New York Hotel recommendations

[aussietravellers]

Would love some hotel recommendations for New York.

Location is important (midtown Manhattan I think), somewhere with a good view and not out of the way, we want somewhere in a good location basically. Not 5 star I don't think, NY hotels seem to be very expensive, so 3.5 to 4.5 star. We are looking at the Times Square area at the moment. Doubletree Suites Times Square, has anybody stayed there?

Being a first trip to NY we will be doing all of the usual tourist sites, (zoo at Central Park, some Museums, walk over the brooklyn bridge, statue of liberty, magnolia bakery cupcake from Greenwich village to name a few including FAO Schwarz and from the sounds of it there is a big Toys R Us (yes there will be children travelling in our group, but none in strollers, but its not the children that are wanting to build a barbie or muppet at FAO Schwarz or jump on the big piano keys, that is the adults

So would love to hear any recommendations for hotels

 

[ehsmum]

I can't recommend it because we haven't been yet, but we've booked Radio City Apartments. It's a reasonable price (US$2600 for 10 nights) and a great location, right in Times Square. It has mixed reviews but the price for the location couldn't be beaten so we're risking it!

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

I've been researching this too for February 2011. Someone recommended the Giraffe and I also like the look of Hilton New York. Like you we will be concentrating on the major tourist areas and Times Square area seems to be an ideal base. Good luck with the planning.

Looking at your list of hotel stays, you have similar tastes to us. WDW Yacht Club and AKL. We stayed in the Disneyland Hotel and Sequoia Lodge in DLPR.

 

[disney_princess_85]

I'm staying at the New York Palace in April. It's on Madison Avenue so it's in a great location. There's a thread over on the UK Community board (called 'Flights to New York'), where there are loads of general tips along with hotel recommendations.

 

[Kangarucci]

We stayed at Radio City Apartments in April 2007 and found it to be in a fantastic location. The apartment itself was very good -spacious with kitchen facilities so that we could eat in. We did have a minor issue with the heating in that it got too hot when sleeping and we couldn't alter the thermostat, however, I just opened up the window a little.

Subway a 2 min walk away and Time Square maybe 5min max. A grocery store is perhaps 10min away. We paid about $300 AUD per night for a family of 4 in a one bedroom apartment. We are going back to New York in Sept. and I thought that I might try and find somewhere less expensive, but the location of the apartments is just so good.

Cheers.

 

[Toy Story]

We have booked into the Hotel Beacon - it is in the Upper West Side, about two (big?) blocks from Central Park. We decided on this hotel as you get two rooms with a kitchenette, and figured for ten nights it would be good for our two children to have time apart.

Friends stayed here in 2005, apparently there is a great supermarket over the road.

 

[shushh]

We're going in Dec 2010 and the rates around Christmas are crazy! We are still tossing up between radio city apartments and the Novotel Times Square. We needed somewhere that will fit 5 in a room. We've got reservations at the moment at the Novotel times square for $349 per night including taxes. This is beginning to look like a really good price!

 

[StephAus]

I just got back from NY. My sister & I stayed at the Pod Hotel, which while was good, probably not appropriate if you have kids.
But I just wanted to say, since all the things you want to do are literally all over Manhattan you really want a hotel as close as you can to a subway station. And if you do this you can open your search up a bit wider than midtown.
I hope this made a bit of sense, I bought a cold back with me. PM if you have any other q's.

 

[DizOz]

We have just booked The Muse which is just off Times Square. Close enough to enjoy but far enough away to escape the noise.

We too have children and finding a good hotel for 4 in NY is hard to find. Aussietraveller this my family's first trip to Ny and are doing all the touristy things as well. Me, I visit NY a fair bit and must say not a greta fan. But DW wants to go shopping and youngest DD wants to see the Statue of Liberty. Both DD's want to go to as they say "The Place with the big piano on the floor" so a trip to FAO Shwarz is also on the cards.

 

[aussietravellers]

Thank you all so much for your replies. Will look at all of those hotels and will check out the UK board too!

