New York Hotels - October 06

A good friend of mine is off to New York City with his new lady in late October (22nd- 27th)and he is looking for a nice hotel to stay in whilst he is in Manhattan.

Price isnt the determining factor, location and quality of hotel is -so 4- 5 star is whats required. They will go to restaurants, go shopping etc.

Can anyone help with any suggestions coz Ive not been there many times and do not know it well!!!

Thanks in advance.

The Waldorf Astoria is the grand old lady of NY hotels - showing her age, but the staff are usually friendly, particularly to wide eyed tourists (and my kids when we stayed there in March).

NY Palace is also pretty good - rooms are more consistent than the W-A.

Both of these are in mid-town, about 51st - the W-A on Park, Palace on Madison. Both are convenient for the shops on Madison and 5th, which are between 50th and about 57th / Central Park.

I think some of the more senior members of this forum go for the Mandarin Oriental, which I think is in the Time Warner Centre on Columbus Circle (south west corner of Central Park).

There are restaurants all over NY - use Zagat or get recommendations from the hotel concierge. Cabs are reasonably cheap (except in rush hour traffic) and usually in good supply at the big hotels. No matter where you stay, restaurants will therefore be in easy reach.

Hope this helps...

Mark

What kind of hotel do your friends like, I mean modern, traditional, bizzy with media folk, busy with charming folk, with a view over the park, without a view ... etc

I can recommend many ... your question implies that theatre is not necessary nor are museums, so there are many answers and a little more clue might help.

Other than that try http://www.tripadvisor.com, it's variable but overall I think a good place to listen to people's stories about hotels.

Slinks

Thanks for the comments so far - I think they would veer towards modern and maybe boutique style hotels. I have also pointed him in the direction of Trip advisor - but sometimes have aa few places to kick off with gets the thoughts going[y]

Have a look at http://www.quikbook.com/ too. I booked a few nights at the Flatotel through them for October. Stayed there before, so can recommend it. Quikbook also let you book now and pay on departure for some hotels.

There are a few "W" hotels which are very nice. Rooms are nice, but very new york.....small. Very nice places though and the bar was always full of young trendy types, they are scattered around NYC so take your pick of locations.

Originally posted by Gelding
There are a few "W" hotels which are very nice. Rooms are nice, but very new york.....small. Very nice places though and the bar was always full of young trendy types, they are scattered around NYC so take your pick of locations.

I've stayed at the Westin Times Sqaure - if you can bag a high floor corner room this was definately worth it!
Am staying at the W times square this November when I run the Marathon so hopefully that will be just as nice.

We are staying at the Casablanca Hotel http://www.casablancahotel.com , right near Times Square in October. Haven't stayed there before but generally good reviews on Trip Advisor. A quirky boutique hotel that I'm hoping will be something a bit different from the big chains. The inclusive breakfast and complimentry wine and cheese in the evening seem popular!

[Neil]

We stayed at the Renaissance Times Square in March and it was fab, the concierge was the best! really big rooms too. Would really recommend it - plus the location cant be beat, you feel that you are right in the heart of the city but with everything in easy reach

Neil:)

Thanks for the replies everyone - David, my friend is prob going to go for the Waldorf Astoria as suprisingly they have soem great rates - however he hasnt booked yet so any other ideas are most welcome.[^]

Mark
I too stayed at the Renaissance a few years ago.Would recommend it too- location is excellent -slap bang in the middle of everything,right above a subway station- rooms were big (by NY standards) with nice bathrooms and the views over Times squre were fab (particularly from the restaurant).Even better still was that I didn't encounter one single cockroach in the buliding ( unlike some other older hotels I've stayed in in NY!!)
Julie

Just emailed David and told him to check it out - might go there for a shopping trip at Christmas - so will see how he gets on.

And yes - roach free is good!!

Thanks again everyone.

Check out Virgin Holidays too for accom only. You get 10% discount for being a FC member. I booked the Renaissance through them when I went in March, but they seem to have removed it [:(] Shame too, they had a great price for it.

We usually stay in the marriott or westin times square. The westin have very large rooms for new york standard and you get 10% thro VH, although theyn tend to have their best rate direct on web.

Originally posted by MarkJ
Thanks for the comments so far - I think they would veer towards modern and maybe boutique style hotels. I have also pointed him in the direction of Trip advisor - but sometimes have aa few places to kick off with gets the thoughts going[y]

Definitely check out 60 Thompson - http://www.60thompson.com - when my company is paying it is always my first choice in NY. Great location, great staff and one of the best overall hotel experiences from anywhere I've stayed. Be warned though - it is pricey!!!

SFO-Marc

I like 60Thomson too, but if you want a central location from which you can walk to Soho and midtown look at http://www.hotelgiraffe.com. Really nice hotel and #5 or something in trip adviser's New York listing.

If nearness to shopping is more important I also love http://www.parkermeridien.com - Good location but go for a junior suite in a high room overlooking central park!

S

Thanks again everyone for all the recommendatons!

If you like boutique hotels, and a more... erm.... funky part of town, try the Gramercy Park hotel. Very nice, and great service, and fantastic staff with excellent customer service skills!

For unique and boutique hotels check out http://www.tablethotels.com
They select the best modern, contemporary and boutique hotels from around the world and have them on their website.
Also have a look at for new york the following
Hudson, Royalton, hotel QT, Hotel on rivington.

Just spent a week at the Royalton on 44th, I'd forgotten how good this hotel is and the de luxe rooms are really spacious with great bathrooms. The staff have been excellent.

Attended a meeting in the Gansevoort Hotel in the meatpacking district, and had a look around too. Amazing roof top pool and a beautiful hotel ... however it's a way away from the shopping areas but locally there are fantastic restaurants and it's totally cool and buzzing.

My advice, whatever you do avoid anything around Times Square, noisy, busy, not relaxing!

Originally posted by csparker
The Waldorf Astoria is the grand old lady of NY hotels - showing her age, but the staff are usually friendly, particularly to wide eyed tourists

Have to agree fully with the endorsement for the 'grand old lady'. Had a great stay there back in 2004.....

Jon B