Kathysa

We're planning to take our 2 kids for a quick visit (2 days at the end of April) to NYC and plan to see Museum of Natural History, Empire State Building, and maybe catch the Blue Man Group. I've been reading other posts on hotels that accommodate 4, but I need help with location recommendations. The kids are good at walking, so we don't have to be right next door to any one thing. The Lucerne, Affinia 50, Doubletree Suites, and The Salisbury all sound good. Is the Museum of Natural History too far to walk if we end up by Times Square? Or, should we try to stay up in that area?
Thanks.

Brookside

With a family you are probably better off w/ either the Affinia 50 or the Doubletree. The Lucerne is nice enough, and it's in the UWS, but I understand the rooms are quite small; you likely would need 2. I've heard good and bad about the Salisbury. The location is wonderful - MTW and very close to just about everything -- Central park, Times Square, shopping and subway, and the rooms are large, but the decor is rather worn and tired.

I've stayed at the Affinia 50 and like it very much. Great MTE location (near the Waldorf), spacious rooms with kitchenettes, close to many restaurants and 5th Ave shopping, subway nearby. Great service!

The Doubletree is in the heart of Times Square and your kids might enjoy the hustle and bustle. I've never stayed there, so can't really comment on rooms, etc.

Have fun!

deedeezee

I think there is another Doubletree near 51 & Lexington. The rooms were SMALL, beds great, very noisy and crowded bar scene when I stayed there.

I love the East Side Midtown and almost always stay there either at Waldorf or East Side Marriott...both within 3 blocks of the Doubletree and on subway line. Both have some very large rooms. History museum is up around 80th, I think, but you could check out the uptown bus. I know it's a tourist trap, but I love to take people to Carmine's at 45 (?) and Broadway for Italian, family style dinners served New York Style with brassy waiters and lots of great bread.

Have a ball!

Kathysa

Thanks. I'll compare Doubletree, Affinia 50, the Waldorf, and the east side Marriott to see which has a better rate. I'll use the Salisbury as a fall-back. I wasn't sure if any of those hotels were within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History. If it's a nice day, we'd like to walk through Central Park, maybe check out the zoo and it looks like (I might be wrong) that we could walk through Central Park on our way to the museum.

Anonymous

Well, only you an decide whether you have the stamina to walk to the MNH from any particular spot, especially since we don't know whether your kids are toddlers or teens.

In NYC, the streets (east/west) run about 20 per mile so it's very easy to estimate north/south distances. Central Park is about a half-mile wide.

cabovacation

I stayed at the Salisbury last summer and it was such a perfect location and the rooms are really huge. We were two adults and two teenagers.

Friends were there over Thanksgiving and they had five rooms...and they said the rooms were remodeled and really nice.

It is a friendly hotel and great for kids. They have a sort of continental breakfast with lots of fruits, bagels, yogurt, oatmeal, etc. Very pleasant dining room and definitely saves you a bundle$$

nytraveler

I wouldn't walk from Times Square to the Museum of Natural History - it's about 2 miles - when you're already going to be doing so much walking in the Museum. You can just hop on the Broadway local subway at 42 st and get off at 79th St for the Museum.

But - I disagree about staying in Times Square. The upper west side is much more kid friendly - right near Central Park as well as Natural History and the Met (they would probably love the Egyptian Department and perhaps arms & armor). It also has tons of neighborhood restaurants that are good and inexpensive/moderate and used to families. (While those in Times Square tend to be overpriced chain places - or more upscale).

There are lots of hotels in the area - some with larger rooms with mini kitchens. As well as the Lucerne look at On the Ave, the Beacon, Excelsior etc.

Separately, do Top of the Rock instead of the Empire State Building. You can get advance timed tickets for TOTR - and you won;t have the interminable waiting lines you do at Empire State Building.

BudgetQueen

I was just in NYC with my nephews last week. I do like staying near Times Square and the subway access to everywhere is excellent. Nice for shows too.

