Kevger believes everyone who visits New York City could benefit from educating themselves about the Hotel Carter, and then making an informed decision. Is the extra preparation/packing and the "sketchiness factor" worth it, if it means you can get a reasonable room for only $125 (the $99 rooms are, to most Western, educated humans, unreasonable, but they do exist)--for up to four people (before tax & fees)? That is the big question.
Some of our friends just will not entertain the notion of staying at a place with Yelp reviews like these and I get that. On the other hand, it's located only one block from Times Square (yes, seriously!) and it's not unsafe. With some planning, a savvy traveler can make the most of the Hotel Carter (fun fact: it was once the Hotel Dixie; they rebranded as the Carter which is fun because, you know, Dixie Carter. We don't expect anyone to believe us; ask them about it at the front desk!)
Anyway, here are our bullets on the Hotel Carter. If you decide to go for it, let us know how it works out.
- They gave me a quote of $99 and there's no minimum stay
- On the other hand, it is consistently ranked one of the top ten dirtiest hotels in the USA
- I would call them directly and be kind and polite and sweet and ask for a "renovated room," which I understand will be made available to you for $25 more and is absolutely worth it
- Don't expect to be able to tell it was renovated; it's just that it's better than the $99 room
- pack flip-flops, all toiletries (don't expect to get any that are usable from them) a face cloth, hand towel, and regular towel... and so on for the bathroom
- bring your own bedding, including sheets, pillowcase, pillow, blanket
- bring your room deodorizer of choice so you can spray that Hotel Carter smell away
- if you need internet there's a starbucks that will give it to you for free right there, no need to pay the hotel $10 a day
- if you need hangers for the closet bring your own
- Every single hotel in NYC has had bedbugs at some point. So that's a wash. Inspect any hotel in NYC when you arrive and if you see evidence of bedbugs they will move you to another room--and for added peace of mind they have cheap, bug-proof mattress enclosures for sale in all the Duane Reade drugstores. Sadly, no hotel in NYC has been safe from the epidemic; luckily, they are constantly sending in exterminators and at the end of the day, they don't carry disease like, say, mosquitoes. Bedbug issues can be managed; educate yourself.
- The air conditioning works, which is important
- They will hold your bags after check-out for just a few bucks
- A few of the higher rooms actually have unbelievably awesome views; don't be afraid to ask nicely for a high, renovated room with a view of Time's Square =)
- Walking distance to over a dozen awesome gay venues (it's in Hell's Kitchen)
- You would be saving hundreds of dollars, and you don't want to spend your time in NYC in a hotel room, anyway
- Having said that, this place is gross, and is not for everyone.
Kevger Fact: There was once a bus terminal in the basement of the Hotel Dixie/Carter that went bust (as opposed to bused) because it couldn't compete with the Port Authority. Part of the reason: “The space was so confined that buses couldn’t turn around, so there was a large turntable that rotated to give the buses access to their different platforms when they arrived, and to point them to the exit ramp when they left.”
And that is our New Yorker's Guide to the Hotel Carter. Good luck & let us know what you think!
