¡Voco Times Square: El Hotel de Nueva York que Debes Reservar AHORA!
¡Voco Times Square: El Hotel de Nueva York que Debes Reservar AHORA! (Seriously, Don't Wait!)
Alright, let's get real. You're looking for a hotel in Times Square? You're bombarded with choices… it's a freaking jungle out there! But listen up, because I'm here to tell you: ¡Voco Times Square es a donde debes ir! And I'm not getting paid to say this (though… maybe they should!). I'm just a traveler, a viajero, who's been there, done that, and worn the (probably overpriced) Times Square t-shirt.
This review is going to be a bit… unconventional. Think less sterile brochure and more, well, me. So grab a coffee (or a cafecito), settle in, and let's dive into why you NEED to book this place.
First Impressions (and the Real Truth):
Okay, so Times Square. It's… intense. The sensory overload is REAL. Lights, sounds, people… it's a beautiful, chaotic mess. ¡Voco! finds a way to be a little haven within that chaos. The entrance? Clean, well-lit, and thankfully, not another screaming advertisement. The front desk? Muy amable (very friendly). Important, trust me, after a long travel day and the NYC hustle. Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private]? Yes! Thank goodness. I'm not one for standing in line.
Accessibility & The Important Stuff:
This is CRUCIAL for many. ¡Voco! scores well here. Elevator? Check. Facilities for disabled guests? Check. Seriously, this hotel is a solid choice for those with mobility issues. Let's face it, navigating NYC can be brutal, and a hotel that actually gets accessibility right is a huge win.
Rooms: Your Personal Oasis (Finally!)
Okay, so you climb to your room (thank you, elevator!). And breathe. Non-smoking rooms? Absolutely. Air conditioning? Claro que sí! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! Seriously, the hotel internet is a must-have. But look, the rooms are a nice escape from the madness. Dark out curtains? Perfect! Cleanliness? They really do a great job with this. Bathrooms? Modern, functional, and…well, clean! The important things. Safe? Yes, which helps you store your expensive electronics.
The Food & Drink Roundup (Because What's a Trip Without Eating?)
Okay, so let's be honest. I'm a foodie. I love to eat. And, thankfully, ¡Voco! knows how to feed you. Let's get down to the nitty-gritty:
- Bar: Yep. Essential. They had some great cocktails. Perfect after a long day.
- Restaurants: Yes, a few great dining options and I love the A la carte in restaurant, being spontaneous and wanting anything you'd like is absolutely ideal.
- Breakfast? Yes! Breakfast [buffet] as well as Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, and Breakfast in room are all good options.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Essential, especially in the morning after a night of drinking, and to get you going for the day.
- Poolside bar: Nice relaxing and drinks are always superb.
- Snack bar: Gotta have this for a quick and easy bite.
- Coffee shop: Always a needed item for the early morning or during a relaxing day.
Let's Talk Amenities - The Good, the Great, and the "Meh":
- Fitness Center: Yeah, yeah, I'll be honest. I intended to use it. Didn't. But it looked well-equipped. So, if you're better than me at working out on vacation, you're golden.
- Spa/Sauna: Now, this is where things get interesting. They actually have a decent Spa. I did a Massage. And, oh boy. After walking the entire city all day, my body and mind were finally at peace.
- Swimming Pool [outdoor]: Not that I have seen, but being in the middle of the city, with a pool, that would be awesome!
Things To Do & Ways to Relax (Because You're on Vacation, Dammit!)
- Fitness center: I meant to go, I really did. But let's be real… sightseeing in NYC is a workout in itself.
- Gym/fitness: I might have to take the time to get myself motivated.
- Massage: This is a must! My back was screaming after walking for days. It's a lifesaver.
- Pool with view: Now, this would be nice if it were available.
- Steamroom: Yes, this is a good way to relax and get ready for the spa.
- Spa: Yes, you have to go, its relaxing.
- Spa/sauna: Yes.
Safety & Cleanliness – The 2024 Reality (and How ¡Voco! Does It Right):
Look, we’re all a little more aware of hygiene these days. ¡Voco! shines here. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. They're taking it seriously, which made me feel a lot more comfortable. I also appreciated the Staff trained in safety protocol. It's the little things that matter.
Services and Conveniences: The Perks You Don't Think About (Until You NEED Them)
- Air conditioning in public area: YES! Especially welcome after wandering around.
- Concierge: They were super helpful with directions, restaurant recommendations, and… well, everything.
- Cash withdrawal: Always handy.