I have stayed many times at the Super 8. Easy to book a room then cancel if something else comes up. But a long time ago, I found out they constantly change prices, starting out high and dropping.

So it pays for me, to book each night separately then cancel and rebook when the rate drops. It ended up $430 with taxes for 3 nights, free breakfast and great location.

I also took them to Top of the Rock, great for the timed entry, but I do like the Empire State Building the best. However the night view is my favorite and a late entry- 11pm or later has little line.

BudgetQueen

The B/C subway stop at 81st is the Museum of Natural History, even a lower access direct to the museum.

Went there last week too. Then continued by subway to a great diner in Harlem for a late lunch.

Kathysa

Thanks for all the help. I'm re-thinking the Salisbury now. Our primary reason for the quick trip is the Museum of Natural History so we may try to stay in that area. Since the kids haven't been to the Empire State Building, we thought we'd try to squeeze that in too, but I need to check out the Top of the Rock (I'm embarrassed to say I have no idea what that is ). I'll check out the Super8 near Times Square too.

doug_stallings

Kathy, I don't think you should worry about staying at the Salisbury just because your main reason to go to NYC is the Natural History Museum. Transportation in NYC is very very easy by subway (or even by taxi if you want the expense). The Upper West Side is a relatively residential neighborhood, but there are relatively few (though some) hotel options to stay near the museum. You'd also have easy access to Central Park up there, but, frankly, little else. If you want to walk around a lot, I'd suggest staying somewhere OTHER than the Upper West Side or Time Square. It's more convenient to stay in Murray Hill (perhaps the Affinia Dumont), where you are pretty central and don't have to rely on the subway for everything.

But your plans are going to take you all over the city, so there's never going to be a single place that's convenient to everything. I'm not sure if that helps, but I do tend to find the Upper West Side somewhat less convenient to most of the other tourist sights in town (other than the museum and Central Park).

KTtravel

Kathysa,

Playing devil's advocate here.

My family of 4 stayed at the Lucerne and were very happy there. For a quick trip, you should have plenty of room, particularly if your kids are on the younger side.

No matter where you stay, you probably will be relying on the subway system just to get from place to place and, most likely, won't be spending too much time at the hotel.

Good luck with your decision and have a fun trip!

swidd

I would recommend the Roosevelt Hotel which is located on 45 East 45th Street. It is a easy walk to Central Park and Times Square. We stayed there with our 2 children and found it enjoyable.

www.theroosevelthotel.com

Kathysa

Thanks.
It is going to be a quick trip with our "must do" being the Museum of Natural History. The kids are 12 and 9, so old enough to walk places. I'll check out some of the other hotels mentioned. I'm thinking it's going to come down to whichever hotel I can get the best rate, and still be in a nice place. Thanks for all the advice.

deedeezee

Hotel rates have really shot up in NYC and may be tough to get a good rate. I have used priceline many times with excellent results. Would you consider that?

dmlove

Priceline is not really an option if you need one room for 4 people - they only guarantee rooms for two, and in NYC, where many rooms aren't big enough for more, the hotel could you get through priceline could very well not be able to accommodate a party of four in one room. It's risky anywhere, but almost impossible in NYC.

GoTravel

Do not even think about priceline unless you are willing to get two rooms.

Salisbury is an excellent idea and the very best located of your choices.

You can easily walk to the Museum of Natural History from there.

It is also a couple of blocks to Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Fifth Avenue and a lot of other things.

GoTravel

Forgot to add that it is very close to a bunch of different subway lines.

maryanne1

Look at the Hampton Inn on 50th. Very good for families with children. Breakfast is included. Central Park within walking distance. Your kids would enjoy the small zoo within the park. The penquins are not to be missed. Subway stop a block away that gets you right to the museum.
We stayed at this hotel before Christmas and it was great for us.

cabovacation

I don't think you can beat the room size at Salisbury - but you do have to ask for a suite - and they probably book up fast.