NY hotel dilemma.....Can you help?
Jun 29th, 2001, 07:58 PM
#1
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NY hotel dilemma.....Can you help?
My Mom and I are coming to New York and have to decide between three hotels- The Days Hotel(8th Ave. between 48th and 49th) at $116 per night.....Comfort Inn Midtown (46th St. between 6th and 7th Ave.) at $125 per night......and Best Western President (at 47th and Broadway) at $98 per night except Fri. and Sat. at $125. We don't need luxury but would like to have clean, comfortable room in good location. Also need good quality mattress. Has anybody had any experiences with either of these places? I've really got to decide soon and will appreciate any comments that will help me know what to do. I want this to be a nice experience for my mom.
Jun 29th, 2001, 08:45 PM
#2
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Geez, Patti, it's hard to say. All 3 hotels are basically in the same area, so it's really a question of which hotel has the biggest room for the price.
I usually walk across town to work (past the Days Hotel just about every day) and on Monday I'll check them all out and get back to you Monday night.
Have you checked a price for the Milford Plaza, which is also on 8th, down the street from the Days, around 45th St.? Lots of tourists an airline people stay there and I don't think their prices should be much different from the ones you mentioned.
At any rate, I'll check out the Comfort and Best Western on Monday. In the meantime, have their websites given you any clue as to room size?
I usually walk across town to work (past the Days Hotel just about every day) and on Monday I'll check them all out and get back to you Monday night.
Have you checked a price for the Milford Plaza, which is also on 8th, down the street from the Days, around 45th St.? Lots of tourists an airline people stay there and I don't think their prices should be much different from the ones you mentioned.
At any rate, I'll check out the Comfort and Best Western on Monday. In the meantime, have their websites given you any clue as to room size?
Jun 29th, 2001, 09:01 PM
#3
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Dear Al- I have checked the web sites for all three and can't find anything about size.I am amazed that you would go to such trouble for someone you don't know. Will look for your post-- can't thank you enough. We normally don't use any of these chains when we are in more reasonable places, but New York seem very expensive! Thanks again!!
Jun 30th, 2001, 09:49 AM
#4
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If you want to add a bit of adventure, you can go to priceline.com and put in the price you want to pay - from your post I'd put in $98.00 as what you are willing to pay per night. Then select the area - looks like midtown west (you could also check the other midtown areas - east, south) then make sure you specify the hotel to be 4 or 5 star.
You may get a lot better quality than you expect.
If not that adventurous go to hoteldiscounts.com or discounthotel.com and put the dates you are planning to stay and see what kind of prices you can get. Another good site for NYC is quickbook.com. At quickbook you're not charged until you actually get there.
Jun 30th, 2001, 10:15 AM
#5
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Patti:
It's really no trouble. I've passed each of these hotels hundreds of times but have never really paid attention to what specifically is going on. I'll see if there's any construction going on nearby, what theatres are on the block, what restaurants are around and just get a general feel for the "vibe".
It's really no trouble. I've passed each of these hotels hundreds of times but have never really paid attention to what specifically is going on. I'll see if there's any construction going on nearby, what theatres are on the block, what restaurants are around and just get a general feel for the "vibe".
Jun 30th, 2001, 09:49 PM
#6
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I am going to be in New York in September for vacation. Has anyone had any experiences with the St. Marks Hotel (2 St. Mark's Place). Is it in a good area? They only took my name and gave me no confirmation #. They only take travelers checks or cash. Also, does anyone know what you pay for a meal at Hard Rock Cafe or Planet Hollywood or any other places like this? Or does anyone have any suggestions for eating out on a budget? Any information would be much appreciate.
Jul 1st, 2001, 10:01 AM
#8
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I think we should get back to Patti's dilemma...I highly suggest that you check out quickbook.com. My husband got an amazing rate at one of the New York Hemsleys through them and it worked out great. I liked that he could access the reservation thru a real person at their 1-800 number.
Jul 1st, 2001, 11:33 AM
#9
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Kim, I know nothing about the St. Marks Hotel (and I assume it is a small, no-frills, probably walk-up place, given the location), but I want to make sure you understand that St. Marks Place is nowhere near the midtown locations you seem to want to visit (Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, probably other Times Square-area attractions). 2 St Marks Place is in the East Village, just off of #d Ave. It is a fine location, safety-wise, but as I noted, not near the midtown tourist area you seem interested in (St. Marks is E. 8th St, Planet Hollywood is on W. 57th). It won't be that difficult to get to midtown, though to get to the west side will mean either two buses or subway lines or one plus a walk. That area of the East Village is full of NYU students and has a young, hip, and slightly edgy feel in places (edgy meaning hip/fashionable, not dodgy or dangerous).
Jul 1st, 2001, 12:11 PM
#10
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Patti, I normally use www.quickbook.com when going to New York, but I've recently been reading on this site that others have gotten great rates in NYC on priceline.com. There is a site where people share information on recently successful priceline bids at http://pub4.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding.html
It looks like people are getting much better hotels than you are talking about for under $100 including the Marriott Marquis and the Sheraton in the Times Square area.
It looks like people are getting much better hotels than you are talking about for under $100 including the Marriott Marquis and the Sheraton in the Times Square area.
