2nd request: any comments on these 2 NYC hotels?
 

(My 1st request received only 1 reply) In September we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in NYC. We are interested in any info/comments concerning the Warwick Hotel or Novotel. If you have any familiarity with either...we're wondering how your experience was? Would you recommend it? How about location for walking/transportation to tourist sites? Do the rooms have good views? We live in a quiet, rural area and are very much looking forward to the vibrance of NYC. All comments are appreciated--thanks!

I saw your first request but didn't respond because I haven't stayed at the Novotel. However, we've stayed at the Warwick twice and loved it; the location is perfect for you; you'll have to ask for a room with a view.

Novotel has been panned on here- I was goign through some previous posts on here recently and several people gave specific reasons to avoid it (have you searched for it?). Warwick gets better reviews. I actually think I saw a post on both of these in the same post.

ladykt: I take that back. I looked again (I looked at so many hotel posts for a recent trip to NY I think I got confused about what I saw), and I only see one post w/both of them, without alot of real valuable info. I do see several posts on them individually, but soem are old. Sorry for my previous statement. Actually, people in those posts from about a year ago like the Novotel, and the Warwick too.

I haven't personally stayed at either one, although my dad used to stay at the Novotel on business frequently and said it was nice. Please note that this was many (more than 5) years ago. One benefit to the Novotel is that the first 5 floors or so of the building are retail. That means that the sleeping rooms start up higher and *may* be less noisy because of this.

The Warwick, on the other hand, was recently renovated and people here have given it good reviews.

All in all, I'd probably stay at the Warwick. It is close to Times Square/Rockefeller Center/Central Park, but you won't be sleeping in the middle of Times Square.

I don't know, but I liked the hotel in France I chose based on the info on tripadvisor.com. They list your two choices as #98 and #99 in popularity in New York (how close it that!?!?!).
I stay at the Hilton most of the time sometimes for free (with points), sometimes at a AAA rate, and once via Priceline (using BiddingForTravel to get an idea of $$$ to bid). I've really been pleased when bidding for 4star hotel in major cities - and BiddingForTravel gives you some indication of which hotels Priceline is putting you in.

Novotel is a property that many European clients use when visiting the city. It is a very good property a small block from Times Square. If the price is right, you will be very happy there...

My mom and I stayed at the Warwick last October and we really liked it. The hotel employees were very friendly, location was ideal- it felt close to everything. Our double room was large for NYC standards and very pleasant. The hotel had a feel of a boutique hotel that we really liked.

We mostly cabbed it or walked so not sure about the proximity to subways. We walked to many of the sights- Central Park, Fifth Avenue, the Met, etc. I would recommend it and would stay there again the next time I go to NYC.

Also, not sure I can help you with a view b/c ours faced a brick wall. You could ask the hotel specifically about rooms with a view.

Have a wonderful anniversary trip and congratulations!
Jane

Just curious how/why you selected these 2 hotels out of all the possibilities? The Novotel rarely gets mentioned here. The Warwick is popular, but for a special anniversary, I might want something a bit more special. Are the Michelangelo or Le Parker Meridien possible?

The location of both your selected hotels is very convenient. I would prefer the location of the Warwick a bit more since it's closer to Fifth Ave but still in walking distance of the theater while Novotel is right on Broadway. But I think you're more likely to get a view at the Novotel because it's a taller building. You could request a view from the Warwick. Just not sure how many they have.

On tripadvisor.com, one of the reviews mentions booking through travelzoo and getting an upgrade to a suite at the Warwick which would be nice.

I am curious also- did you get a good rate quoted for those hotels? I paid $195 internet rate for the Michelangelo recenly for a long weekend and thought that was a great rate. What do the Warwick and Novotel go for?

Thanks for all of your input. As far as how we came to inquire about these two...we have done lots of internet research on the various sites (expedia, hotels.com, etc.) and found these two to be quite appealing but mostly unmentioned here. I've been a bit hesitant to "bid" for a room because I am a bit of a control freak and want to be certain that I end up w/a room that has everything we want. (location, view, well kept, queen or king bed, and so on) I know, I know...this seems a bit silly to ya'll but we've actually enjoyed the research we've been doing and reading the forums here. This is a once in a liftime for us and the anticipation is part of the fun! Also...I have found the rates for both locations to be about $200/night. Anyway...thanks! And we may still take our chances with priceline or whatever.

Keep in mind that I got a room at Michelangelo for $199 two weekends ago. You might get good rates at other places to too in summer. BTW, not everyone uses Priceline. I will use it for the first time in Houston later this summer, because there are only two hotles downtown in the category I will bid in and either of them is great for what we need. But in NY, I also like to know where I am staying. Several blocks makes a big difference to me there, if we are going to the theater, etc. And there is the noise factor fo rme, I'm a light sleeper and need to know I will be somewhere where I can get a quiet interior room or one very high up. Alot of people do like to know where they are staying, etc. You aren't the only one.

I agree that not everyone uses Priceline. If this is a "once in a lifetime" thing, I wouldn't use Priceline either, but I don't think I'd pick the 2 places you're considering ladykt. $200 is a decent amount ot pay. The view is the only thing you're requesting that may be a bit tough. Have you checked quikbook.com? That is a favored website for NYC hotels on this board.