For years I stayed at my dtr.'s apartment on the Upper West Side. After she moved, and when she went back for a visit about 5 years ago, she stayed at the Days Inn at 94th & Broadway, and recommended it to me when I went in to the city about a year ago for a long weekend. The hotel had gone horribly downhill.
The phone didn't work, the cable didn't work, the vending machines had all been removed, the elevators were painfully slow, the wi-fi was "down". No room service or breakfast room. There was some kind of sticky goo on the bottom of the bathtub. No wonder the place had been promoting special low prices on line. Many of the guests were overseas visitors who had been suckered in by said low rates. I was on the go all day long & into the evening with symphony, museum & theater activities, plus eating at great restaurants - so only needed a clean room with a comfortable bed. It never occurred to me that a functional bathtub/shower was not a given. I didn't let the lousy room ruin my trip - I had a great time with all the activities I had scheduled.
So all I can say, is do your research on line for recent reviews by guests. There are still a few travel agents around - I think next time I'm headed to NYC, I'll try using the agent in the office in my nearby strip mall to find an inexpensive place to stay.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Nancy
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