New York Hotel Suggestions

Looking for some advice on New York Hotels.

Never been to The Big Apple but with the latest round of offers from VS I'm thinking of a 4 day trip in early March.

I've looked on the the other New York Hotel threads on here but most are 5 star hotels and out of my budget ! Trip Advisor is also giving mixed reviews, and prices not helped by the fact that I don't know the area!

Does anyone know of a good hotel that's fairly central and within walking distance to the shops, Times Square etc ... Say within a budget of up to $300 a night ?

Any ideas would be welcome !

[RichardMannion]

Just been doing that myself for the beginning of March - the highly regarded Affinia 50 (according to TripAdvisor) is reasonable if you go direct - http://www.affinia.com. The Crowne Plaza at UN is cheap on Expedia but not so highly regard on TA.

Thanks,
Richard

[Decker]

Just put one of my people into http://www.hotelchandler.com/ for next week - albeit just 'cos it is a few blocks from the client but the rooms look good and the price is < $250 a night.

Just so happened I booked mine this morning.
Staying at the Milford Plaza which is about 4 blocks from Times Square.
They are doing a Winter special at the moment. If you book three nights or more you get 20% of off the price. I paid $506.65 for their top of the range queen bed club room which includes breakfast, free internet and a few other extras.
http://www.milfordplaza.com

Of course I have not stayed there yet so cannot comment on what it's actually like but it seems a good offer. Maybe someone here has stayed there.

-Steve

I've been looking myself for early march too...
Is it me, or does NY seem to be the most expensive city on the planet for accomodation.

Dean

We stayed in the "Westin" when we went to NY. Fantastic hotel, I hav just looked on the internet for the prices and they range from $280 upwards, but not sure when you are going, so couldn't tell you the price for when you want to go.

It is really close to Times Sq. Only 1 minute walk away. If you do stay in this hotel, then ask at reception when you're checking in, if there is a Corner room available. We were lucky when we went and managed to bag a corner room on a high floor. Fantastic views over NY.

Good luck in hunting for a hotel.

Mark

I've just booked for March, decided to stay at the Four Points by Sheraton in Chelsea.

Always stayed around Times Square before, but thought I'd try something different this time, seems to get good reviews.

Worth looking at Virgin Holidays as well, as you get a 10% discount, also Midas Hotels and quikbook seem to have some good prices. The latter is good as most hotels don't need payment till you check out, so you can also cancel if you change your mind.

Locutus, our paths will cross in NY. I'm there from the 9th to the 13th.
Walk past that Sheraton on the way to my flea markets. Good quiet location, but near midtown, Chelsea, Meatpacking and Greenwich Village..

Dean

Originally posted by Wolves27
Locutus, our paths will cross in NY. I'm there from the 9th to the 13th.
Walk past that Sheraton on the way to my flea markets. Good quiet location, but near midtown, Chelsea, Meatpacking and Greenwich Village..

I'll look out for you then Dean! Shame you aren't going two days earlier, could do with meeting a gold card holder at LHR [}:)]

Originally posted by Wolves27

Is it me, or does NY seem to be the most expensive city on the planet for accomodation.

Dean

YES, YES and once again, YES

We stopped at the Crowne Plaza in Times Square during November.
Great location, good rooms and service.
Would stay here again.

[mcmbenjamin]

The Benjamin - Part of the group of hotels Richard mentioned

The Hilton Times Square is nice. Nice area with two movie houses, a ColdStone and a 24/7 Starbuck's across the street.

We stayed at the Hudson on W58th Street, rooms were very small and we could not get into the hotel bar, as it was busy. Also the bathroom is so small, you have to squeeze into it. It wasnt particularly cheap and there are better hotels nearer Times Square in the thick of it.

When I go back in May I'm doing 4 nights dirt cheap (well for NY) then the last night in the MO Columbus Circle. It is officially the most expensive hotel I think I've ever seen, but they had (respectively) good prices on the rarely seen Internet rates there.

I will not be leaving that hotel for 24 hours, I intend to get my monies worth!

Dean

We stayed in the Millenium Broadway, just round the corner from Toys R Us in Times Square and very central for everything.

We were in their so called club rooms in the adjacent building which meant you got free wine/beer for a couple of hours in the evening which set the tone quite nicely.

Originally posted by Wolves27
Is it me, or does NY seem to be the most expensive city on the planet for accomodation.

Does depend a bit on time of year. Stayed at the 3* Park Central in December and was hit for 600USD a night for a standard room. The same hotel for my trip in early February is 150USD - not a bad hotel as I like to be closer to Central Park and I find myself coming back to this one again and again.

Sheraton Manhattan is also a pleasant stay - bit cosier than it's big sister across the road.

Of course in early March $300 a night should get a reasonable 4* hotel so these might be bit below budget.

Phil

[Neil]

As others have suggested booking through VH is a very good idea for the 10% discount - we got some excellent prices for when we are going in June, and have booked again to stay at the Renaissance in Times Square where we have stayed before, the location is excellent and the rooms are very nice and a good size by NYC standards.

Neil

I've stayed at the Four Points In Chelsea, it is OK but should warn you it really is nothing special. Photo's on the website look good which gets your hopes up. Have also stayed at the Hudson mentioned previously, whilst the standard rooms are small, the hotel as a whole is way better. If you've already booked with Starwood then you may be able to switch to a Westin or W which seem to be quite good.

