Can anyone recommend an NYC Hotel?

[DODI]

My 8 year wants a weekend in NYC for her birthday. We agreed. We usually go for day trips, not overnight and I have no idea what is good or bad. Not looking to spend tons of cash. Times Square area would be good. We want to go to Strawberry Fields, Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid, Empire State Buidling, etc. Any names would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Catshrink]

1. I was going to suggest the Chelsea

until I saw that you'd have your 8 year old. That's actually the only place I've stayed in NY and I'm not sure an 8 year old would enjoy it.

[Crowdance]

2. Everything in Times Square is big bucks

Consider making a bid for a room on Priceline or Expedia. That's what we do when we want to stay in, and it's always worked well. Typically spend about $125 for a $200+ room. A good, fairly cheap place to take kids to eat, btw, is John's Pizza in Times Square. It's actually a beautiful old church building, and though the pizza has been declared "the best" by my son, they also serve edible gnocchi. Also, a very cheap Japanese restaurant on the corner of 43rd and 9th (I think it's called Nisho)--lunch for $8; it's a real dive, but the food is safe.

[wtmusic]

3. Parker Meridien

$200/nite

[MrJones]

4. It all depends on your price range.

A place I've stayed often and would recommend is the Southgate Plaza. One thing you didn't say is how you're getting into town. The Southgate is almost directly across the street from Penn Station. All their rooms are suites, and a suite for two would probably be around $170/night, which is fairly reasonable by NYC standards. Being across the street from Penn, it's pretty easy to get from there to anywhere by subway. It's 10 blocks (or one subway stop) up 7th avenue to Times Square. Try www.hotline.com for good prices.

I would not recommend the Pennsylvania Hotel. Their number really is PEnnsylvania 6-5000, though.

If your 8 year old is an adventurous eater, I can recommend a few interesting places to eat, as well.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. The Pennsylvania Hotel is a dump!

I agree-avoid this place at all costs!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. I've been traveling to NYC for years-what are you looking for?

Times Square is noisy and most of the hotels are expensive. If you find a bargain there, it is usally a dump. What are you willing to spend?

I usually stay around the Flatiron District/Murray Hill, or a little farther north of Times Square in the West 50s. My favorite hotels are the W Hotels. Sometimes you can get a room for under $200 (they have the best beds IN THE WORLD!). Here is a great website:

http://www.quikbook.com

Quikbook is usally a few dollars cheaper than expedia or travelocity. If you need any suggestions, let me know!

:hi:

[DODI]

7. We are looking for about $200 and below

We may drive or train it out of New Haven. I don't need to stay at Times Square, just close to the subway.

[NJCher]

8. I'll have something for you tomorrow

I have to ask somebody. But it's $125 a night, within two blocks of the subway and I personally saw the room and thought it was very, very nice. Good neighborhood, too. I will PM you.


Cher

[Kathy in Cambridge]

10. I PMed you some ideas

if have any other questions, let me know.

[DODI]

11. That quikbook is great -- that gets saved to favorites!

[MaineDem]

9. Comfort Inn

I think it's the Midtown one. On W46th, just steps (literally) from Times Sq. I stayed there a year or so ago and it was under $100 a night. A bagels/toast/fruit breakfast is included.

It was comfortable, clean, although on the small size room-wise but a bargain.

[eileen from OH]

12. Definitely check out the Edison

We've stayed there for years on our annual theatreholic tour. If you have a company, ask for the corporate rate, will save you some $$$. It's in Times Square, convenient to everything and very safe.

Have fun!

eileen from OH

[Paschall]

13. Check out...

...the West Side YMCA. Last time I stayed there it was about $75-85 a night for a double room. Clean, but spartan conditions and shared bath for that rate. You can spring for more and get a private bath. A little farther north than you want to stay, but good neighborood - between Lincoln Center and Central Park. Very close to subway. And museums. Clientele is largely foreign travelers or city visitors (lots of Lincoln Center fans--retirees--stay there while in the city). There's free access to a pool and gym, and a cafeteria, too.

[trumad]

14. The Stanford on 32nd and Broadway

It's right next to the Empirer State building, Macy's, etc... Very nice Hotel ... I got it for $125 per night...PLUS their doubles sleep 5 with a pull out couch...

[Squeech]

15. We like the Hotel Olcott

On West 71st street, practically across the street (Central Park West) from Strawberry Fields, and several blocks from the Museum of Natural History. Costs something like $129 a night-- except Mrs. Squeech calls ahead and talks them down to something like $99; I don't quite understand how. It belongs to one of the major hotel chains, but it wasn't built by them, but purchased-- and it's comfortably old, the rooms aren't all the same in that cookie-cutter Holiday Inn mould.

Do you need more info?

[thom1102]

16. The Muse Hotel is right in the Times Square Area

(on 46th St, between Eighth and Ninth Avenue). A smaller boutique hotel that is rated as a 5 1/2 star hotel. You can get a room in hotel for about $170/night on Expedia. Rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed, and the staff is attentive and courteous, and would really impress your 8 yo. My partner and I stayed on our anniversary and were EXTREMELY impressed with the hotel (we have stayed at the Waldorf and the Plaza and we thought the Muse was the nicest hotel we have ever stayed at). You really can't go wrong there.
on edit: here is the link to the hotel's site: http://www.themusehotel.com/main.cfm

[MaineDem]

23. Nice place!

We stayed across the street at the Comfort Inn but just HAD to go into the Muse for a look. Can't beat the convenience of the location! (And across the street from an Irish bar to boot!) :toast:

[soleft]

17. There's a Best Western near south Street Seaport

A nice Holiday Inn on Lafayette Street in China Town.

Alternatives to mid town.

[corarose]

18. The Grammercy Park Hotel or the Mayflower

I have stayed at both hotels and they are both nice.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

19. agreed Gammacy Park and or Mayflower

www.hotels.com

[Kathy in Cambridge]

20. Just Stayed at the Grammercy Park

thought the rooms are small, the location can't be beat. Right near the Flatiron district, restaurants on Park Ave South. You can also use the private Grammercy Park, which is lovely.

They also have FREE high-speed internet access. I got my room for $89 a night.

[Bake]

21. I stayed at the Gramercy Park and got bedbug bites!!

That's been a few years ago, but that was the last time I stayed there! Subsequently, went to one of several Marriotts there (Marquis in Times Square, East Side, Financial District (not there anymore after 9/11)), or the Essex House. Back when I was traveling there on business frequently.

Bake

[Kathy in Cambridge]

22. Ewwww! Disgusting!

I usually stay in W Hotels, and I've also stayed in some Ian Schrager and other boutique hotels. I have traveled frequently on business to NYC over the years too (it's really a day trip from Boston, but I love to extend it). I was in NYC for an interview recently (I'm unemployed) so I ended up there because the room was sooo cheap. It was actually pretty clean too, but yikes! That is disgusting!

[LuLu550]

24. go to hotels.com

They have great weekend prices on hotels usually used by busines people down near Wall Street. Rooms at the Millennium Hilton, if you can stand to look at the hole where the WTC used to be, just re-opened and has great prices.
LuLu

[FlashHarry]

25. The Off-Soho Suites!

On the corner of Bowery and Rivington. It's cheap (relatively), decent and right in the thick of it. Or you could stay in Hackensack and take the bus in to the port authority terminal... It's waay cheaper, but not as much fun.