The Roosevelt Hotel Avis 8

During my September 2024 stay at the Roosevelt, my bed was infested with bedbugs. I was bit along my leg in a dozen areas. Large, red, itchy, seeping, and incredibly painful.

After changing rooms, I showed the bites to the on-duty manager, who displayed no empathy or concern. After I respectfully asked -- several times -- what should be done next, he reluctantly agreed to have the room checked for bedbugs, but said it wouldn't be done until the room's new residents checked out in a couple of days. I suggested he should A) conduct the testing immediately for proper containment, and B) relocate the new guests to a different hotel room, since they were at immediate risk of bedbug exposure. He dismissed this idea, which is a severe health code violation.

Despite the fact that I -- and all the belongings I brought to the hotel -- had been exposed to these bedbugs, the manager surprisingly did not provide any containment suggestions or recommendations for me to follow for the duration of my stay. Out of respect to the hotel and its patrons, I took it upon myself to spend the majority of my remaining stay in my room, to mitigate the chance of an outbreak.

A couple of days later, I needed to extend my stay. The same manager told me I could no longer remain in my current room, because they were gearing up to inspect it for bedbugs, along with the original room I stayed in. I asked him to simply wait until the day I checked out . He refused. Additionally, he said I wouldn't be allowed into a new room, since I could potentially spread the bedbugs there.

To recap: after contaminating me -- and possibly my belongings -- the Hollywood Roosevelt was now attempting to evict me from the hotel because of a bedbug issue they themselves caused. I was dumbfounded. The manager also refused to test my bag and belongings for bedbugs (or treat them). I couldn't take them home because my wife is immunocompromised, so I had no choice but to throw them out. Hundreds of dollars' worth of items.

Note that after the tests were allegedly conducted, the manager refused to show me the results, which I found incredibly suspicious.

I was a quiet and respectful guest for my entire stay at the Roosevelt. I was polite and friendly to all staff. I told no other patron about the bedbugs, even with more than one person asking, "Oh my God, what happened to your leg?" Despite doing my best to act professionally with the manager, it's upsetting to see this was not reciprocated. He made no effort to make my stay more comfortable in light of what I had been going through. Not even a simple, "We sent some bug bite cream to your room." A random Holiday Inn would have done more in this scenario.

Since my stay, I emailed several people at the Roosevelt (managers, the general info line) to seek a resolution to this issue. I reached out on their Facebook page as well. It's been weeks of emails, and yet nobody has ever returned my messages. After giving them so many chances to address this issue, I'm finally sharing my story here.

Good sarvc .Good food .Good room .Good chair .Good looking.Good sarvc .

I reached out to the Roosevelt Hotel to talk to someone about helping me help create a special experience for one of their upcoming guests, who is ill. I could not get the attention of anyone. I was trying to pay and add experiences to their stay (ie; strawberries in the room, pay for hotel dinning etc.,) but based on their lack of customer service, it couldn't be done. I could not get a return call from a manager. They are clearly not interested in the individual needs of their guests which would help make their stay special. I will never stay there or recommend them.

We had a fantastic experience with The Roosevelt
Location was fab and the staff were polite and friendly
We were upgraded due to getting married and the manager + staff couldn’t have been more helpful and supportive.
We’d def stay there again and hope they will make more use of the lobby area which is truly stunning!!
Thank you Roosevelt - you made our time with you very special

We visited this hotel last week and I have to say it is the most underwhelming experience but to be fair I wasn't going to place my first ever review about the hotel until a really horrible experience.

And if anyone asked my about the hotel I would suggest they spend more and avoid it at all costs.

We checked in to what we had booked as a deluxe room. It certainly was not deluxe. In fact I have had more enjoyable stays at Ibis Hotels. At least I get what I am paying for.

The room was basic, dark and out of date. The walls were thin and we could hear people talking clearly. No amount of papering over the cracks would solve that.

No tea and coffee facilities etc. A bathroom that really was old and a shower that leaked a dribble of water.

But us being us decided that as we would be seeing the sights it wasn't worth bothering about.

I always know it is a bad sign when on check out you aren't asked about your stay but heyho :)

The thing that tipped me over the edge though were the insults from the Bellboy and the unbelievably aggressive way they operate.

We got the train from York to London, the tube to Heathrow, flew to Cancun, got the ferry from Playa del Carmen and walked to our apartment (500 metres). As I was doing the Ironman I also had a bike bag.

Then we went to the mainland had a holiday before flying to JFK on the way back. We left the bike at the airport and got the Metro to Grand Central and walked about 500 metres to the Roosevelt.

Had our stay in the rubbish room and took our luggage to the luggage room (actually to the door of it) it was placed in the room.

Two hours later we returned to the door and asked a bell boy to get our luggage. He moved it 3 metres or so.

Then stated " Luggage is stored for free, tips are appreciated" I said thanks and took my case.

He then shouted to one of his colleagues " Can you believe this guy" before continuing mini tirade of abuse.

Having spent time in the Army and the Police I let it slide but we watched as the very same man literally accosted his next victim and the man looked so shocked that he went to his wallet visibly distressed.

I did email the hotel and sent the above stated message just wanting some form of apology but have had no response so decided that this may grab their attention.

I have to give it to them, the location is excellent. Next to Grand Central, 1 block from 5th, good rooms, vintage but renewed hotel brings the charm of old NY. On the other side, no coffee in room, small bathroom.
The restaurants are another story, the service is very poor. I asked for a glass of water never came; asked for more milk for coffee in breakfast, had to walk and look for it myself, all to the tune of near $30 for eggs and waffles. In the lobby bar/rest I sat waiting for service and was never accounted for. Had to leave. Then at checkout thye billed me for a meal I didn't had. Lucky the lady in counter did write it off.
Its not that difficult to improve. You guys have a great Hotel that can be fabulous with only a tweak.

The hotel is in a fantastic location and you can literally walk around New York. It's also very close to Grand Central station so you get get the subway to the Statue of Liberty in 15 minutes.

Two bad points:
1. You get an hour of free Wi-Fi per day and if you want more it's $20 per day.
2. No tea or coffee facilities provided in the room.

Only seldom you get such a bad service!
And for reasons I cannot imagine. You would think that this hotel would be interested in my attempt to book 12 rooms for 5 days = 60 nights - which I guess is a good order for even a rather big hotel?
I have sent emails and called 6-8 times with no luck. The people i talked to: Christine, Richard and especially the girl at front desk did not want to help me at all. They pushed me back and forth between them, and did not try to listen to anything I said. As if they really dont like their job - being service staff/people.
I tried to get to know a very simple thing (in addition to book the 60 nights): If we could reserve a meeting room for two days! In the fifth attempt I got an answer - which was a long list of different prices, taxes, service charges, technician crew charges and several other charges. When I asked to just get the totals, she told me repeatedly that I could do my own math.?

This is really crazy - that a hotel does not provide any service better than this.