- Currency exchange: Useful, especially if you're arriving internationally.
- Daily housekeeping: My room was always spotless.
- Doorman: A nice touch.
- Elevator: Essential!
- Laundry service/Dry cleaning: Great for longer stays.
- Luggage storage: Useful if you arrive early or leave late.
- Safety deposit boxes: Important for your valuable belongings.
For the Kids (Because Families Matter Too!)
- Babysitting service: Great for parents who want some alone time.
- Family/child friendly: This hotel is very family-friendly!
Getting Around: The City is Your Oyster
- Airport transfer: It's an important service!
- Car park [on-site]: Always useful.
- Taxi service: Plenty available nearby.
The "Meh" Bits (Because Nothing's Perfect):
- Honestly, I can't think of anything truly bad. The prices are good. The staff are great. The location is amazing. So don't wait, book now!
The Verdict (and the Emotional Plea):
Look, if you're looking for a hotel in Times Square, stop looking. ¡Voco Times Square is the real deal. It’s clean, safe, incredibly well-located, and offers a level of comfort and convenience that is rare in this crazy part of town. The staff is genuinely friendly, the rooms are a sanctuary, and the amenities are top-notch.
¡Voco Times Square: El Hotel de Nueva York que Debes Reservar AHORA!
Ready to Book? Don't Hesitate!
Don't waste your time staring at other hotel websites. Just book it! You won't regret it. Think of it as your basecamp for exploring the city that never sleeps. Plus, imagine the photo ops! You're going to have an amazing time. Seriously, go book it now. You deserve it!
¡Tailandia: El Guesthouse familiar que te enamorará!
¡Ay, Dios mío, la Gran Manzana! Okay, here's how I think my trip to the Voco Times Square South, New York, is going to go. Prepare yourselves… it's going to be epic (and probably a little disastrous). Consider yourself warned.
Título: NYC: Voco Times Square & The Existential Dread of a Tourist (Plus Bagels)
Día 1: Arrival, Awe, and the Awful Truth
9:00 AM: Stumble out of Newark Airport. Already sweating, even though it's October. New York's humidity is a beast. Find a darn taxi, after approximately 15 minutes of frantic arm-waving. This is where the "adventure" truly begins.
10:30 AM (ish): Check into Voco Times Square South. Hoping for that "chic boutique" vibe, but let's be real, I'm expecting a tiny room and a view of… a fire escape or maybe a wall. Praying for a good bed. A REALLY good bed. (Update: The bed was… fine. But the view? Yep, the fire escape. Classic.)
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: The Bagel Quest. This is serious business. My mission: find the perfect New York bagel. I'd done some research, of course. So I'm ready, but the map is kind of a mess. Everyone says Ess-a-Bagel (apparently). But getting there feels like navigating a minefield of honking taxis and aggressively fast-walking New Yorkers. I almost get run over by a delivery bike! I finally find it. And… it's magnificent. Everything bagel, schmear, lox, the works. My face hurts from the sheer joy of it. Worth the near-death experience. Honestly, I think this may be the peak of the whole trip…and it's only lunchtime.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Times Square. Ah. The circus. Bright lights, giant screens, people glued to their phones. Overstimulating! I feel like a deer caught in headlights, or a rat in a blender. Can't help but take selfies. Gotta document the insanity. Buy a terrible, overpriced hot dog. Regret it immediately. Get accosted by a guy dressed as a superhero asking for money. (He was Spider-Man, but his web-shooters looked suspiciously like spray-painted plastic.)
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM:Dinner at a random restaurant nearby. Something not too fancy. I'm tired from the bagel and the sensory overload. I’m starting to understand the appeal of staying in my hotel room with a pizza.
9:00 PM: Crash. Jet lag is hitting hard. Briefly, I see the fire escape as the ultimate truth.
Día 2: Art, Anxiety, and the Subway Blues
9:00 AM: Wake up regretting that extra glass of wine last night. Breakfast in a hastily-picked cafe. The coffee is… bitter. I don't think I can handle another disappointing coffee.
