Kimpton Muse, New York: A shame!

As I arrive in Manhattan from La Guardia airport, it will take me almost an hour and a half to get to the hotel because of the insane traffic in the New York peninsula.

As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:

#TypeReview
1DiaryBack to school trips to Paris and the United States
2LoungeClub Aspire Lounge, London Heathrow T3
3FlightAir France Business, London Heathrow – Paris Charles-de-Gaulle
4HotelIntercontinental Paris Champs-Elysées
5LoungeAir France Business Lounge, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle 2E-K
6FlightAir France Business, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle – London Heathrow
7LoungeBritish Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow T5
8FlightBritish Airways First, London Heathrow – Chicago O’Hare, Airbus A380-800
9HotelKimpton Grey Chicago
10HotelKimpton Monaco Chicago
11HotelIntercontinental Chicago
12LoungeAmerican Airlines Flagship Lounge, Chicago O’Hare T3
13FlightAmerican Airlines Domestic First, Chicago O’Hare – Charlotte, Boeing 737-800
14LoungeAmerican Airlines Admirals Club, Charlotte Concourse C
15FlightAmerican Airlines Domestic First, Charlotte – New-York La Guardia, Boeing 737-800
16HotelKimpton Muse, New-York
17HotelIntercontinental New-York Times Square
18LoungeBritish Airways Concorde Room, New-York JFK T7
19FlightBritish Airways First Suite, New-York JFK – London Heathrow, Boeing 777-300ER
Today’s itinerary

Booking

Like the other hotels on the trip, both in Chicago and New York, I will book this hotel about 3 weeks before my arrival in New York.

In my quest for InterContinental Royal Ambassador status, I try to maximise my stays at InterContinental, Regent and Kimpton.

That’s how I booked a whooping $439 a night, after taxes and miscellaneous fees.

Arrival

The day before my arrival, I noticed an upgrade to a premium room with a view of the city. A very small upgrade, but already better than having a view of the garbage.

But after consulting the IHG application during my connection to Charlotte, I see that the standard room has returned… This is a bad start!

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I arrive at the hotel shortly before 5pm. The welcome is rather warm. Obviously no mention of an upgrade (there is none), nor of Diamond benefits. I ask about breakfast… And then I am told that the hotel does not offer any catering at all: no bar or restaurant, and therefore no breakfast!

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I am really hallucinating, it leaves me speechless. It is two and a half years after the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the restaurant has not reopened. Yes, in a 5-star hotel.

Room

My room was on the 9th floor of the property.

The visit will be fast, the entrance leads directly to the room. On the left is a wardrobe with a so-called New York tag in it. Failed.

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Opposite is a small desk on which I will work. The decoration is really bad, very dark while the room is already dark.

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On the right, the comfortable king size bed.

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The lights are a mix between old Sheraton and old W. Failed too.

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The bathroom is a bit of a contrast and much more pleasant. However, the shower will lack pressure.

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It’s disappointing to be in New York and only have a view of the air conditioning in the building next door.

To finish, a video tour:

Hotel facilities

The hotel has a fitness room which I will use in the morning after I wake up.

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It is blind, the equipment is old, but it is not so unpleasant.

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Food options

It’s simple, there is none, not even a minibar.

On the other hand, the Wine Hour will take place but I won’t have time to enjoy it.

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Service

Non-existent.

Departure

The departure formalities will be laborious, my room card not having been programmed for the late check-out at 2pm requested on my arrival, and I will have to make 3 return trips to the reception to finally be able to check-out.

Bottom line

An absolutely catastrophic stay, at an insane price. To be avoided!

PS: The hotel has since left IHG.

Olivier Delestre-Levai
Olivier Delestre-Levai
Olivier has been into airline blogging since 2010. First a major contributor to the FlyerTalk forum, he created the FlyerPlan website in July 2012, and writes articles with a major echo among airline specialists. He now co-runs the TravelGuys blog with Bertrand, focusing on travel experience and loyalty programs.
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