New York City hotel advice

[princesspiglet]

I need some advice from those who have traveled to NYC with kids.
I am taking my DD to NYC for her birthday trip in November. She will be turning 8 and this will be her first time to the city (that she will remember). We are taking the train into Penn Station.

I am still debating on whether to stay in Times Square or in Brooklyn. I am looking at either the Marriott Marquiss or the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge.

We primarly plan on focusing on kid stuff this trip, we are doing:

*Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre
*American Girl Cafe
*FAO Schwartz
*Central Park ice skating or Rockefeller Center
*holiday decorations at Macy's and Bloomy's

We will have two full days and 1 half day. I know the hotel in Times Square will have better access to everything we want to do, but DD absolutely loves Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge. She has never been there but watches everything she can about Brooklyn- Travel channel, Sam Brown, movies, etc.
She is intent on living in Brooklyn when she grows up!

So, which would you choose? Stay at the more convenient one in Times Square or stay at the hotel in Brooklyn so she can actually see what Brooklyn is about and deal with the transportation issues? The price difference for 2 nights is about $258 savings in Brooklyn.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I just took my DD about 3 weeks ago. We stayed at the W in Times Square.

Looking at the things you would like to do, I would stay in Times Square for convenience sake, but make a trip out to Brooklyn. Not sure how much time it is to go back and forth but with a short trip like yours it may take up a big chunk if you are mainly doing things in the city.

If you are interested, here's the thread I posted about our trip:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2484323

Have a wonderful time!

 

[frndshpcptn]

She's 8?

Stay in Times Square. It's centrally located to everything you want to do.

Take a few hours and walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.

 

[Alison Wonderland]

Stay in Times Square so you can walk to all those activities you have listed. In case you haven't heard of this, the double decker buses (GrayLine, CitySights) have a "Brooklyn Loop."

 

[alisonwonderland64]

Definitely stay at the Marriott Marquis! I've never stayed there, but I'm in NYC at least once a week and live there during the school year, and I go there all the time to just sit in their lobby and such when I'm in the area and want to take a break. It's a really nice hotel (with the greatest glass elevators ever--my friends and I take trips there specifically to ride in these elevators), and I always see tons of families there that seem to really enjoy it. And as others have said, the location will be much better for what you want to do, since it's much easier to just take the subway into Brooklyn once than to have to go back and forth between boroughs throughout your trip.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Affinia Manhattan!

It's literally across the street from Penn Station, and 3 minutes away from Macy's. Short walk into Times Square (Theater District) and a couple streets away from 5th Ave/Rockerfeller.

Just take a bus or subway or something into Brooklyn for a few hours

 

[LuvLDM]

I second the Marriott Marquis suggestion!
It has been a few years since I stayed there but when I still lived on Long Island we would stay there frequently. Dh used to work for Marriott, so we got substantial discounts!

 

[dislaney]

Times Square. Location, location, location!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Your daughter Athena has stolen my heart I was raised in Brooklyn ( tell her Greenpoint) and my favorite book is/was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn...named my oldest DD after Francie Nolan I do say though take a trip into Bklyn but stay in Manhattan only because the bulk of your plans are there.

 

[Kimberly]

I think I'm the only one here to say you should avoid Times Square. While it is fun to visit, it will be outright crazy throughout the entire night, and be the noisest area by far. I would actually stay on the Lower East Side, and you'd still be close to all the activities you want to do, or just a short (about 2 minute) subway ride away. Times Square can just be "too much" at times for anyone that likes any sense of privacy. I'd stay around 5th Ave near Grand Central Terminal... plenty of great hotels there, restaurants, and shops.

 

[Art 1]

Check out the Belvedere Hotel at 48th and 8th.

 

[clori]

I second Affinia Manhattan. It is so nice to arrive at Penn Station and not need a cab or take transportation to the hotel. Also it is close by but not right in Times Square making it much quieter at night. Just request a quiet room when making reservations. We had a room with two queen beds, living room with full size sofabed, kitchen with stove, full size fridge, pots, dishes, utensils, two bathrooms and 3 closets for $159 a night from travelzoo. It also included free breakfast for two adults.

 

[RAV]

embassy suites-downtown
large rooms
great breakfast
a chance to step away from hectic tempo in mid town

 

[krcit]

Stay in Times Square. My kids love staying right in Times Square...they like the crowds and the noise..they're kids

We went into the Marriott Marquis to use the bathroom when we went to see Lion King and now they are dying to stay there. Next trip!

 

[lam]

Definitely stay at the Marriott Marquis! I've never stayed there, but I'm in NYC at least once a week and live there during the school year, and I go there all the time to just sit in their lobby and such when I'm in the area and want to take a break. It's a really nice hotel (with the greatest glass elevators ever--my friends and I take trips there specifically to ride in these elevators), and I always see tons of families there that seem to really enjoy it. And as others have said, the location will be much better for what you want to do, since it's much easier to just take the subway into Brooklyn once than to have to go back and forth between boroughs throughout your trip.

Hi

I'm from Ireland.
We're celebrating 2 very important birthdays in New York in December.
I had booked a 'flexible' rate for the Wyndham Garden on 36th St BUT had been considering the Marriott Marquis.After reading this [post and this thead.I'm 'hooked'

I'm checking prices now with a view to changing my booking so hopefully we will have the 'wow' factor in this trip during our stay!!

Most of what we want to do is in and around Times Square.

Can anone tell me though how I get to the Marquis from JFK Airport?Am I better getting a cab?

AND does anyone know if theres a lounge or somewhere in the hotel where both Husband and I can grab a beer/wine & which will also allow my teen son to have a coke? Anywhere with 'views'?

Sorry about all the q's.
I'm just really really excited about it all!!

Am going to do a separate thread to see if I can get a promo code

lam

 

[T*Bird]

Check out the Belvedere Hotel at 48th and 8th.

Great suggestion! The Belvedere also has a frig and micro in the room, which was great for restaurant take-home boxes. We also bought soft drinks and snacks at a grocery store nearby and that saved us money, too. I thought the Belvedere was a great bargain! It has been several years since I went to NYC, but at the time the hotel was recently refurbished and very nice.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I stayed at the Brooklyn Marriott last year, nice hotel, walking distance to the bridge. Why not plan some other Brooklyn activities for the trip since she is so interested in that part of NY?