NYC Hotel Suite or Apt. for 3 Adults
May 27th, 2010, 03:02 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
NYC Hotel Suite or Apt. for 3 Adults
Hi!!
I'm posting this for a friend who is visiting NYC in early November for 1 week with two of her friends (all in their late-30s). They are looking for a comfortable apartment or a hotel with a suite type of setup. Location is primary consideration -- Times Square or similar is preferred but a little further north or south of Times Square should be fine. Budget is around $450 per night.
I have seen good things said about Affinia, Beekman, The Beacon etc. Although I am a resident of NYC for several years, I have no knowledge about hotels and tourist apartments here. Appreciate any help.
I'm posting this for a friend who is visiting NYC in early November for 1 week with two of her friends (all in their late-30s). They are looking for a comfortable apartment or a hotel with a suite type of setup. Location is primary consideration -- Times Square or similar is preferred but a little further north or south of Times Square should be fine. Budget is around $450 per night.
I have seen good things said about Affinia, Beekman, The Beacon etc. Although I am a resident of NYC for several years, I have no knowledge about hotels and tourist apartments here. Appreciate any help.
May 27th, 2010, 03:23 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Early Nov. can be very very pricey because of the Marathon. The only suite hotel in Times Square is the Doubletree Guest suites where they can get 2 double beds and a sofabed. All are 1 bedroom suites.
Just north of Times Square across from City Center on west 55th, the Blakelyhotelny.com is a small hotel with some 1 bedroom suites with 2 doubles and a day bed in the living room for 1. They include a free cont. b/f. The Affinia.com chain has about 7 suite hotels, most in midtown. While they're very well regarded, maintained and spacious, a few are either well past their prime (ie Eastgate Tower) or starting to look a bit frayed (Affinia Dumont & Affinia 50) or recently acquired and not yet updated (Buckingham). The Affinia Dumont and the Affinia 50 and perhaps 1 or 2 others have some suites with 2 queen beds, a lot nicer for friends than the more typical 2 doubles. Overall, I think the Shelburne Murray Hill & Affinia Gardens are the freshest right now.
The Alex, the San Carlos, the Kimberly and the Best Western Hospitality, all in east midtown, are good to very good. The Kimberly has some renovated suites that are a lot nicer than the non-renovated ones.
Beaconhotel.com and Milburnhotel.com on the UWS are both very good. The Beacon much more recently renovated.
Just north of Times Square across from City Center on west 55th, the Blakelyhotelny.com is a small hotel with some 1 bedroom suites with 2 doubles and a day bed in the living room for 1. They include a free cont. b/f. The Affinia.com chain has about 7 suite hotels, most in midtown. While they're very well regarded, maintained and spacious, a few are either well past their prime (ie Eastgate Tower) or starting to look a bit frayed (Affinia Dumont & Affinia 50) or recently acquired and not yet updated (Buckingham). The Affinia Dumont and the Affinia 50 and perhaps 1 or 2 others have some suites with 2 queen beds, a lot nicer for friends than the more typical 2 doubles. Overall, I think the Shelburne Murray Hill & Affinia Gardens are the freshest right now.
The Alex, the San Carlos, the Kimberly and the Best Western Hospitality, all in east midtown, are good to very good. The Kimberly has some renovated suites that are a lot nicer than the non-renovated ones.
Beaconhotel.com and Milburnhotel.com on the UWS are both very good. The Beacon much more recently renovated.
May 27th, 2010, 03:45 AM
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
mclaurie has given a very comprehensive summary. But I'm not sure any would be available in their price range. Doubletree is showing advance, noncancellable rates for about $600 per night. Have not checked the others - but suggest they search now to see if there are any better advance purchase deals available.
May 27th, 2010, 04:21 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow!! $600 / night for a Doubletree. Sometimes I forget how crazy things can get in this city!
Other than the hotels mentioned above, are there any short-term apartment rental options? Something like VRBO or whatever that could make sense and is reliable. Thanks!!
Other than the hotels mentioned above, are there any short-term apartment rental options? Something like VRBO or whatever that could make sense and is reliable. Thanks!!
May 27th, 2010, 05:14 AM
#5
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,342
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"are there any short-term apartment rental options? Something like VRBO or whatever that could make sense and is reliable. Thanks!!"
Most short term apartment rentals are illegal in NYC. There have been past threads on the subject. They should continue to look for apt. style hotels.
Most short term apartment rentals are illegal in NYC. There have been past threads on the subject. They should continue to look for apt. style hotels.
May 27th, 2010, 05:17 AM
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In almost all cases, short-term apartment rentals in NYC for less than 30 days are illegal. There are many offered on Craigslist and VRBO, but most of us who post on this board continually urge visitors NOT to go this route. If something goes wrong, you have absolutely no legal recourse, and you must find last-minute accommodations for very high prices. Plus, there are many outright scams online. So the long answer is, no, this is not really an option.
If they want to save money, they might be able to rent two rooms at a mid-priced chain hotel in Queens that would be near a subway stop and just a few stops from Manhattan. Some people choose to stay in NJ because hotels are cheaper there, but the truth is that with the NJ Transit increases, you really have to figure in the extra costs of transportation, which can be significant for three people depending on where you stay.
