Any New yorkers around? Need NYC hotel advice

[lecach]

We have two reservations for next week. DH has to go for work (will be at Madison Square Garden) so DS and I are going with. We're trying to decide which hotel is best for us.

The first hotel is the Wyndham Chelsea West at 37 West 24th St. http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/NYCCW/main.wnt

The second is the Fairfield Inn Times Square at 330 West 40th Street
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...-times-square/

The Wyndham seems like it might be a safer area and close to a lot of stuff. It's cheaper too (not that it really matters).

The Fairfield is listed as times square but says its 4 blocks away and in a questionable neighborhood. But DH would get a ton of Marriott points since its a category 6.

DS and I will be doing a few things without DH so safety is a concern. DH will be at the Garden late Wednesday (well after midnight) and late Friday night so it is a concern for him too.

Anyone familiar with either of these and can offer some insight?

[clori]

If you are looking for very close to Madison Square Garden Hotel Pennsylvania is directly across the street. It is a pretty old basic hotel but other than crossing the street it is right there.

[lecach]

We dont necessarily have to be right at the Garden. Just somewhat accessible but also close to other stuff.

And I know that I said price isnt a concern - we're talking about one hotel that is $169 a night and one that is $202. I dont think DH can go much above that.

[crazyme5kids]

I'm not a big fan of Fairfield Inns,but that's just me. I've stayed in a few of the Marriott Courtyards in the city, so I'd suggest checking those out (love getting Marriott points). The area that the Fairfield is in is fine though, I wouldn't worry too much about safety.

Is the company your husband working for paying for the room, or is it out of his pocket?

[lecach]

Company is paying for. But wont pay much over the $210 range.

He works for a newspaper as a sportswriter and right now newspapers are not doing well financially. We're lucky that they are sending him to NY. Of course he covers Duke so that's pretty important around here (Durham).

[snapppyd]

What about the Marriott Marquis in Times Square?

[lecach]

Originally Posted by snapppyd

What about the Marriott Marquis in Times Square?

$399 a night. I know we'd love it but it is just way too high.

[ckay87]

Originally Posted by clori

If you are looking for very close to Madison Square Garden Hotel Pennsylvania is directly across the street. It is a pretty old basic hotel but other than crossing the street it is right there.

We stayed here and they had the WORST beds EVER. I stayed 2 nights with my sister and we had to share a bed. One of those cases where when one person moves, the other person goes bouncing around! I slept on the chair most of the second night.

Maybe we just had a bad room, but my sis and I still laugh about this. It was a really sweet location though.

[cybrkitn]

Originally Posted by snapppyd

What about the Marriott Marquis in Times Square?

Originally Posted by lecach

$399 a night. I know we'd love it but it is just way too high.

The Marquis is a category 8 on the Reward points. We stayed there back in September for our anniversary and loved it. And you are right, it is a bit pricey. Plus with the holiday season upon us as of next weekend, the price per night is going up (we were looking at the possibility of staying for the weekend again with DS7 this time and noticed the prices going up especially once December hits).

If he has enough reward points saved up and uses them, will his company still pay for the hotel?

[hercamore]

My DD and I (adult DD) stayed at the Wyndham Garden Chelsea on 24th last Dec for 4 nites.

It had just opened. We had a pleasant experience.

The hotel is basically an elevator shaft with about 6 rooms on each floor. It was quiet. The rooms are tiny, beds are comfy, staff was pleasant.

the area is beautiful near Madison Sq Park. Lots to do and subway lines on both ends of the st.

I would stay there again.


herc.

[lecach]

Originally Posted by cybrkitn

If he has enough reward points saved up and uses them, will his company still pay for the hotel?

He has about 300,000 points. But that's something that the reporters just dont talk about around the boss. The paper would not reimburse him anyway, we've tried that route on other things like flight credits.

DH is super protective of his points too. It took a lot for him to use a weeks worth at the Marriott Grande Vista last year. He's saving them for something big like a trip to Europe or a cruise.

[lecach]

Originally Posted by hercamore

My DD and I (adult DD) stayed at the Wyndham Garden Chelsea on 24th last Dec for 4 nites.

It had just opened. We had a pleasant experience.

The hotel is basically an elevator shaft with about 6 rooms on each floor. It was quiet. The rooms are tiny, beds are comfy, staff was pleasant.

the area is beautiful near Madison Sq Park. Lots to do and subway lines on both ends of the st.

I would stay there again.


herc.

Thanks for that - we had no idea what the area was like. We used to stay at the New Yorker or the Marriott Financial Center but the New Yorker has really gone up in price since their renovation and the MFC doesnt have avaialability.

[cybrkitn]

Originally Posted by lecach

He has about 300,000 points. But that's something that the reporters just dont talk about around the boss. The paper would not reimburse him anyway, we've tried that route on other things like flight credits.

DH is super protective of his points too. It took a lot for him to use a weeks worth at the Marriott Grande Vista last year. He's saving them for something big like a trip to Europe or a cruise.

I hear you. DH hasn't racked up that many points, but he does have 1 free night coming to him that he wants to use in NYC.

[Caradana]

I think you'll be OK at either spot. If you're an evangelical conservative, warn me now, because if you're bothered by loving gay couples, West 24th + 5th is not the place for you. That being said, West 40th is bordering a neighborhood that was nicknamed a hundred years ago "Hell's Kitchen", so you might not love that either. (ha) I'd probably take the miles and go to the Fairfield. Make sure to walk east on 40th to 8th Ave before turning north or south -- there's a spot behind Port Authority (around 42nd and 9th) that's honestly not the greatest, but the rest of that area is fine. For dinner, I always recommend Pigalle (French food, be brave, it's great!) on 48th + 8th.

Have fun!
D

[lecach]

Gay couples dont bother me at all. Have a few in my family. And I work in a large retirement community with several. They are some of our nicest residents

DH is leaning towards the Fairfield. Some female coworkers are there today and love it - said the walk to the Garden is easy. Plus the room has two double beds and at the Wyndham we were going to have to share a king with DS. And DH likes that the Fairfield has free internet and free breakfast.

I dont know if I will be able to get DH into a french restaurant - he's not that brave. I would love it though.