Sorry but Not Sorry Hotel
We arrived at the hotel around 2:00 AM on March 10 after an 11-hour flight and another hour of tram travel. Before arriving, I had sent several messages asking about early check-in, and every time I was told that when we arrived the hotel would try to help us. Since it was my first time in New York, I arrived already stressed and exhausted, expecting at least some understanding.
When we got to the hotel, we were told that the hotel was full and early check-in was not possible. I politely explained that we had just completed a very long journey, but the only answer I received was that maybe something could be available around 9:00 AM.
While I was trying to sit in the lobby to look for another hotel using the hotel’s Wi-Fi, we were told that we were not allowed to sit and wait in the lobby. When I asked why, the only answer I got was “sorry.” No explanation, no empathy.
With three large suitcases, in the middle of the night, we had to go out into the streets of a city we didn’t know. The streets were full of homeless people and drug addicts, and we were honestly scared. We did not know the area, and without internet access we couldn’t even find the hotel we tried to book in a hurry.
Around 4:00 AM, desperate and exhausted, we returned to the hotel and explained the situation again, but the responses were unbelievably cold. I have traveled to many countries, but I have never seen people say “sorry” so often while showing so little empathy.
We sat in the diner area while my son went outside to look around to see if there was another hotel nearby. I waited in great anxiety until he came back with no result. We went to the reception again, and this time we were told that early check-in might be at 10 or 11 AM — or maybe not at all. When I said that another staff member had told me something different before, I received another empty, emotionless “sorry.”
Around 8:00 AM new reception staff arrived. Hoping for more understanding, I explained everything again to a middle-aged gray-haired woman named Marina. She told me, in a very patronizing tone, that the hotel was full and our room would only be available at 4:00 PM. At that moment I realized I could not stay in this hotel anymore.
We left again with three suitcases, completely exhausted, and finally found another hotel, Chelsea Rooms. When we explained the situation there, the receptionist said the housekeeping staff had not arrived yet — and she personally cleaned the room herself so we could rest. That simple act restored our faith in humanity.
Later that evening we returned to the New Yorker because our reservation was still active, but when we entered the room, we saw that the bed was extremely small and there was not even a refrigerator. At that point staying there became impossible for us.
The next day we returned the key and asked for our $500 deposit back. We were told that Booking.com had to send a cancellation confirmation first. Two days later, after Booking.com confirmed they had sent it, we went back again, but instead of refunding the money, the hotel said the process would take time.
Six days later I went again and asked to speak to the manager. A young man named Anthony came and repeated the same sentence: “it will take time.” I asked at least for proof of refund, but again I heard the famous “sorry” — and they said there was no document. When I insisted that every refund must have a record, he said he would call the manager. I waited standing for 15 minutes, and the same person came back. The manager never even bothered to come.
I am still waiting for my refund.
I have traveled to many countries that Americans call “third world,” and in many of them the service quality is much better than what I experienced here. At least when people say “sorry,” you can see some real emotion.
The phrase “sorry but not sorry” must have been invented in this hotel.
13 marzo 2026
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