New York Hotels - 5 nights

Cosmic182

Cosmic182

Cosmic182

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Joined
25 Jul 2006
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Good evening all.

Just wondering if I could get people’s input on where is best to stay in NY with my partner and 5 yo.

Looking to go in August. I have been a couple of times many moons ago, however there seems to be so much choice now and a big difference in reviews ranging from poor to good, thus not knowing what to believe and which hotel would be best.

Any input would be greatly appreciated :)

TIA
 
EvilRob said:
What are the main things you want to do in NYC and what's your budget?
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Just the iconic sight seeing agenda. ESB, SOL, trade centre, history museum, some good pizza places etc etc. don’t really have a budget as such but I guess we would be keener to keep it at the 3ishK mark all in.
 
I've been and stayed in Manhattan, and Brooklyn on different occasions. Saved a fair bit by staying further out, but it didn't have quite the same magic as staying right in central Manhattan.

The one thing I noticed is that everywhere is expensive, and hotel rooms are often quite small. The main "trick" is to rack up hotel points and use schemes to get a discounted redemption, e.g. Hilton's free 5th night, but it takes some planning to rack up what would be a colossal number of points.
 
We stayed at the Hilton Club The Central at 5th a few months ago, which was excellent. It had really modern, large rooms, and even a Japanese toilet! It is also well located being just around the corner from the Rockefeller Centre. There's no restaurant, but when you're in New York on holiday you want to eat out for breakfast / dinner, so we didn't see that as a downside.

It is about £250 / night for 2 people but I can see it jumps up to £450 / night if you add a child as you need to book a suite. At the £250 mark it is excellent value considering other options in NYC, but I'm not sure how the suite compares to what else is available.
 
We stayed at Intercontinental Barclay. Not cheap but nice rooms and really friendly staff. Usual facilities and good location, between Central Park and times square and one block off 5th Ave.

InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG
+1 212-755-5900

https://g.co/kgs/1dbJgXZ
 
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We went last yeah and stayed at exchange place in NJ one Path train stop from WTC travel hub.

You get a lot more for your money but that little extra commute everyday too and from wasn't always 5 Mins as advertised.....
NY is ridiculous expensive as you know....

If we go again, no rush, deffo worth staying on Manhattan and just suck it up.

The place is full of lunatics and the less you spend on the subway the better especially with your kid, I'm from London and my street senses were assaulted, be safe

Just order by price, distance from time square or whatever, and what's the lowest you'll tolerate. The lower price hotels looked naff when I searched
:p
 
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Efour said:
We went last yeah and stayed at exchange place in NJ one Path train stop from WTC travel hub.

You get a lot more for your money but that little extra commute everyday too and from wasn't always 5 Mins as advertised.....
NY is ridiculous expensive as you know....

If we go again, no rush, deffo worth staying on Manhattan and just suck it up.

The place is full of lunatics and the less you spend on the subway the better especially with your kid, I'm from London and my street senses were assaulted, be safe

Just order by price, distance from time square or whatever, and what's the lowest you'll tolerate. The lower price hotels looked naff when I searched
:p
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Sadly my experience about safety. The whole of Manhattan smells of weed. Second night the mrs took the kids to shop next block down at around 9pm and some crazy guy started hurling abuse at her and the kids then followed them out. Fortunately the office block next door had lights on and door open so they hid in there till the guy went away

Then the night before we left the kids wanted to go Carlos Bakery (apparently on some TV show) at 11pm. The bellboy and the taxi driver said go to the shop and back in the cab, do not go for a wonder. This was a couple of blocks from times Square. They were kidding, more random crazy people and drug dealing going on

The hotel staff said the issue is there is zero support tor mental health so they end up on the street homeless.

Then outside Macys we got caught in a police chase, kid with what looked like a gun or a knife running through the crowd being chased by a dozen cops.
 
