Our stay at Ganesvoort was a masterclass in attempting to disguise mediocrity as luxury. It appears from reviews that guests share similar complaints - which remain unresolved - so it's clear Management just don't give a rat's and the whole thing is designed as a rapacious cash-grab. Apparently, the hotel went through a multi-million dollar renovation four years ago, but it's clear that money went into creating more reliable revenue streams like the onsite dining/bars, and not guest experience. The result is a hotel that prioritises profit over satisfaction, a strategy that is as short sighted as it is obvious.
Same complaints as everyone else:
The $8 bottles of water
The chipping paint, the shoddy grouting in the bathroom, bathroom fittings unattached/broken
Our room had peeling wallpaper
The curtain wand fell off
The outside door handle to our room fell off twice
The rooms aren't soundproofed, and the walls are thin, so you hear slamming doors and kids shouting at all hours
There were no tea or coffee facilities in the room, despite being mentioned on our booking. I've stayed in $50 hostels that have free tea and coffee.
The bed was a double, not a queen, as stated on our booking
We were missing bath towels on check-in which I had to request
The room was really poorly lit. There is no main light in the room, just a couple of lamps that weren't sufficient
One light switch was broken and only worked sporadically
The bathroom was poorly designed with very limited storage space
There is no air-con vent or extractor fan in the bathroom. And they don't provide air freshener, leading to a new level of intimacy between my husband and I that neither of us wanted.
Housekeeping was inconsistent and at times, just confusing - why take the robes away?
The pillows were as limp as a chewed rag. After the first night I requested firmer pillows - which on arrival proved somehow to be even worse. After the second night, I was more specific in my request and asked for a memory foam pillow. This time I was presented with a pillowcase that looked like it had been stuffed with a hundred offcut foam pieces - I have no idea why something like that even exists? After asking twice to no avail, I just gave up and bought one at Target.
The WiFi/Chromecast config is a fresh hell I've never experienced. They've installed the cheapest Chromecast devices, not designed for commercial use, so there is no unique code for your TV in your room. Which means every guest can access any other device across the hotel. The connection drops incessantly, or you're kicked off by another guest, meaning you constantly have to re-pair your content while casting, which was rage-inducing. Also means it's theoretically possible to cast "The Human Centipede" to the ratbag kids' TV next door, which I considered doing at one point just for the lols. We also had access to a device called "Roof top loft display", which feels like it's an internal device and should not be accessible to guests - see previous RE Human Centipede.
However, it's the downright predatory capitalist exploitation that really takes the cake. The bottles of water you are HANDED when you check-in are not complimentary. The WiFi is not complimentary. Any more than five deliveries to your room - which is entirely made up and completely arbitrary as the number of deliveries remains static regardless of the length of your stay - are not complimentary. This is a hotel where Management just spin the chocolate wheel to determine how exactly they'll try to rob you today. Frankly, I'm surprised they don't make you tap your credit card in the lift to access your floor, in place of the room key. There you go, Management, you can have that idea on me.
I can forgive a lot of things, but for the money we paid, this experience was a level of inadequacy and grift I didn't previously think possible.
I hate this hotel, and I will make it my life's purpose to tell every single person I encounter, from now until I am cold in the ground.
Kisses!
Mary
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