kimberly_wiedemeier

I'm staying 2-3 nights at the Belvedere near Times Square in NYC mid Sept. I'll be coming from Maine as a leg of a road trip, so I'm not exactly sure what day we will arrive. I'm wondering if I need to make reservations far in advance (like now), or if I wait until my road trip starts, will there be likely be rooms available? Do Manhatten hotels (like the Belvedere) book fairly quickly or are there pretty much always rooms (unless there is an event going on). I'll be traveling with my spouse and toddler. Thanks!

kimberly_wiedemeier

Also, since we will not be going far to get to Union Square, TImes Square, Central Park, etc--would you recommend the subway or taxis? We can walk some of it, of course, but could get tedious with a toddler and stroller in tow.

Dukey1

You can always make a reservation which starts a day or so before you KNOW you will arrive and then shorten it when you know the exact date you will arrive.

J62

I would never wait until the last minute to book a hotel - you are only asking for trouble either on availablity or higher rates.

I recommend you book a cancellable / changeable reservation NOW for the span of possible dates, and reduce the length of stay when you refine your dates. July is not "far in advance" for Manhattan hotels.

nytraveler

Yes, Manhattan hotel often fill up in advance, esp if the rate is a reasonable one. I would reserve today - unless you are going for a nonrefundable rate. If you wait until the last minute who knows where you will have to stay? (Have just checked and a room for 3 mid Sept is more than $450 per night - unless you have found something much cheaper. For that amount I would look around for other options.)

As for transit, where will you be going. Times Square is NOT a great area for a toddler since the sidewalks are often mobbed and people are not looking down for strollers there - your kid will be surrounded by a sea of knees and people might trip over it. With a toddler I would always stay in a more residential area where there is much less foot traffic. (If it were me I would stay on the upper west side so that you have easy access to Central Park and a bunch of child friendly restaurants. In midtown you will probably also have to fold and check the stroller - call first to see if the place has booster seats for kids - most places do not.)

As for taking a stroller on transit, you have to fold them up to take them on a bus - or put in the trunk of a cab. For the subway you will have to carry the stroller down a couple of flights of stairs - and definitely do NOT take one on near rush hour.

doug_stallings

September is the beginning of high season in New York, when both rates and occupancy levels rise. You absolutely need a reservation if you want to ensure you stay at a particular hotel. While there is almost always some room available in Manhattan, it may not be at the hotel of your choice or at a rate you can afford.

If you can make a reservation that can be cancelled or changed without a penalty, then do that. But realize that you might or might not be able to extend or change your dates of stay if the hotel is really busy.

It's a bit far to walk to Union Square from Times Square with a toddler in a stroller, so that's not really something I can recommend.

I guess the real question is does this HAVE to be the Belvedere over all other NYC hotels? Is there a particular reason you are staying there?

kimberly_wiedemeier

Thanks for the upper west side idea. I was considering that because of the close proximity to Central Park (and have a friend that lives there). From research, The Belvedere seems like a "child friendly" hotel, with cribs, etc avail. The rate I'm getting on Hotels, and Expedia is $210, so not bad. If someone has a good hotel option in the upper west side I would appreciate that! I'm a little concerned that the tone I'm getting from the comments is a baby and stroller in NYC is not ideal. Come on, people in NYC have babies, yah?!

maxima

People in NYC travel on the subway and buses with children in strollers all the time. You will have to fold the stroller on the bus, but not on the subway. Some stations have elevators that you can take down to the platforms. Otherwise you will have to carry the stroller down. While some areas are more congested and public transit is crowded during rush hour, there is no reason to think you cannot visit the sites you are interested in seeing with a child in a stroller.


The upper west side is mainly a residential area. you can probably walk to Central Park, but would need to take public transit or a taxi to Union Square or other areas in midtown or downtown.

you should book your hotel now to assure that you have a reservation and a decent rate.

nytraveler

Yes, people in NYC have babies - but they don;t live in/near Times Square - which is primarily a business/entertainment area. I can't recall the last time I saw someone with a stroller in the midtown business district - although there are lots of them in residential areas. Frankly there is little in Times Square to interest an infant - versus a kid in elementary school.

And yes, parents routinely travel around the city with children - in a cab, on the bus - or in the subway outside of rush hours. DO NOT attempt to take a stroller on the subway in midtown in rush hour.

jubilada

I like the UWS much better than Times Square for with a child. Check the Beaconn. This is not too early to reserve at all.

IMDonehere

You do not become a city of 8 million without having babies.

nytraveler

Well, actually we're 9 million if you count everyone. And there are lots of babies every year - as demonstrated by our school system - 1.1 million children.

But again - they don't live in Times Square and few live in central midtown at all. You can tell because there really aren't any elementary schools there. (I believe there are one or two private schools for kids whose parents live on the far east side - but basically all elementary schools are above 59th St and below 34th St.)

kimberly_wiedemeier

The Belvedere ended up being way to pricey. I ended up booking a room at the Travel Inn near Times Square. It's easy to get to by car and has a parking garage attached. Only a 1/4 mile walk to Times Square (but we are comfortable walking 3-4 miles in a stretch) and all the subways that will take us the Central Park or the South Ferry areas (two must sees for us). It's a 3-4 star hotel but got good reviews. Here's to hoping we have fun!!

nytraveler

A lot of people find the Travel Inn to be a reputable budget property - although the walk to get there form the subway can be long.

Be sure to look at hopstop.com for easy directions between any two points in the city bis subway, bus, taxi or foot.

kimberly_wiedemeier

Thanks for the tips all. Hopstop sounds like a great resource.

kimberly_wiedemeier

OK, I am tempted to go with another hotel because of the deal. World Center Hotel (across from ground zero). Easy access to Battery Park ad ferry--how long is subway ride to Midtown /Central Park? Ish Is a better alternative than the Travel
Inn nesr Times Square with a toddler? Worth the longer subway ride north? Again, with only 2.5 days, we def want to see Staton Ferry, Central Park (walk near Belvedere Castle, boats), and a quick jaunt through Times, Rockefeller.

nytraveler

No - that hotel is downtown in the financial area. Not very convenient to midtown (Times Square and Rock Center) or uptown Central Park (do not miss the small zoo).

And with a toddler you want to avoid the subway/stroller issue as much as possible.

doug_stallings

It's about 20 or more minutes from the Financial District to Times Square or the southern end of Central Park depending on the subway line. I would say that hotel is more convenient than the Travel Inn just because there's less walking involved to the subway, but it's certainly no "easier" in the sense of being closer to the areas where you are most likely to want to visit. And while the options have increased over the years, there's still not a lot going on down there at night for food. You are, however, within walking distance of restaurants in the Conrad New York in Battery Park City (Blue Smoke, Shake Shack, North End Grill).