 

[PrincessInOz]

We stayed at the DoubleTree $$, part of the Hilton chain. We had a 1 bedroom suite. The bedroom had 2 double beds and the living room had a sofa bed; so you could fit 5 if needed. There was also a little kitchenette in the living room; which was great for making coffee/tea in the morning. Can't beat the location; same for Novotel locale. DoubleTree was just above a subway station so it made getting around Manhattan really easy.

 

[Mellby]

I stayed at the Double Tree Metropolitan on Lexington Avenue. I wanted to stay on the east side near Grand Central Station and actually won it using hotwire.com

Another good site to check hotels and feedback is on priceline.com

The room was a little small, but good amenities and a subway station right outside the door. Great location too!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Not sure if you've booked your New York accom yet but we stayed at Crowne Plaza Times Square in October and it was fabulous. The location, well it just can't be beat, right next door to Hershey's and across from M&M World. Hmmm, yum

 

[aussietravellers]

Not sure if you've booked your New York accom yet but we stayed at Crowne Plaza Times Square in October and it was fabulous. The location, well it just can't be beat, right next door to Hershey's and across from M&M World. Hmmm, yum

No I haven't. I just can't decide where to stay, its 6 months and two weeks till NY so I should get onto it I've been too busy planning the WDW portion of the trip.

Thanks for that suggestion, I will look into that and add it to my list.

 

[aussietravellers]

I stayed at the Double Tree Metropolitan on Lexington Avenue. I wanted to stay on the east side near Grand Central Station and actually won it using hotwire.com

Another good site to check hotels and feedback is on priceline.com

The room was a little small, but good amenities and a subway station right outside the door. Great location too!

Thanks I will look at that. Kind of had Times Square in mind, but the Palace isn't in times square so will look at that.

We stayed at the DoubleTree $$, part of the Hilton chain. We had a 1 bedroom suite. The bedroom had 2 double beds and the living room had a sofa bed; so you could fit 5 if needed. There was also a little kitchenette in the living room; which was great for making coffee/tea in the morning. Can't beat the location; same for Novotel locale. DoubleTree was just above a subway station so it made getting around Manhattan really easy.

Well thats great to hear , thank you so much. I have really been leaning towards that hotel, but just can't decide.

 

[aussietravellers]

Just wanted to thank everybody for their replies.

I have just booked at Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square. Got a good deal I think, through Expedia. They had a 24hr 10% off accommodation so I priced the same room direct with Doubletree and saved quite a bit with the Expedia sale. So NY here we come (well in September that is )

 

[cinderella8989]

Hi,

Has anyone stayed at the edison hotel?

Thankyou,

 

[BzBeiber]

Where are you looking to stay, specifically, in NYC?

There are a bunch of affordable, great options, if you're willing to go OFF the beaten path!

 

[Lulu83]

I can recommend where NOT to stay in New York - Hotel Pennsylvania

Words cannot express how terrible this place is Don't be fooled by the location (directly opposite Penn Station), don't be fooled by the history and don't be fooled by the website. This place is a nightmare!

I can't even begin to write what's wrong with it or I'll get myself worked up (I put in two written complaints about this place after our stay - thankfully only one night in transit - and never even received an acknowledgement ) so if you want to see for yourself check out TripAdvisor http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...sylvania_New_York-New_York_City_New_York.html

I do have photos if anyone wants proof but I have removed them from my holiday photos and put them in a hidden file so I never accidentally look at them and relive the trauma..

 

[Busy Busy]

We'll be at the DoubleTree in September too!!

We stayed there for 5 nights in September 2009 and just loved it. We arrived at 6.30am after catching the "red eye" overnight and we were exhausted. We were thrilled to be able to get into our room straight away.

After such a great start the hotel just got better!! We had a great room, plenty of space and perfectly clean. The bathroom was big and the beds and bedding were amazing.

We are heading back for another 5 nights before we go to Orlando. We will be with another family (3 kids) and they have never been to NYC - we assured them that this is a great place to stay. Even though it's right in the middle of Times Square, you walk into a foyer (always manned by a security guard), then go up 3 floors in a lift to the lobby, so it is quiet and always completely safe.

One of my favourite memories of the DoubleTree was when we had just crossed the road to head back to the hotel when a hand grabbed me I jumped 3 feet then realised that it was one of my customers from work - there in the busiest place on earth I knew somebody!! My family are still shaking their heads over that one!!