I've just returned from a 5 night stay at the Shoreham - here are my thoughts:

Location: Superb! On 55th Street between 5th and 6th so right in the centre of Manhattan and close to Central Park, Times Qquare, shopping etc etc, handy for everything.

Hotel General: Trendy, modern, contemporary and boutique. The ground floor area is lovely, great bar and the free tea, coffee, hot chocolate machine in the foyer is a nice touch. The fitness room is great and there's free internet access. The bar makes this hotel (be warned though you won't get a drink past midnight). However when you get past the trendy ground floor you can see why this is a 3* - it's just a little rough round the edges, although nothing to complain about.

Check In: My partner arrived before me at 3pm in the afternoon (after an 8 hour flight) and the room wasn't ready. When I arrived in at 11pm - check in was quick, and the free glass of champagne on arrival is a nice touch. However, I wasn't offered any help getting my bags taken to my room so struggled with a suitcase, laptop bag, handbag and glass in my hand as the reception staff stood by and watched.

Staff: O.K but a little -- and could do with being more helpful! I say this for the following reasons: 1. Check in as detailed above. 2. The door to our room was left open by the cleaner one day (you could clearly see it was open) and when I told reception I didn't get much of a response or apology! 3. We were woken up at 3am in the morning by the fire alarm and had to climb down 4 flights of stairs on the external fire escape of the building in the early hours of the morning (in the dark and rain) - no staff were on hand to explain why and when the fire crew said we could go back to bed the staff member who had turned up could give no explanation. The same night 30 minutes later we were woken again 3.30am - forced to go down the external stairs (again in the dark and rain) and again no explanation. When I mentioned to the staff the next morning that some communication would be nice I was given just a blank stare and the guy shrugged his shoulders and looked at me blankly - he clearly didn't care! 4. At 12pm one evening I asked for a drink at the bar and was told they were closed up - I explained I was a resident and was told too bad. This place could do with some customer service training.

Rooms: We had an 'exec' room - good size, clean and tidy and functional. The room did smell a little damp I thought and I think this is to do with the fact that the bathroom has no fan so the damp from the bathroom circulates round the room. But all in all great (although the cleaner did forget to leave the complementary Aveda toiletries one day)!

Overall - if you get this one on deal and can avoid the staff then it's a good place to stay.

The hotel was very nice and very artsy! We stayed in a 2 bedroom room. It was a wonderful stay - beds were very comfortable. The shower was wonderful with 5 shower heads! Would definitely stay here again. The location was magnificent as well.

SPECTACULAR! That's a one word description of the Shoreham Hotel at 33 West 55th Street in the heart of New York City. Where should I begin? The spacious, immaculately clean rooms range from "absolutely beautiful" for a spacious, immaculately clean standard room to "awesome" for one of their magnificent Penthouse suites. How about the welcoming glass of wine handed to you at check-in where you are cordially ushered into the lush lounge while your luggage is swiftly delivered to your room. Or the slate and marble floors and suede wallpaper...Or the twenty-four hour complementary coffee, capuchino, expresso, tea, or hot chocolate...Or the exquisite newly decorated restaurant and cocktail lounge where residents meet in the evening...I could go on and on detailing all the magnificent aspects of this outstanding boutique gem of a hotel. I've saved the best for last...the UNBELIEVABLE friendly staff...each and every one of them as beautiful on the "inside" as they are on the outside. They will become "family" before you leave! The location can't be beat with access to everything needed for a memorable New York visit...theaters; restaurants; Rockefeller Plaza; Lincoln Center; Central Park; window shopping on Fifth Avenue; the Museum of Modern Art...You name it, you can walk to it! As a Convention Assistant, I am well aware what separates the "mundane" from the "wow" features in a hotel and, after two visits to the Shoreham, I would find it unthinkable to even consider a stay at any other New York hotel! The "cherry on the cake" are those in charge. Unlike every other hotel I've experienced, whether in America or Europe, Joseph Reyes, the General Manager, and Aaron Bozzi, the Assistant Manager, are visible and ready to assist you in every way imaginable! Trust me on this one...if you are headed for New York City, Make the Shoreham Hotel your destination...whether it's a business trip or a family vacation. This "jewel" will become, as it has for me, your "home away from home"! Jackie Singer, San Diego (Last stay-July '06)

My wife and I stayed here for our honeymoon, and I'm convinced this place is the best deal in NY. It was clean and comfortable, and has an incredible location for shopping and shows. This hotel shares the street with the St. Regis and The Penninsula hotels, so it's clear they're doing something right! It's a short walk to central park, times square and 5th Ave shopping. I think this is a prime area for a first time visit to NY. The only problem with this district is that there aren't many good restaurants in the area. The hotel itself is very stylish and trendy, and has incredible prices for what you get. Yes the room is small, but so is every room in NY. All in all a great place!