Springhill Suites - Long Island City Review. Great Staff and Spacious Room, With a Few Accessibility and Noise Issues

I was in town for just one day to attend an “old guys” fraternity gathering in a backyard in Astoria/Long Island City. My flight arrived at LaGuardia shortly before 9:00 a.m., and I reached the SpringHill Suites around 9:30. I politely asked whether an early check-in might be possible because I was hoping to take a nap before the party—I’m old! They accommodated me immediately. SCORE!

Since Saturday breakfast ran until 10:30, I grabbed a plate of bacon and found a seat. At 9:30, the first-floor breakfast area was packed, with guests cutting in front of one another as if it were the apocalypse and the world had run out of toilet paper again. Through it all, the breakfast staff worked incredibly hard to keep the area clean, replenish food, and answer questions.

My room on the 12th floor was spacious by New York City standards. As an above-the-knee amputee, I had requested an accessible room with a roll-in shower. Like many Marriott-family hotels I’ve visited, the room seemed to meet the basic ADA requirements: grab bars, a handheld showerhead, and anchored bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

However, the shower did not have a built-in bench, which I usually find in roll-in showers. The staff quickly provided a shower chair, so that was an easy fix. A few practical improvements would make the room much more usable for actual ADA guests. The shower tray should be closer to the mounted toiletries so guests can also place their own soaps within reach. The towels were left on the sink, forcing me to scoot the shower chair over to retrieve them because I do not shower while wearing my prosthetic leg. Placing towels within reach of the shower would make a meaningful difference.

The hotel has three elevators, but they are small considering the number of guest rooms. A line frequently formed in the lobby. The elevators are fast—unless yours turns into the local train and stops on every floor.

The hotel is in a very industrial area, although new residential buildings are being constructed or converted nearby. There is a bodega at the end of one block and a DoubleTree at the other. There is also a street-cart guy nearby, and I got a combo over rice from him at an awesome price by any standard—especially for New York City.

Rideshare vehicles can reach the hotel, but street parking narrows the remaining roadway. Since I move slowly, the cars behind my rideshare had to wait while I got out.

The first-floor gym, which I did not use, is about the size of a large Manhattan studio apartment. There are also three universally accessible restrooms near the gym. The hotel market uses a self-checkout system: select an item, scan it, and pay by card—no cash. Security is stationed at the entrance, which has become fairly typical at New York City hotels.

Noise was the biggest drawback. I could have sworn I smelled cigarette smoke coming from another room on my floor. Doors slammed throughout the night and into the morning, and some younger guests near my room seemed to be having a party in the hallway. I understand that people want to ensure their doors are securely closed, but the constant slamming was disruptive. Having security periodically patrol the guest floors—using the type of scan system commonly used in hospitals and office buildings—could help address smoking, hallway gatherings, and excessive noise.

Despite those concerns, the staff was absolutely awesome. Their friendliness, hard work, and willingness to help made the overall experience a good one. The early check-in alone was greatly appreciated, and the staff truly made this hotel shine.

It’s 10 PM. I Shouldn’t Be Eating This. But the Food Cart Called Me.

It's 10:00 PM in New York City.

I've had a long day.

I've eaten plenty.

I'm back at the hotel.

The responsible thing to do would be to drink some water, get into bed, and call it a night.

There was just one problem.

The food cart outside my hotel was calling me.

And I don't mean figuratively.

I walked outside, and I'm pretty sure I heard:

"Niel... Niiiiiel... come get some chicken and lamb over rice..."

What was I supposed to do?

Ignore it?

That would be rude.

🌃 This Is New York Street Food

The cart has exactly what you'd expect from a New York City street food cart:

Chicken over rice.

Lamb over rice.

Falafel over rice.

Gyros.

Hot dogs.

And enough other options displayed on the side of the cart to make you stand there staring at the menu much longer than necessary.

But I knew what I wanted.

Chicken and lamb over saffron rice.

Add the lettuce.

Add the tomatoes.

And absolutely give me the white sauce.

Hot sauce?

Nope.

I've learned that lesson before.

My stomach and hot sauce have a complicated relationship. Actually, that's being generous.

My stomach has clearly communicated its boundaries.

I'm respecting them.

💰 Wait... That's the Price?!

Then came the biggest surprise of the night.

The entire plate was just over $10.

In.

New. York. City.

Are you kidding me?

I was fully prepared for the guy to tell me it was $15. Maybe more.

It's 10 PM. I'm hungry. I'm in New York. He has possession of the chicken and lamb.

He has all the negotiating power.

Instead, just over ten bucks.

At that price, I happily added another 20% tip for the guy working the cart.

And somehow this gets even more ridiculous.