Jul 1st, 2001, 03:04 PM
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Kim:
The St. Marks Hotel is at 3rd Avenue and St. Marks Place, in the East Village. Please understand up front that we're talking about "Greenwich Village", the "bohemian" area of the city. Local musicians (99.99% not famous), students, eccentric characters, tourists, starving artists and general lowlifes (not many, but they're there) milling around, funky clothing stores, boutiques, record stores, eclectic restaurants and bars, and crowds. The area is perfectly safe. There is relatively easy subway access to the sites uptown (#6 at Astor Place, N&R at Broadway) but it's nowhere near the major attractions of the city. I think you'd be alot better off staying in the Midtown area, even at one of the places Patti is asking about -- all in a good area with easy access to everywhere. Save the Village for a day trip -- it's definitely interesting -- but actually staying there is another thing altogether unless you like kind of thing.
As for the Hard Rock/Planet Hollywood, figure to pay about $30-35 for 2, with a drink. (As go the drinks so goes your bill.) The Carnegie Deli will run you about the same. If you're looking for a "corned beef on rye" or "brisket of beef" where your sandwich is literally 3" high, by all means go for it. It's good stuff, although I prefer the Stage Deli, on the same block down the street (it's really just a question of taste.) Purists shun the Hard Rock "theme restaurant" scene, but their food is perfectly acceptable (in fact HRC has a great hamburger, and the pig sandwich is good too), they're a good value and there's some cool memorabilia to look at.
The St. Marks Hotel is at 3rd Avenue and St. Marks Place, in the East Village. Please understand up front that we're talking about "Greenwich Village", the "bohemian" area of the city. Local musicians (99.99% not famous), students, eccentric characters, tourists, starving artists and general lowlifes (not many, but they're there) milling around, funky clothing stores, boutiques, record stores, eclectic restaurants and bars, and crowds. The area is perfectly safe. There is relatively easy subway access to the sites uptown (#6 at Astor Place, N&R at Broadway) but it's nowhere near the major attractions of the city. I think you'd be alot better off staying in the Midtown area, even at one of the places Patti is asking about -- all in a good area with easy access to everywhere. Save the Village for a day trip -- it's definitely interesting -- but actually staying there is another thing altogether unless you like kind of thing.
As for the Hard Rock/Planet Hollywood, figure to pay about $30-35 for 2, with a drink. (As go the drinks so goes your bill.) The Carnegie Deli will run you about the same. If you're looking for a "corned beef on rye" or "brisket of beef" where your sandwich is literally 3" high, by all means go for it. It's good stuff, although I prefer the Stage Deli, on the same block down the street (it's really just a question of taste.) Purists shun the Hard Rock "theme restaurant" scene, but their food is perfectly acceptable (in fact HRC has a great hamburger, and the pig sandwich is good too), they're a good value and there's some cool memorabilia to look at.
Jul 2nd, 2001, 04:28 PM
#12
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O.K. Patti, here we go:
I think it would be safe to scratch the Comfort Inn off the list. 46th b/w 6 & 7 isn't a very interesting block -- there's a couple restaurants but nothing exciting. The hotel is decent enough, but had alot less people traffic in and out than the other 2. Since it's the most expensive of the 3, I'd say forget this one.
The Days Hotel is on 8th Avenue, a major street, and depending on which side your room is, it could get noisy. It's your basic rectangular building about 14 stories high -- the kind that was considered "modern" in its day but now looks a little bland and outdated. There used to be a retaurant downstairs called the Metro Cafe, but it has closed and is boarded up. Don't know if they're remodeling or if something different will be going into the space. But for now it's not too attractive.
The Best Western is actually on 48th Street, between Broadway and 8th, closer to 8th. If you stand in their front door and look left 45 degrees you'll be looking at the back of the Days Hotel diagonally across the street. 48th is a nice block. There are 2 theatres, one next door to the right and another across the street. If you exit the hotel, turn right and walk down to Broadway you're a short block from the TKTS booth (discount theatre tickets). The hotel is smaller than the Days and seems alot more quaint and homey.
If you haven't already, check out the citysearch site -- www.newyork.citysearch.com -- go to 'hotels', plug in each hotel name, and you'll see a picture and some info. The Days page says that it's rooms are some of the roomiest in the city. The Best Western page has 2 reviews from people who recently stayed there who really liked it.
Personally I'd go with the Best Western. It's got the best price, and although the room may be a little smaller it's got more of a NY feel to it. It's close to everything, the street is nice and the area is very safe. You and your mom should very happy.
Jul 2nd, 2001, 07:52 PM
#15
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Patti --
My pleasure. Have a great time!
One more thing that I always suggest. If you hit a nice warm day, go over to the pier on W. 42nd St. and take your mom on a ride on the Circle Line. It's the 3 hour guided boat tour completely around Manhattan island. She won't have to walk around and you'll see tons of stuff -- the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, Wall St., So. St. Seaport, Yankee Stadium, etc. etc. It's not as cheap as it used to be, I think it's up in the $30 per person range now but it's totally worth it. They have refreshments on the boat (beer too) and if you get there a little early and stake out a nice spot on the upper deck of the boat you can have a fantastic time. Many photo ops.
Let me know how you make out, and email with any other questions -- [email protected].
Enjoy!
Jul 3rd, 2001, 10:39 AM
#18
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RE: betty's Clarion hotel info request:
Good central location for walking to Empire State Building, Times Square, and easy access to subways and busses.
The immediate neighborhood is probably pretty dead at night (not residential, not right near movies or theatres) but on Mondays during the summer, there are free screenings of classic movies in Bryant Park (behind the main branch of the public Library, which is right across the street from the hotel)
Good central location for walking to Empire State Building, Times Square, and easy access to subways and busses.
The immediate neighborhood is probably pretty dead at night (not residential, not right near movies or theatres) but on Mondays during the summer, there are free screenings of classic movies in Bryant Park (behind the main branch of the public Library, which is right across the street from the hotel)
