jlkids

Okay guys, I always get so nervous when I get ready to book something. We only go on vacation at the most once a year, so this is a big thing for me! LOL

Anyhow, what do you think of a studio suite at the Affinia Dumont for a refundable $269 a night. That would be for two adults/two teenage daughters?

Do you think that would be the place to stay?

Thanks again for all the advice.
Linda

mclaurie

Perhaps the reason you're not seeing weekly rates is b/c you're not planning on staying for a week?
"Affinia Weekly Rate. Valid for stays of 7 to 29 consecutive days. "

A studio at the Dumont is good since they have some with 2 queen beds vs. most other places with 2 doubles. I would book a cancelable rate, sign up with them for emails on specials and also keep your eyes out on travelzoo.com and quikbook.com for better deals b/w now and your trip.

jlkids

That's a good possibility! I was just looking for what dmlove saw.

dmlove

Because I input the 16th to the 23rd, rather than the 21st (I misread your post). Mystery solved?

japw82

jlkids,
Noticed that the Courtyard 5th ave. has $259 room rates for a 2 double bed room. The rooms are clean and recently renovated and you're close to everything. On our first stay in NYC we stayed at the Renaissance T.S., which had small rooms, but had nice appointments,(quikbook has rates similar to that of the Courtyard) the second trip found us at the Courtyard 5th Ave. We would return to either hotel. They both get good marks on tripadvisor, which consistently gives us good information about hotels in or near our vacation destinations. Enjoy your trip.

jlkids

Opinions on....

The Dumont for $269 studio/2 bed

or

Affinia Garden $349 one bdrm/2 bed

It really makes no difference to us about the studio vs the 1 bdrm. I'm really wanting opinions about the location, wondering if the Garden location warrants an $80 a night increase, or if we'd be just fine at the Dumont and using the money saved on food or something.

Thanks all.

jlkids

thanks for the info on the Courtyard. I checked and the first night is $259 and then jumps to $329 the rest of the stay. So it is in the ball park of the rest.

I may just have to find someway to investigate the areas more to see where we want to be so many decisions!

MFNYC

To compare locations of the 3 you seem to be considering (Affinia grden, Dumont and Courtyard Fifth AV, I'd say the best locaton is the courtyard. It's a short walk to times sq/theater area and grand Central station which both have subway hubs to get you anywhere else you may wnat to go. You can also walk to several sights stores and nieghborhoods.

I'd say the Dumont is in the least interesteing area. It's a ccross from Penn Station. It's not a terrible location but the other 2 I think are nicer.

Affinia Gardens is a little more out of the way in a more residental type area. But there are several restaurants nearby, and little shops and stores. You would be near the #6 train (East side line).

mclaurie

Actually, MFNYC is confusing the Dumont with the Aff. Manhattan. The Dumont is NOT across from Penn station but rather on the east side in Murray Hill in a good location. You are not paying a premium for the Aff. Gardens for location but for the extra space. While you may not care about a 1 bedroom, I think you might find it much more comfortable for 4 of you to have 2 separate rooms, not to mention the option of a sofabed so the teens don't have to share a bed if they don't want to. Not sure whether the studio suite will have a sofabed as well.

But if your question is which is the overall best deal, I'd say go for the place with 2 queen beds (rather than 2 doubles) since I think it will be much more comfortable. I also think you should book something cancelable ASAP and keep your eyes out for specials on travlezoo.com, quikbook.com and the affinia.com site.

mclaurie

I also think it's misleading to call the location of the Aff. Gardens as "out of the way." It's not far from Bloomingdales and loads of other stores that teens love like Levi's, H & M, Diesel, Dylan's Candy store etc.

If you haven't bought your airline tickets yet, I'd also check to see if there's any difference is you start your trip on 3/15. By starting on the 16th for 5 nights, you're not staying over a Sat. night which sometimes means you pay more for airfare and possibly hotel.

There's a typo on travelzoo.com in my post above.

jlkids

I had actually been looking at airfare to leave on 3/15, just so that we'd get an extra day. Unfortunately, we have one daughter returning from college late Friday and she will need to pack and such, so works better to leave Sun morning instead of Sat. Fortunately there was no price difference in the flights or the hotel.

We've traveled for many years while my husband used to work for NWA. We have had many, many small rooms, and usually have 2 dbl beds. The kids are extremely close to each other and have been missing each other terribly since one went away to college, they don't mind sleeping in the same bed!

We aren't real big on shopping as we live about 30 min from the Mall of America in MN with the big stores. We just like to go and just experience stuff, without spending tons on the experience!

Personally I like the idea of not having a full kitchen, as I will be on vacation and don't want to have to cook too often!!

I'm really leading towards the Dumont studio suite with 2 queens for $269

Thanks for all the advice, I couldn't have gotten this far in planning without everyone's help.

MFNYC

My bad... for whatever dumb reason when i saw e. 34th, i'm thinking w 34th because i had remembered seeing an Affinia hotel around there.

I didn't say the gardens was out of the way, i did say "a little more out of the way" as compared to the others as far as convenience to transportation and that kind of thing, but did mention it's convenient to may restaurants and stores of differnt kinds.

mclaurie

I think the Dumont with 2 queens for $269 is a great option. Don't think of the kitchen for cooking but rather as a means to keep breakfast stuff in the room and snacks, and easy to do take out with dishes, utensils etc. Can save lots of $$$.

jlkids

Great, well we have the air and hotel set.

MSP to LGA $225RT
Affinia Dumont $243 night w/AAA disc
Studio Suite w/2 queens

I'm going to the library to pick up guide books, then in a few months I'll be back to get opinions on itinerary!

We are SO excited. Thanks for all the advice and opinions, much appreciated.