NYC Hotel recommendations

[Maybelle]

Thinking about NYC for a few days over April vacation. I found a good rate at the Affinia Graden Hotel but that's a little farther from Times Square than we want to be...

Any recommendations? We really need to do this on a budget...need to find someplace under $200pn, so don't go recommending the Ritz! LOL!

 

[mrsboz]

subscribing since we are going to try to go sometime in May. I'd love to hear some suggestions.

 

[Maybelle]

anyone??

 

[bamor]

Keep your eye on travelzoo.com for NYC lodging special.
The Affinia deal is a very good one. Honestly, walking through Times Square once is all you need. I believe this hotel is very highly rated on Trip Advisor.
You'd have lots around you near the Affinia.
www.menupages.com for restaurants by area
www.hopstop.com for walking and/or subway directions.
There are some others you can look at:
Radio City Apartments (if you book at www.hotelconxions.com) rooms during the week for a one bedroom apartment run at $209/nt. This is steps from Rockefeller Ctr on 49th, very close to Am Girl Place as well.
You'll have to go to each individual hotel website, but check the Hampton Inn Times Square as well as the Courtyard properties. The Belvedere might have a special, as well. Try the Best Western Hospitality House, too.
Try the Doubletree or Marriott Marquis.
Avoid the Milford Plaza, The Paramount, Hotel Pennsylvania.
Before you book any hotel, google it and read the trip advisor review.
There are many things to do outside of Times Square and much better restaurants outside of Times Sq as well.
Am Museum of Natural History
Met Museum of Art
Central Park and the Central Park Zoo
Bryant Park
Walking around Chinatown, Soho, Little Italy, Greenwich Village
The Staten Island Ferry
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge
Fifth Avenue
Walking through an M&M Store or Hershey Store is just over-priced chocolate, IMO. Look for a comfortable, clean place. The subway is very is to navigate.

 

[lady_hlh]

We stayed at the Hampton Inn near Rockefeller Center last year, we really liked the hotel and the location plus it included a decent continental breakfast. In February the room was less than $200 for the 3 of us.

 

[lila]

Personally, I would prefer the location of the Affinia to Times Square ANY day of the year, but then, I live on the UES!

I do think it's a little east for a tourist, but you are in easy walking distance of the express stop on 59th/Lex and that's a good station to be based near, in my opinion.

 

[Maybelle]

Thank you for the opinions on hotels.

I am still considering the Affinia..because the price is great.

My dd is the one who wants to stay in the TS area, not me necessarily, although we will be going to see Mary Poppins, and the theater is in that area. But we also want to visit the Met and walk through Central Park.

We'll be coming in on the train, so we will need to take a taxi to the hotel regardless...just trying to cut down on cab fares as much as we can to keep this a budget trip...have never done the subway...will have to look into it.

Thanks again.

 

[bamor]

OP
The subway is very, very easy.
If you go to hopstop.com esp ahead of time you should have a good idea of how to get where you need to go. Cab fare from Grand Central to Times Sq is generally $5-$6.
BTW, if you park in Westport, CT parking will only be $4.00/day. They will tag you and you pay. If you go over the weekend they generally don't charge you at all. Check into Fairfield, CT as well. Taking the Metro North in, you should be about $23 r/t and you are allowed up to 4 children under 14 at the $1.00 family fare.
Check out www.broadwaybox.com or www.mousesavers.com for discounts on the Mary Poppins tickets. Check out In the Heights as well. Not sure for how long, but Corbin Blue from HSM is starring in this now. Both are great shows and the balcony seats would be great for either of these shows and they are perfectly fine.
Have fun

 

[bobcat]

Just subbing. Taking DD to NYC for graduation and still trying to figure out where to stay.

 

[Carter'sMommy]

Hi -

I stay in NYC fairly often for business purposes.

I stay at The Bentley -- on the corner of York and 61st. It is about 4 blocks from the subway at 59th and Lex (across the street from Bloomingdale's...Dylans Candy store etc....) I typically pay between $125 - 149 per night.

It is a NICE property...but is off the beaten path...but in a decent neighborhood. There are not alot of amenities (restaurants near the hotel) or at the hotel....no pool etc... They do have a resturant but is usually dead --- but has great views of the Queensburough bridge!!!

If you are in the city to see the city than the hotel is a place to rest your head. Of course the rooms were small but clean and comfortable.

I am a picky world traveler... this place is just fine!!!! and you cannot beat the price...but you have to walk a few blocks to the subway!!!

FYI... the Lex and 61st stop is a great stop due to the fact SO many trains stop there!!!!!

Best of luck!!!!

I saw that the Disney store will open back up some time this year in Times Square!!!!

 

[SimplyMagical]

We like Hampton Inn Times Square North and Marriott Residence Inn Times Square (all suites). Each have a complimentary breakfast - Marriott's is better.

 

[krcit]

What is the Affinia rate? I take my dds in every spring but we only stay one night so they like to be right in Times Square but if the rate is good maybe we'll try something different. We stayed at the Radisson Marinique one year(for free with the Dockers promo) and it was fine but I did'nt like the location at night. It was very dead around there and my girls were a bit nervous.

