location, location and location. So important in large city like New York City.
IHG NYC Time Square is located at 300 W. 44th Street, between 8th and 9th avenues. Time Square is about 2-3 blocks to the East. Theatre District is just outside hotel. Radio City Music Hall, Rockfeller Center, Grand Central are also within walking distance.
Theatre district.
Time Square
Check In
Here is hotel entrance, at a very busy street.
We pulled our vehicle to the Edison EastPark just opposite the hotel. It has hotel rate, which is slightly cheaper. It did not take outside vehicle on that day.
The front desk had about 3 groups of guest in front of us. It was about 5 minutes delay to check in.
Time at check-in
Front desk in early evening
Christmas tree
Stinger Bar and restaurant
Elevator hall to guest floors.
As usual, as IHG Platinum member, we never receivd any room upgrade. I guess to IHG, Platinum is low tier. It is always hard to figure out the IHG loyalty program.
Room
We have a regular room with two queen size beds.
The room is small. The bed is soft, but is just fine with us. There is not much view since it is a city hotel. The chair is old as usual.
Mini food and drink area. No one touches it. Room service people may be tired to clean them off the dust.
Its bathroom is so common. There is only one sink. The bath tub drains somewhat slow. Not a huge deal.
Dining
There is only one on-site bar and restaurant, the Stinger Bar and Restaurant.
We did not eat there. There are so many other alternatives very close by. So and too many.
Gym
The gym is on the 5th floor.
The gym is very large and it has full set of equipment. It was very quiet during our stay. I figure guests are outside exploring instead of staying in the hotel.
Service
There is not much service to say. The front desk staff was efficient, not super warm or friendly. I figure it is New York style, business as usual. They did not bother to consider our request for any possible room upgrade.
We did not dine at the restaurant. So no comment on dining service.
We also did not call room service. The drain is a little slow. But it was just fine.
Overall
The cash rate for regular room during weekend is about $195 or about $267 with fees and taxes included. The rate is higher during the week. The rate would be considerably higher during the holiday season.
The point redemption rate can be very high, sometimes like 70,000 points. With the change to the new IHG credit card, the reward night is capped at 40,000 points. So we can't use the new reward nights at this hotel.
I really feel mixed about this hotel. It is at a premium location, close to things people like to do during the holiday season. But the hotel is old and so average. It does not have much to offer other than its location and one or two beds. The IHG loyalists do not get much out of it.
If you get a good cash rate, $200 range is reasonable. But at 70,000 IHG points, it is a bad redemption.
The main reason for our stay is to use up the IHG points. We focus more on other two hotel programs. We do not see we going to back to this hotel any time soon.
Dec 30, 2019, 10:39 pm
It is always hard to figure out the IHG loyalty program.
There is not much view since it is a city hotel. The chair is old as usual.Mini food and drink area. No one touches it. Room service people may be tired to clean them off the dust. Its bathroom is so common. There is only one sink. The
Some focal and data points:
IHG technically & historically has had no elite benefit for IHG Platinum members when staying in InterContinentals.Their other brands absolutely
There is separate recognition program that one must purchase through their Ambassador program to achieve recognition @ IC hotels if one wishes to be reasonably certain of recognition
Or one can do an extraordinary amount of business and be invited as a Royal Ambassador for free.
Some IC hotels still do a courtesy upgrade occasionally from what I hear from other Platinum's
Seems overseas benefits are even stingier on award and revenue in select countries.Considering Marriott Hilton & Hyatt are vastly superior you think IHG would fix this tp remain competitive
The IC Sydney has been the poster child of whats wrong with IHG Rewards/Ambassador across the board for years yet they remain within their rights due to the poorly written out of date guidelines/terms that IHG still publishes
The Inter-Continental TS has a mediocre restaurant buffet for breakfast that some may be happy with but its certainly nothing anyone would go out of their way for
The hotel has a reasonable upcoming renovation planned
Depending on the housekeeping team and floor one is on the room cleaning may be inconsistent based on which housekeeping team is on duty which can happen in many a large hotel
On an upside IC TS has an improved VIP area now for Ambassadors to check in with where the concierge team use to sit.They were very helpful to me
Ambassadors and Royals are pro-actively upgraded without request based on availability
While some IC hotels do upgrade Platinum members unfortunately they are under 0 obligation to do so and those elite members are on the bottom of the priority list technically
The only thing IHG Rewards shares in common with the Ambassador program is that all members may earn and redeem points through IHG rewards and that's where it officially begins and ends
IMHO the IC hotel has slightly improved on my last reward stay as an Ambassador earlier this month.
The room rate was over 400 plus dollars a night plus tax plus destination fee in December so 70,000 points plus a 20% points rebate
made good sense to me for a few nights
Happy New Year tomorrow!
Dec 31, 2019, 12:38 am
Taxes are more than double what you mention. On a night costing $190 you'll be adding around $70-$75 in taxes and fees. The resort fee still annoys the hell out of me, but at least you get some value out of it at this property.
70,000 points is a lot I agree (it's the same at the Barclays which you might want to try next time as it's newer and fresher (refurbished a couple of years ago), but then Manhattan is expensive for redemptions with the CP TS costing 60,000 points per night, and and some HIXs costing a whooping 45,000 points.
I actually like the IC TS, but as mentioned, you need to be an Ambassador member to enjoy the benefits there. I've never not been upgraded, and at times to one of their nice top floor rooms (which they call suits but aren't really) with floor to ceiling windows in three directions and great views of Manhattan.
Dec 31, 2019, 7:16 am
Taxes are more than double what you mention. On a night costing $190 you'll be adding around $70-$75 in taxes and fees. The resort fee still annoys the hell out of me, but at least you get some value out of it at this property.
70,000 points is a lot I agree (it's the same at the Barclays which you might want to try next time as it's newer and fresher (refurbished a couple of years ago), but then Manhattan is expensive for redemptions with the CP TS costing 60,000 points per night, and and some HIXs costing a whooping 45,000 points.
I actually like the IC TS, but as mentioned, you need to be an Ambassador member to enjoy the benefits there. I've never not been upgraded, and at times to one of their nice top floor rooms (which they call suits but aren't really) with floor to ceiling windows in three directions and great views of Manhattan.
With its RN capped at 40,000, we would only go back if we get any good cash rate. But if the cash rate is as high as you indicated, then there is plenty elsewhere.
Jan 21, 2020, 10:46 pm