Lunar_Fox said:
Sadly my experience about safety. The whole of Manhattan smells of weed. Second night the mrs took the kids to shop next block down at around 9pm and some crazy guy started hurling abuse at her and the kids then followed them out. Fortunately the office block next door had lights on and door open so they hid in there till the guy went away

Then the night before we left the kids wanted to go Carlos Bakery (apparently on some TV show) at 11pm. The bellboy and the taxi driver said go to the shop and back in the cab, do not go for a wonder. This was a couple of blocks from times Square. They were kidding, more random crazy people and drug dealing going on

The hotel staff said the issue is there is zero support tor mental health so they end up on the street homeless.

Then outside Macys we got caught in a police chase, kid with what looked like a gun or a knife running through the crowd being chased by a dozen cops.
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It's the only place I've ever been robbed.
 
I know its dumb but i wasn't expecting the homeless level to be as high as it was and it was proper disabled and mentally ill dudes...

Worst thing iver seen no lie, regarding homeless, was in NJ. We got a Train to washington then on the way back we was badly delayed and didnt get to Newark Penn until 1am.
There was about 15 cops all in one area, and its not a huge station, so we go into the flight of stairs that leads to the platform and i kid you not there was 40 homeless immigrant dudes of african decent asleep on the stair case 2 per step, one at each end.

wE HAD TO TIP TOE THROUGH THEM caps lock, to get to the top and i was absolutely 100% crapping my pants at waking one up, it could have been candid camera i could not believe it.....
my Wife was following me up and my mind was racing 100% defence mode defcon 6 lol

surreal aF
 
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We stayed at the Affinia Manhattan, which is now called the Stewart Hotel just off 7th ave. I honestly couldn't fault the location, it's diagonally opposite MSG and right next to Penn station so very easy to get the train. Macy's is round the corner, very short walk to Times square / Broadway / ESB / Rockerfeller, a bit further to Central Park / History museum etc. I think it was well worth the money compared to staying somewhere less central as didn't have to get cabs etc or have the 'come down' of travelling back to a slightly dodgy area at the end of the day.
 
Just got back from NY - stayed in Manhattan, near Times Square. Location was...OK, I guess. It's a rough city and I didn't see anywhere close by that I'd call 'nice' and the homeless problem and stink of weed seems to be everywhere.
The hotel did the job - walking distance from the shopping areas, also to the High Line (recommend this walk!), and obviously subways get you everywhere. I wouldn't break the bank on trying to find the nicest hotel, just get ubers/lyfts at night.
Took a few late night subways and it was OK, though I'm sure it's sometimes not OK and I also wouldn't take kids on it at night.

Efour said:
Worst thing iver seen no lie, regarding homeless, was in NJ. We got a Train to washington then on the way back we was badly delayed and didnt get to Newark Penn until 1am.
There was about 15 cops all in one area, and its not a huge station, so we go into the flight of stairs that leads to the platform and i kid you not there was 40 homeless immigrant dudes of african decent asleep on the stair case 2 per step, one at each end.

wE HAD TO TIP TOE THROUGH THEM caps lock, to get to the top and i was absolutely 100% crapping my pants at waking one up, it could have been candid camera i could not believe it.....
my Wife was following me up and my mind was racing 100% defence mode defcon 6 lol
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I also stayed in Newark on this trip - absolute ghetto isn't it. Couldn't leave fast enough - especially with a brand new rental BMW :cry:
 
Been the last three years, just something about New York, stayed in the Marriot Marquis in Times Square, can't fault it for location, but can be a bit of a cattle market when you first come out the lobby. We usually book a deluxe room with Times Square view, which is high floor, the last one we got, was the 42nd floor, so you get the views, but no traffic noise.
We've had the usual incidents of people approaching, asking for money, but as the New Yorkers do, you just don't make contact. Last time we went, we used the subway a lot, as it was July and it was a hot 36deg and we struggled to walk the routes we've done previously, now that was a bit of an eye opener, a lot of homeless and some with attitudes, which you can't get away from unfortunately, had a woman on the train back to JFK, stood in front of me playing up to everyone, shouting about how no one can touch her, as she knows her rights, and at one stage I thought I was going to get covered in p1$$, when she took a jar out of her coat, which I thought was urine, only for her to drink it.
Sorry to waffle on a bit, but could go on forever and it hasn't put be off one bit, the Miss only mentioned the other day about booking again!!
 