10:00 AM -1:00 PM: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Okay, this is intense. So many paintings! And sculptures! My brain is trying to process centuries of history, and my feet are already throbbing in the wrong shoes. Accidentally wander into a room filled with ancient Egyptian sarcophagi. Get a sudden urge to move to a quiet island. Spend an embarrassing amount of time trying to take a picture of myself with a statue, failing miserably. Feel intensely inadequate.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Subway adventure. The labyrinthine subway system! Buy a MetroCard and feel a surge of confidence…quickly replaced by utter confusion. Get on the wrong train. Twice. End up somewhere in Brooklyn, totally lost. Ask for directions. People are surprisingly helpful. Start to feel like I might actually survive this trip.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Explore a random neighbourhood in Brooklyn. (After finally getting back to Manhattan!) Find a cute bookstore, buy a book I'll never actually read. Then discover a little Italian restaurant a small walk down and order pasta, and I'm in.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Trying to see a Broadway show! Get the tickets to be spontaneous. My budget is also a bit hurt. Then I have to start thinking about dinner.
8:00 PM: Attempt to find a late-night pizza. End up eating a slice on the street, like a true New Yorker (minus the style). The pizza's good, though.
9:00 PM: Collapse back in the hotel room, mentally exhausted but strangely invigorated. Review the day's pictures. Realize I look ridiculous in most of them.
Día 3: Reflections, Regrets, and a Last-Minute Shopping Spree
9:00 AM: Wake up. The fire escape is still there. Begin the complicated process of leaving. There is that last bagel.
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Shopping! Buy souvenirs for everyone. Then buy some stuff for myself. Get lost in a department store. Almost buy a ridiculously expensive scarf. Then think about the impending credit card bill.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Reflecting. Sitting in a park, watching people. Thinking about how much I'm going to miss the energy of this place. Then again… maybe not. All the stress is just too much.
4:00 PM: Head to the airport. The taxi ride is a blur of honking horns and last-minute mental reviews of the trip.
6:00 PM: Boarding the plane. Sigh of relief. New York, you were a chaotic, wonderful, and slightly terrifying experience. I’ll be back… eventually.
7:00 PM: Order a drink and sleep the whole way home.
Inherent Imperfections and Utterly Human Observations:
- The Impatience: I'm not a fan of waiting in line. It's a character flaw. Waiting for the elevator at the hotel? Torture. Waiting to pay for a hot dog that I really don't want? Pure agony.
- The Bagel Obsession: Seriously, I'm already planning my next New York bagel adventure. Is this a problem?
- The Social Anxiety: Talking to people is sometimes an experience. But I try.
- The Internal Running Commentary: My brain never shuts up. Especially when I'm in a new city. Just an endless stream of random thoughts, anxieties, and observations.
- The Budget: New York is EXPENSIVE. I will probably have ramen noodles for the next month.
¡Chao, Nueva York! (For now…) Wish me luck! I think I am going to need it. I'm exhausted. And, oh yeah… I still don't have the perfect Instagram shot.
¡Escapada Romántica en Diablo Mountain Inn: ¡Vistas Impresionantes te Esperan!
¡Voco Times Square, de verdad es... el hotel "que debes reservar AHORA"? Porque, vamos, Nueva York...
¡Ay, la temida pregunta! Bueno, mira, "debes reservar AHORA" es un poquito de exageración publicitaria, ¿no? Pero, **sí, creo que sí.** Con todas las salvedades del mundo, claro. O sea, Nueva York es... Nueva York. ¿Preparado para el caos, el ruido, y el olor a perrito caliente a las 3 am? Si la respuesta es sí y buscas algo *relativamente* accesible y con buena vibra... ¡Voco podría ser tu rollo!
Te lo digo porque yo... (suspira dramáticamente) ...yo soy de esas que leen TODAS las reseñas antes de reservar cualquier cosa. Y créeme, he visto de todo sobre Voco. Desde "¡¡Espectacular, la mejor vista de mi vida!!" a "Parecía que me estaba quedando en una lavandería abandonada con una vista de un basurero."
Pero ojo, la ubicación es clave. Times Square... es Times Square. Un circo. Un festival de luces y turistas con selfies. Si eso te da pánico... huye. ¡Corre! Pero si te gusta, si te va la marcha, si quieres estar en el meollo... ¡Voco es una buena base de operaciones!
¿Y qué tal las habitaciones? ¿Son... limpias? Porque, a ver, una cosa es "con onda" y otra "con moho"…
¡Ay, la limpieza! El eterno debate. Escucha, yo soy obsesivo-compulsivo con eso. Literalmente, revisé debajo de la cama. (Vergüenza me da decirlo, pero es la verdad). Y, bueno, **sí, estaban limpias**. ¡Respiro aliviada! No es el Ritz, ojo, no esperes que los fantasmas te lustren las ventanas. Pero la mía estaba impecable.
