Heading to NYC - hotels in Time Square Area?

[eSDee]

The lady and I are heading out to Brooklyn for a few days to visit her family, and want to stay in Times Square for a day while we are there. I have stayed there before but wanted to see if anyone could recommend a good spot close to Times Square. Preferrably less that 200 a night. Anybody know of a good place?

Thanks much.

[Sirrich3]

Just returned from there a couple of weeks ago. Stayed at the Hudson Hotel. Appx 1-2 miles away and next to the CNN center and Central Park

[ArkiStan]

I don't know too much about the hotels here, but I'd think it would be nice to stay at a historical local hotel rather than one of the major commercial chains.

[nickel]

can you get ahold of Whitak at all? he'd know.

[JackHammer]

Stay at the Mandarin Oriental..not in Time Square but Columbus Circle. Close to Central Park and Lincoln Center. Nice hotel...rather expensive, but hey you only live once right?

[Pemolis]

Its hard to get a hotel for under 200 a night, cause thats where they really start.

Hudson hotel is a good choice (there 100 a night, but usually booked).

There are the hotels by Central park but there around 180 to 200+.

If you want something that is not a dive (and there are a few), try using priceline and bid for a room).

I did that for manhattan in Febuary when I needed a place to stay for the night (I had tickets to Spamalot, Friday night Opening). Went though priceline cause I wanted to keep it under 200+ a night.

Clicked midtown, 4 stars, put in my bid at 100 bucks a night. Failed, Rebid. Added midtown west, 4 stars again, and put in 99 bucks. It warned me I'd have a low chance of suceeding with that bid, but I did it anyway.

It went though for the Hilton at 56th Street, for 99 bucks.

They average about 250.

So I felt it was a bargain


Its a bit trickey, and hairraising, but once you use priceline.. you'll tend to keep using it (hey cause 20, 40, 60, 80+ dollars off a hotel a night is pretty sweet).

[AlpineJay]

I'll second the Priceline idea. I've gotten a hotel on 34th & 5th for about 120 before taxes. Prime location, and everything was good.

[Butch]

In my view, so long as you are in Manhattan, you're fine. No matter where you are, you will be in an interesting neighborhood that will have something to offer. Times Square is a very 'typical' tourist experience, but being outside of Times Square has a ton of value, as well. You can make whatever you'd like of a time in NYC.

The Hudson Hotel is very nice and trendy and has some fun bars (though the terrace bar probably won't do you much good this time of year).

The W Hotels are decent and always have a nice Randy Gerber bar in 'em (read: hot hot hot bartenders in microscopic tight black skirts)

Basically, the only way I know hotels in NYC is through their bars, since thankfully I never have to stay in them . . .

In many ways, NYers are the worst people to ask about hotels there since we are so happy we don't have to spend the ridiculous sums to stay there that we ignore them completely.

Of course, it sounds like there are some pretty decent deals . . . $100 a night is nothing for a decent NYC hotel . . .

Have fun!

Edit: Haven't looked at prices, but the Tribeca Grand might be fun, or the Gansvoort . . . Tribeca Grand is of course in Tribeca, and the Gansevoort is in the Meatpacking District . . . again, I know them mostly for the bars, but still fun and chock-full-o-character neighborhoods

[eSDee]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'll definitely try Priceline.

[eSDee]

In my view, so long as you are in Manhattan, you're fine. No matter where you are, you will be in an interesting neighborhood that will have something to offer. Times Square is a very 'typical' tourist experience, but being outside of Times Square has a ton of value, as well. You can make whatever you'd like of a time in NYC.

The Hudson Hotel is very nice and trendy and has some fun bars (though the terrace bar probably won't do you much good this time of year).

The W Hotels are decent and always have a nice Randy Gerber bar in 'em (read: hot hot hot bartenders in microscopic tight black skirts)

Basically, the only way I know hotels in NYC is through their bars, since thankfully I never have to stay in them . . .

In many ways, NYers are the worst people to ask about hotels there since we are so happy we don't have to spend the ridiculous sums to stay there that we ignore them completely.

Of course, it sounds like there are some pretty decent deals . . . $100 a night is nothing for a decent NYC hotel . . .

Have fun!

Thank a lot Butch. My girl's family is from NY so we don't really want to do touristy things except for visit her friends who happen to work on some Broadway shows. Only one of the nights will we be staying in the city. The rest of the days we will be staying up by Yonkers.

[Butch]

Thank a lot Butch. My girl's family is from NY so we don't really want to do touristy things except for visit her friends who happen to work on some Broadway shows. Only one of the nights will we be staying in the city. The rest of the days we will be staying up by Yonkers.

Hmmm . . . female friends? Dancers/performers, perhaps? In Broadway shows?? Hook a fellow Apexer up! I'll be back in Manhattan from December 15th-26th and will keep some evenings open for social occasions!

[Sirrich3]

Whenever you go, HAVE FUN!!!

[eSDee]

Hmmm . . . female friends? Dancers/performers, perhaps? In Broadway shows?? Hook a fellow Apexer up! I'll be back in Manhattan from December 15th-26th and will keep some evenings open for social occasions!

She knows a slew of them. But we'll only be stopping to see a good friend or two. I'll let you know though

Whenever you go, HAVE FUN!!!

Thanks!

[Itsme]

I am still amazed how quickly hotels fill up.....lots of people traveling. I am leaving tomorrow morning (Tuesday) for NYC...have reservations for the Marriott Courtyard in the Times Square area. I called today to see if I could add a day and was told the hotel was full, oversold in fact. I then checked all other Marriotts in Manhattan..and they are also full.

[AlpineJay]

I am still amazed how quickly hotels fill up.....lots of people traveling. I am leaving tomorrow morning (Tuesday) for NYC...have reservations for the Marriott Courtyard in the Times Square area. I called today to see if I could add a day and was told the hotel was full, oversold in fact. I then checked all other Marriotts in Manhattan..and they are also full.

Can't look across the Hudson for some hotels?

[Itsme]

Can't look across the Hudson for some hotels?

Sure, and also Marriott has a new hotel just over the Brooklyn Bridge right next to the school I went to (Polytechnic Inst. of Brooklyn)....I just wanted a hotel in midtown where I can be near the things I want to do and get around by foot.

No big deal, I was just using the opportunity here to comment on my continual surprise at how hotels seem to always be full, no matter how many new ones they build. I read somewhere that travel overall is now well past the level it was just before 9/11.