Jumeirah Essex House Hotel

I wrote a letter to the manager because the technology experience and facilities experience we had was so bad.

1) The key cards consistently did not work. It is extremely inconvenient to have to go to the lobby to have them re-charged every time you go into your room. Furthermore, there was always a line at the front desk which increased the time it took to get the cards recharged.

2. The television remote is such low quality that it would not change channels one at a time; nor would it allow you to type in a channel. The numbers would repeat.

3. The wireless internet did not work in our room. Since the wired internet cord was exceedingly short, it meant we were tethered to the desk.

4. In the bathroom, the shower knob and the hand-towel ring both came off in our hands or onto our feet.

5. The TV in our daughter's room turned on randomly at 5 a.m. and couldn't be turned off. She called the front desk 4 times before a service person arrived-- who also couldn't get it turned off.

This hotel has been recently updated. The rooms were beautiful and the staff friendly. However, when they updated the technology, they didn't find all of the problems, and now the guests are paying for them.

This was our first time at the Jumeirah Essex House. We won't be back.

Like a Jaques Tati nightmare, a room full of ridiculous "luxury" gadgets (computerized phones, tv remote, automatic lighting controls) that don't work.

Obsequious but ineffectual service. Called 4 times to get sheets for our child's "bed" (really a crappy sofa bolted to the wall right beneath some windows).

Screw the Essex; any random Holiday Inn would provide better service.

Service was horrible, room was terrible, valet was abominable & they processed a charge to my card they'd promised to delete (because the service was so bad).

When I arrived at the Essex House for my first stay, I was stunned by the beauty of the property - an elegantly appointed lobby, old-fashioned elevators and a great location directly across from Central Park.

Check-in was efficient if not a bit cold - basically unexpected in a property catering to higher-end clientele. My original room - situated on their third floor and simply but neatly appointed - was located immediately above construction, glaring lights and was filled with mosquitos from a window that had been left open. The bathtub plug was broken, and after a call to the manager I was immediately whisked to a Club Suite on the 28th floor - twice the size of my original room.

This suite was truly special. Beautiful, solid hardwood furniture, perfectly white linens and towels, comfortable beds and sweeping views of Central Park. A luggage trunk kept luggage out of the way, just inside the entry and immediately across from the large closet - which was complete with a safe and a selection of both hardwood and padded hangers.

A sumptuous room service menu offers the best of what the hotel offers in an elegant manner, complete with a vase of flowers on the delivery table. Toiletries are from Penhaligon's of London, and were really an indulgent treat. A basic hair dryer was also offered, tucked into a leather case in the bathroom.

Internet access is available although when I clicked to sign on, I was not given the price for the 24-hour access. Three phones in the room ensure you never miss a call - next to the bed, on the desk, and one in the bathroom. Water in the bathtub tends to leak out quickly, but the water pressure and angled faucet created an incredible bubble bath in mere seconds. (I was able to stop the immediate outflow from the tub stop by placing a washcloth over it. Tubs seem fairly old and are a bit shallow, but the overall experience more than makes up for it.)

Staff is wildly attentive to detail, and in the days following my arrival, I was greeted by name and asked if I needed anything delivered to my room each time I entered the hotel.

Overall, I'd recommend Essex House, and I would strongly suggest calling the manager on duty should anything not be up to expectations. I was wildly impressed with how quickly and efficiently they handled my room issue and the steps they took to make sure I was a very, very happy guest.

It was a nice hotel. It had appropriate quality for the price and the location.