Originally posted by Ted
I've stayed at the Four Points In Chelsea, it is OK but should warn you it really is nothing special. Photo's on the website look good which gets your hopes up.

Oh don't say that, I have a hard enough time finding a hotel as it is! [:?] There's no availability for the Renaissance at VH or I'd stay there. I have a deluxe room at the Four Points, but I will hardly be there I guess, out seeing some shows and round the local drinking establishments, so hopefully it'll be fine [ii]. The free internet access means you lot will find out soon after I do!

Well as a base in central New York it is good and if you don't plan on being there much it is very well located and the beds are extremely comfortable. There's also a 24 Hour Deli just round the corner.

[Neil]

Originally posted by locutus

Originally posted by Ted
but I will hardly be there I guess, out seeing some shows and round the local drinking establishments, so hopefully it'll be fine [ii]. The free internet access means you lot will find out soon after I do!

Thats an excellent point, your in New York, you should hardly spend anytime in your hotel at all, most days we are up and out by 8am latest and then spent an hour before going out on an evening in our room, so It isn't really that much of an issue, as long as you have a comfy bed to crash in.

Neil

[Nottingham Nick]

This topic has taken on mew meaning, now that I have weekend in NYC booked for April.

I realise this may be a forlorn question, but seeing as we arrive at JFK quite late at night, I can't see the point of going all the way into Manhattan to pay silly money for a hotel that night.

Does anyone know a cheap, half decent (clean) hotel near to JFK that would be suitable to crash out in for one night?

Nick

I've been to a few Manhattan hotels at the cheaper end of the scale. Like others have said, I take the view that I'm hardly going to be in the hotel so can't see the point of paying sky-high prices. I've listed some of the more recent (within last 24 months) below.

I would personally stay away from Times Sq as you will pay more for the location and, IMHO, there are better areas in which to stay.

You might want to consider whether you are flying into/out of JFK or EWR (Newark) as that may influence your decision on hotel location based on transport options to/from the airport.

From EWR I normally use the Air Train which, if your luck is in, takes around 45 mins from claiming bags to arriving in Manhattan at Penn Station. From JFK I take a Shuttle Bus which gets you to Grand Central Terminal in anything from an hour upwards. Shuttle busses from both airports will take you to most hotels but you'll normally have to change busses at Grand Central.

It's going back to the airport where it can make a big difference - in evening rush hour, the train is still around 40-45 mins from Manhattan to Check-in but the shuttle buses or Taxi can be a lot longer (nearly 2 hours back to JFK on one occasion). Shared Ride (Supershuttle etc) service can be longer still on the way back out to the airport.

First a few recommendations.

Most recent stay (Nov 06) was at the Affinia Manhattan (formerly Southgate Towers) which is right opposite Penn Station. Good clean hotel, helpful staff with a huge, well-maintained room. Small bathroom with only a shower rather than a bath but did include a small kitchen. Amazingly comfortable bed[y] Handy for Macys (1 block), Empire State Building and other mid-town attractions and not too far (10-15 mins) to walk to Top of The Rock, Times Sq etc.

Hotel Metro is also OK, I have directed others there and had good feedback. I know that this one is in the V.Hols list. Again handy for mid-town and penn Station. Roof terrace which looks out onto Empire State Building.

Roosevelt Hotel is almost adjacent to Grand Central Terminal. Again a good clean hotel. Rooms can be a bit on the small side and some do not have a closet for clothes hanging space[?]

Hilton Times Sq. Good if you want the Times Sq location. Usual Hilton standards but can be expensive.

The Michelangelo. Excellent. Went here for one night for a bit of luxury:D. Again, can be expensive. North of Times Sq so a fair walk to mid-town attractions.


One place I cannot recommend is the Murray Hill Inn. [n] Way back in 2002, having booked direct, I arrived around 9pm only to be told they didn't have a room for me as 'the manager had not allocated one'.[V] They made almost no effort to help me find alternative accommodation. However, one look at the lobby was enough to convince me that I'd made a bad choice in the first place - dirty, shabby and security looked poor. Mine was the 3rd review on tripadvisor but there have been quite a few more since 2002 making the same comments.

No idea on Airport hotels - sorry.

[Scrooge]

Nick, the Holiday Inn Express has always worked for me.

As for New York...well the Renaissance jumps to mind, may be a little $$$ but worth it in my mind for the location.

Honestly though New York is like London/Vegas, is it really worth paying through the nose for a room with the amount of time you are going to spend there?

Just an fyi, check out bidding for http://www.travel.com, it's a site that let's people post what priceline is is accepting for bids on hotels in many cities.It has saved me a bunch over the last couple of years.

[RichardMannion]

Stupid me, I'd forgot all about this offer.

You need an AmEx card, any of them.

Buy 2 nights, get 1 free at any W. Just checked the W in Times Sq, and it is $309/night, so you get 3 nights for $618+tax which is not too shabby.

http://www.welcometowhotels.com/nighton ... OP_AMEXDRE

valid until 15th April.

Hope this helps, I know where we are staying when we go in March!

Thanks,
Richard