 

[Maybelle]

What is the Affinia rate? I take my dds in every spring but we only stay one night so they like to be right in Times Square but if the rate is good maybe we'll try something different. We stayed at the Radisson Marinique one year(for free with the Dockers promo) and it was fine but I did'nt like the location at night. It was very dead around there and my girls were a bit nervous.

check out travelzoo.com

OP
The subway is very, very easy.
If you go to hopstop.com esp ahead of time you should have a good idea of how to get where you need to go. Cab fare from Grand Central to Times Sq is generally $5-$6.
BTW, if you park in Westport, CT parking will only be $4.00/day. They will tag you and you pay. If you go over the weekend they generally don't charge you at all. Check into Fairfield, CT as well. Taking the Metro North in, you should be about $23 r/t and you are allowed up to 4 children under 14 at the $1.00 family fare.
Check out www.broadwaybox.com or www.mousesavers.com for discounts on the Mary Poppins tickets. Check out In the Heights as well. Not sure for how long, but Corbin Blue from HSM is starring in this now. Both are great shows and the balcony seats would be great for either of these shows and they are perfectly fine.
Have fun

Thanks for all the info...we are actully planning to take Amtrack from RI. It will cost us less than $200 for the three of us RT. Thought that was pretty good, and will save us the drive. Cuts about 2 hours off the trip as well, so that is a plus. Amtrack comes into Penn Station.

We will be purchasing our Mary Poppins tickets through the Disney Visa link at 45% off. There are still first and second row seats for the days we are looking at, and they are cheaper than going to a show here in Providence.

Hi -

I stay in NYC fairly often for business purposes.

I stay at The Bentley -- on the corner of York and 61st. It is about 4 blocks from the subway at 59th and Lex (across the street from Bloomingdale's...Dylans Candy store etc....) I typically pay between $125 - 149 per night.

It is a NICE property...but is off the beaten path...but in a decent neighborhood. There are not alot of amenities (restaurants near the hotel) or at the hotel....no pool etc... They do have a resturant but is usually dead --- but has great views of the Queensburough bridge!!!

If you are in the city to see the city than the hotel is a place to rest your head. Of course the rooms were small but clean and comfortable.

I am a picky world traveler... this place is just fine!!!! and you cannot beat the price...but you have to walk a few blocks to the subway!!!

FYI... the Lex and 61st stop is a great stop due to the fact SO many trains stop there!!!!!

Best of luck!!!!

I saw that the Disney store will open back up some time this year in Times Square!!!!

Thanks for the info. BTW, I didn't know that the Disney store in TS had been closed.

 

[scootch]

We stayed at the Skyline Hotel about 3 blocks from Times Square. Worked out well, clean and decent.

 

[sweetsusannah]

We too travel Amtrak into NYC. We are not typically partial to one hotel since we look for the best rate. Our favorite stay was at Hilton Garden Inn on 35th and it is a great location for going to the Theater and Times Square. We were also able to pretty easily walk from Penn station to it. The Wingate by Windham was super close to Penn and a nice clean new hotel. It wasn’t as close to the attractions that you are looking for though. This past trip we stayed at Grand Hyatt New York and we really liked the hotel. It wasn’t in walking distance which was fine as it’s just a ten dollar cab fare from Penn to the hotel and we got a steal of a rate. The problem for us was although it was right next to Grand central terminal we really love to walk in the city and it is not close to restaurants and shopping since it’s a more business district. One tip that I love, we sometimes buy tickets on a sightseeing bus. It travels around the entire city and you can get on or off at your will (a bus is around every 20 minutes) for 24 hours from your ticket purchase. My husband is a native New Yorker and even he learned some fun facts from the tour. We love the ease of not worrying about the subway map and we go shop in Chelsea, eat in Little Italy, go see the statue of liberty and then back to Times Square at our leisure.

 

[MACfamily4]

We stayed at the Belvedere right off Times Square the last time we were there. The room was great, the price was great, the location was great. Here's the link if you want to check it out: www.belvederehotelnyc.com

Have fun!

 

[holden]

We like the Doubletree Times Square (not sure of the rates). Stay away from the W Hotel on Lexington - room are the size of a shoebox! Seriously, a cruise ship size room.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I just got back an impromptu trip to NYC. We stayed at The Muse, which is a cute boutique hotel right off Time Square. Our room had a view of TS. We booked some "Hoop and Shake" special for $175/night! The room was great, the bed was excellent!

When we went to check out, they didn't have our hula hoop (part of the promo) so they took $50 off our room! NYC, $125/night! STEAL!

They also have a decent small restaurant and bar.

 

[Maybelle]

Any other suggestions??

 

[bamor]

Maybelle,
I live in RI...if you drive to Westport,CT the Metro North will only cost you $46.00 roundtrip for all three of you. It is a straight shot down 95S. We usually leave the house at 8 and have no problem making the 10:30 train. You are at Grand Central for 11:45. That's a huge savings.
Parking would also be much easier than trying to find a spot in Providence.
Just something to consider.

Keep your eye on hotwire.com if nothing appeals to you from the list given.
www.betterbidding.com or biddingfortravel.com can be helpful in pinpointing which hotel is being offered. Always check reviews on trip advisor before purchasing, though.
also. check travel-ticker.com for NYC lodging specials.