The Maritime Hotel

Good location if you want a quieter stay - right next to the Chelsea Market and the High Line, anything else is a little bit of a trek to walk but the subways are within one/three aves. Water provided in the lobby, otherwise will cost you - continental breakfast was good for what it was. Would stay again. *Be prepared to carry your suitcase up the stairs upon arrival - I did not see an elevator and you have to walk up and down a moderate amount of stairs (>10) to reach the lobby. Doorman was there occasionally.

The closest place I’ve ever found to my childhood imaginings of where 007 secret agents must stay. From the moment you walk in: dark polished wood, quiet sitting areas, and front desk staff who manage to be simultaneously gracious and circumspect. The rooms are small but everything is thoughtfully designed and well maintained. Beautiful wood panelling throughout; the bathroom is compact and bathtub standard size, but with the highest water volume shower I’ve ever experienced. I spent hours standing underneath, glorying in what must have been a swimming pool’s worth of warm water cascading over me. The bath and beauty products are high quality and I ended up using them instead of the ones I brought with me. Room service and housekeeping are there within minutes after you call. If you sleep in, you can be sure they’ll be back at the time your request and will leave your room absolutely spotless. As I write this I’m staying in a much more expensive “luxury” resort elsewhere, having just held a lengthy discussion with management about how I had to steal toilet paper rolls from public washrooms because housekeeping failed to clean our room two days in a row. Makes me miss New York and the Maritime!

Location is great, but not much else. The decoration is interesting but not enough to offset the lack of amenities (hair dryer, coffee machine, etc). I travelled to NY for business a few times and this room is smaller than other places I stayed at the same price point. There’s also a strange electric buzzing noise near the bed and changing rooms didn’t help.

The Maritime Hotel is a quirky but well-themed spot in NYC, with a fun nautical design that gives it plenty of character. I stayed over Christmas and New Year’s and found the location fantastic—right near Chelsea Market, with easy access to great food and shopping. It was also very easy to get to from JFK via the subway, which was a huge plus. That said, a couple of things let it down. The included breakfast was disappointing—though that might just be in comparison to European hotels, where breakfasts tend to be much better. Also, the pillows were rubbish and really need replacing. Overall, it’s a unique hotel with a lot of charm, and with a few small improvements, it could be excellent.

The Maritime Hotel has always been a favorite of mine, with its charming nautical theme and excellent location in the heart of Chelsea. I've stayed here dozens of times and have consistently enjoyed the clean, comfortable rooms and the overall ambiance. However, during my most recent stay, I noticed a change in the level of service, particularly with the doorman. It was quite surprising that the doorman didn’t assist with the doors or help with luggage upon arrival. This was unusual and not the kind of service I’ve come to expect from this hotel. I even watched an elderly couple have to carry their luggage up the stairs while two doormen stood right there without offering any help. Despite this hiccup, the front desk staff remained courteous and helpful, and my stay was otherwise pleasant. I’m hoping this was just an off day and look forward to my next visit being up to the usual high standard.