Eso sí, el espacio... es Nueva York, ¿recuerdas? No esperes un palacio. Es funcional, moderno, con detalles que te hacen sentir que estás en un hotel "cool". La cama, en mi caso, era un sueño. Me dormí como un bebé después de un día agotador de pasear. La ducha... ¡ay, la ducha! Con buena presión, agua caliente... ¡la gloria! (Las pequeñas cosas, ¿sabes? Son las que importan).
Mi amiga, que tiene un espíritu aventurero (y un poco más descuidado que yo, admitámoslo), encontró un pequeño detalle de "no tan perfecto" en su habitación. Pero vamos, ¿quién no ha visto una mota de polvo en un hotel? No fue catastrófico, y lo solucionaron rápido, a la antigua: con una disculpa y una sonrisa. Creo que, al final, depende mucho de la suerte. Y de tu nivel de "pijo-mania" (que el mío es alto, lo confieso).
¿El desayuno? Porque, sinceramente, un mal desayuno puede arruinarme el día... y Nueva York es caro, ¡muy caro!
¡Ah, el desayuno! La clave. Mira, el desayuno de Voco... **no es la panacea**. No es el desayuno buffet de tus sueños. Es... correcto. Un poco genérico, si me permites la honestidad.
Tienes opciones: huevos, bacon (el bacon... ¡ese sí que era bueno!), tostadas, fruta, cereales, café decente... Lo típico. Pero no te emociones. No te imagines un festín. Es para empezar el día, para no salir con el estómago vacío y gastarte una fortuna en el primer café de la calle.
Mi consejo: Llévate unas barritas energéticas y un plátano por si acaso. (Nunca se sabe). Y, sobre todo, relájate. No te dejes llevar por la ansiedad del desayuno perfecto. Hay cosas más importantes en Nueva York… como, ¡dónde vas a hacer la foto de Instagram perfecta! (Ya, ya, no me juzgues). Pero, en serio, el desayuno es funcional. No es la estrella del espectáculo.
¿Y el bar? ¿Es... "cool"? Porque, ya puestos, un cóctel a la noche...
¡El bar! ¡A esto sí le presté atención! ¡Porque, ay, un buen cóctel es la gloria después de patear la ciudad! Y, sí, el bar es... *cool*. **MUY cool**. ¡Con unas vistas de infarto! ¡Literalmente, te puedes quedar embobado mirando las luces de Times Square!
El ambiente es animado, pero no agobiante. La música, buena. Los cócteles, ricos. No son baratos, claro, es Nueva York. Pero la experiencia… ¡merece la pena! Yo, personalmente, me pedí un Manhattan. ¡Delicioso! (Y, admito, me pedí otro, y luego otro… ¡perdón, no recuerdo más!).
Lo que sí recuerdo es haber conocido a un par de tipos encantadores allí. Uno, un actor frustrado que me contó la historia de su vida. El otro, un ejecutivo que solo hablaba de sus viajes. ¡Nueva York en estado puro! El bar es un buen lugar para socializar, para relajarte, para olvidar por un rato el estrés de la ciudad. ¡Y las vistas... las vistas son increíbles! O sea, te lo juro. Prepara la cámara, porque vas a querer subir algo a tus redes sociales. ¡Que lo sepas!
¿Qué hay de malo? ¿Algo... muy malo? Porque, vamos, todos los hoteles tienen sus… "cosas".
¡Ah, la pregunta del millón! A ver, **lo peor**, en mi humilde opinión, es el ruido. ¡Times Square es ruidoso! ¡MUY ruidoso! Aunque tengas la habitación con ventanas aislantes, se oye algo. A mí, sinceramente, no me molestó demasiado (soy de esas que se duermen en un concierto de heavy metal), pero si eres sensible al ruido... ¡ojo! Llévate tapones para los oídos. ¡O prepárate para dormir poco!
Otra cosa... el check-in y check-out, a veces, puede ser un poco caótico. Es un hotel grande, con mucha gente… A veces, la espera es larga. ¡Paciencia, paciencia! (Intenta no ponerte como un basilisco con el personal, que normalmente son majos y están hasta arriba de trabajo).
Y, bueno, lo del precio… No es barato, ya lo he dicho. Pero es Nueva York. Todo es caro. Así que, dentro de lo "caro", Voco es una opción que se mantiene en el rango de lo "razonable" (si es que eso es una palabra que existe en la Gran Manzana).
Y... (piensa, piensa)... ¡Ah, sí! Si eres de los que se obsesionan con los ascensores... prepárate para esperar. A veces, la espera es larga. ¡Lleva un libro! (O más bien,Hotel Ahora