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My wife went for a few days a few years ago with her mother - I booked them into the Intercontinental - the Barclay - they got on fine being based there.
 
I tend to prefer smaller boutique hotels that are far less touristy and in nice quieter areas of the city, but easy walking distance of down town Manhattan.

With that in mind I love The Wallace.

Hotel Upper West Side | The Wallace

The Wallace Hotel offers the ultimate luxury and sophistication on the Upper West Side of New York City. Experience the best of the city in comfort.
thewallace.com thewallace.com

Upper West Side, where New Yorkers live, close to central park, natural history museum etc and some good restaurants around it. Safe too and easy access via cab or a stroll to the places you want to see.

Alternatively try Ganesvoort in Meat Packing district which has become trendy, not least for posh shops and famous faces and at the end of the high line too.

Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC | Luxury Hotel in Manhattan

Stay at Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC, a luxury hotel in Manhattan's vibrant Meatpacking District, featuring rooftop pool, dining, and spacious rooms.
www.gansevoorthotelgroup.com www.gansevoorthotelgroup.com

They used to have another Ganesvoort on E29th but that has since changed hands but cool rooftop pool looking at Empire State. But too Jersey Shaw for my liking but those are 3 of the recent ones i’ve used.

The Wallace my favourite.
 
Lunar_Fox said:
Sadly my experience about safety. The whole of Manhattan smells of weed. Second night the mrs took the kids to shop next block down at around 9pm and some crazy guy started hurling abuse at her and the kids then followed them out. Fortunately the office block next door had lights on and door open so they hid in there till the guy went away

Then the night before we left the kids wanted to go Carlos Bakery (apparently on some TV show) at 11pm. The bellboy and the taxi driver said go to the shop and back in the cab, do not go for a wonder. This was a couple of blocks from times Square. They were kidding, more random crazy people and drug dealing going on

The hotel staff said the issue is there is zero support tor mental health so they end up on the street homeless.

Then outside Macys we got caught in a police chase, kid with what looked like a gun or a knife running through the crowd being chased by a dozen cops.
Click to expand...

Surprised and a bit shocked by this tbh.

We were there the week before last and were out and about late at night in Times Square and other areas (staying near Herald Sq/Macy's) and never saw anything remotely like this, was peaceful and a great atmosphere, even at night.

Only single issue I had was a weird old guy who got in my face a bit in Old Navy but he quickly wandered off.
 
We stayed in a 3 star (basically a reception desk, a lift and the suites) but importantly in the centre, walking distance to everywhere.
We walked everywhere, bar one T-trip. Even walking from from the 9/11 site, down to the lookout and after ferry trip, up through chinatown, little Italy, back up to timesquare etc.
Only time a group of guys tried hustling us was in Times Square but not for very long.

This was the place - 'the Moderne' which is basically vertical motel but it's cheaper and has a Le Pain Quotidien across the road which has an awesome breakfast that keeps you going through lunch (even with walking). Then pick anywhere for evening meal. Hells Kitchen or further south central.
maps.app.goo.gl

40°45'54.6"N 73°58'58.5"W

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

Pick-a-Bagel is worthy of a food stop too. Be warned the lunchtime queue is around the block. Well worth it. Also had a great French meal in a small family restaurant somewhere in Hell's Kitchen. The family was really happy to have a French speaker (the mrs) in the house so we got a lot of attention and chat.

Korea town is worth it for some bubble tea :D
 
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Lunar_Fox said:
Then the night before we left the kids wanted to go Carlos Bakery (apparently on some TV show) at 11pm. The bellboy and the taxi driver said go to the shop and back in the cab, do not go for a wonder. This was a couple of blocks from times Square. They were kidding, more random crazy people and drug dealing going on
Click to expand...
We stayed at the Distrikt Hotel just round the corner from Carlos bakery and it’s not the most inviting street, particularly in the dark, and there all sorts of people everywhere given it’s next to the bus station.

If the homeless situation has deteriorated significantly since we went which was pre-Covid, I’m not surprised it was a bit rough round there.

The hotel was alright and the price was reasonable at the time. It’s very narrow, 1 lift up and down and perhaps only 4 rooms per floor.
 
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