Earlier, I bought two bottles of Coke Zero from the hotel.

Almost $8.

Let me make sure I understand the economics here:

🥤 Two Coke Zeros from the hotel: almost $8

🍗🐑 A giant container of chicken AND lamb over saffron rice, with lettuce, tomato and white sauce from a New York City street cart: just over $10

Someone, please explain this to me.

Actually, don't.

I don't want anyone investigating and telling the food-cart guy he needs to raise his prices.

🤤 And Was It Worth Eating at 10 PM?

Look at the picture.

You already know the answer.

Chicken.

Lamb.

Saffron rice.

Lettuce.

Tomatoes.

White sauce everywhere.

No hot sauce because I would like to enjoy the rest of my trip without my digestive system filing a formal complaint.

And it is amazing.

Was eating this at 10 PM a good decision?

Nutritionally?

Probably not.

Financially?

ABSOLUTELY.

Spiritually?

I'm going with yes.

After a day of hanging out with friends and family, eating New York backyard food, missing my Broadway show because I was having too much fun, and riding through Queens at night, this feels like the appropriate ending.

Tomorrow I'll worry about responsible eating.

Tonight?

The cart called.

I answered.

And for just over $10 in New York City, I'm very glad I did.

Sometimes Missing the Show Means I Had a Great Day

Today was awesome.

After spending days watching the New York weather forecast bounce all over the place—55% chance of rain, then 77% with thunderstorms, then suddenly looking pretty good—I couldn't have asked for much better.

The temperature stayed in the mid-70s, the humidity was low, there was some sunshine, and toward the end of the day we got a raindrop here and there.

That's it.

Apparently, I spent several days worrying about New York weather for absolutely no reason.

And I'm perfectly okay with that.

This Was Why I Came to New York

Yes, I wanted the New York bagels.

Yes, I wanted the pizza.

Yes, I wanted to see what they did to LaGuardia.

And yes, I had plans to see a Broadway show.

But none of those things were really why I got on a plane this morning.

Today was about the people.

I got to spend the afternoon hanging out with friends and people who are basically family—people I've grown up with and known for years but don't get to see nearly as often as I'd like.

We talked.

We laughed.

We gave each other a hard time.

Because that's what you do with people you've known forever.

There are friendships where you haven't seen someone in a long time, but within about five minutes of being together, it's as if no time has passed at all.

Today felt like that.

And Then There Was the Food

Oh, the food.

I also got something I've been missing for a while:

New York City backyard food.

Not a fancy restaurant.

Not something carefully arranged on a plate so someone can take a picture of it for Instagram.

I'm talking about the kind of food you eat while you're hanging around outside with people you've known forever.

Good food.

Good people.

Good conversation.

And absolutely no reason to rush anywhere.

Which brings me to Broadway.

🎭 About That & Juliet Ticket...

Remember that ticket I bought for & Juliet?

Yeah.

I missed it.

I stayed at the gathering so long that by the time I left, there was no chance I was making the show.

And you know what?

I don't care.

Thankfully, the ticket was $49, not the approximately $200 I would have spent to see Paranormal Activity.

Would I have liked to see & Juliet?

Absolutely.

Was spending more time with friends and family I rarely get to see worth losing $49?

Absolutely.

Broadway will be there the next time I'm in New York.

Days like today aren't nearly as easy to reschedule.

I'd make the same decision again.

🌃 A Ride Through Queens

Eventually, though, the day had to come to an end.

On the ride back to my hotel, SpringHill Suites in Long Island City, I got to take some pictures as we headed south on Vernon Boulevard, just past the Roosevelt Island Bridge and toward the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge.

It was one of those rides where I could just look out the window and enjoy being back in New York.

No rushing to Broadway.

No checking the weather app.

No wondering whether I was going to get rained out.

Just enjoying the ride.

And I'm glad I took some pictures along the way.

🌯 But the Night Isn't Quite Over

Now I'm back at the hotel.

There's a street food vendor right outside, which means I have one final decision to make tonight.

Actually, who am I kidding?

The decision has already been made.

I'm getting something over rice.

Chicken?

Lamb?

Combo?

I haven't decided yet.

But something is going over rice, and I'm going to eat it.

Then I think I'm officially done.

This morning started with a flight from Charleston, a completely transformed LaGuardia Airport, an early hotel check-in and a plate of bacon.

It ends after a beautiful day with people I don't get to see enough, great New York food, a Broadway show I happily missed, a nighttime ride through Queens and, apparently, a plate of street-cart food.

I came to New York wondering whether the weather would ruin the trip.

Instead, I got exactly the kind of day I came here for.

Sometimes the plans you miss aren't nearly as important as the moments that made you miss them.

Today was worth the trip.