In early November, there may still be some decent deals at the Embassy Suites in Battery Park City. The Doubltree is always expensive, so it's not always the best comparative hotel. Compare prices at the Affinia properties to get a better idea of costs during this period (but they will be high ... still no less than $400 in all likelihood).
If they can secure an apartment at Radio City Apartments, that would be among the cheaper options. I would certainly consider it to be in the Times Square area.
If they want to save money, they might be able to rent two rooms at a mid-priced chain hotel in Queens that would be near a subway stop and just a few stops from Manhattan. Some people choose to stay in NJ because hotels are cheaper there, but the truth is that with the NJ Transit increases, you really have to figure in the extra costs of transportation, which can be significant for three people depending on where you stay.
In early November, there may still be some decent deals at the Embassy Suites in Battery Park City. The Doubltree is always expensive, so it's not always the best comparative hotel. Compare prices at the Affinia properties to get a better idea of costs during this period (but they will be high ... still no less than $400 in all likelihood).
If they can secure an apartment at Radio City Apartments, that would be among the cheaper options. I would certainly consider it to be in the Times Square area.
May 27th, 2010, 07:18 AM
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not surprisingly Radio City Apts shows alredy fully booked for those dates (in busy season it is often booked out 6 or more months in advance). Certianly look at the other options reco'd - but don;t dawdle - rates typically increse the closer you get to the date.
May 27th, 2010, 07:54 AM
#8
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For suites (not just a room with 2 double beds) The Lombardy, Hotel Metro (family room), Radio City Apartments, the Edison (combo room), the Casablanca, the San Carlos, the Kimberly, City Cub, the Waldorf, and the Affinia hotels (mentioned above) can all accommodate 3 without having to share a bed (if that is a consideration). These suites are averaging about $350+ right now, so you can imagine the pricing for November.
If two pepole don't mind sharing a bed, the Warwick, the Fitzpatrick Manhattan, the Chandler and others have suites for 3 people with two beds. Use caution when booking the Affinia hotels as some of the suites are "one bed or two based on availability" meaning you MIGHT get 2 beds and you MIGHT get one, and not all suites can accommodate a rollaway if you need one (i.e. the junior suites at the Affinia Gardens cannot). Best way to avoid that is to book via phone directly with the hotel and be very specific about the room configuration. Also note that when there is 3 adults in a room there is often an "extra person charge" that can be $30 - $50 per night in addition to the room rate, taxes (14.75%) and rollaway bed charge (if you have requested one.)
Prices will be high for the timeframe your friend is looking at, so if they see something that you can live with, I would book it. The hotels I have menioned are in a range of prices, but all work for 3 people. I have also found that calling a hotel directly to book will (usually) result in the best rate. Ask about "early booking rates" etc. as I have been able to get decent (not cheap, but decent) rates at some of the better hotels that way, even in high seasons.
The marathon is November 7th, if they can avoid that first weekend in November they might have more choices.
VRBO works wonderfully well in other US cities and throughout Europe, but for some reason New Yorkers can't quite get the hang of it - I would advise against it to avoid disappointment.
If two pepole don't mind sharing a bed, the Warwick, the Fitzpatrick Manhattan, the Chandler and others have suites for 3 people with two beds. Use caution when booking the Affinia hotels as some of the suites are "one bed or two based on availability" meaning you MIGHT get 2 beds and you MIGHT get one, and not all suites can accommodate a rollaway if you need one (i.e. the junior suites at the Affinia Gardens cannot). Best way to avoid that is to book via phone directly with the hotel and be very specific about the room configuration. Also note that when there is 3 adults in a room there is often an "extra person charge" that can be $30 - $50 per night in addition to the room rate, taxes (14.75%) and rollaway bed charge (if you have requested one.)
Prices will be high for the timeframe your friend is looking at, so if they see something that you can live with, I would book it. The hotels I have menioned are in a range of prices, but all work for 3 people. I have also found that calling a hotel directly to book will (usually) result in the best rate. Ask about "early booking rates" etc. as I have been able to get decent (not cheap, but decent) rates at some of the better hotels that way, even in high seasons.
The marathon is November 7th, if they can avoid that first weekend in November they might have more choices.
VRBO works wonderfully well in other US cities and throughout Europe, but for some reason New Yorkers can't quite get the hang of it - I would advise against it to avoid disappointment.
May 27th, 2010, 04:50 PM
#10
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can often get deals there - esp on weekends. But Oct is cheaper than Nov (the marathon weekend is esp busy and expensive) and downtown isn't optimal for dining or sights. Still, often a bargain for a pleasant hotel.
May 28th, 2010, 06:52 AM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Blakely is just a bit above their budget for a 1 bedroom suite with 2 doubles and a daybed including cont. b/f. The San Carlos is also just above the budget for 2 QUEEN beds in a 1 bedroom suite and also includes cont. b/f so not sure what the problem is. Quoting the price for the Doubletree is only one hotel.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
drummer0002
United States
8
Apr 4th, 2007 09:44 AM
