Columbus Circle noisy?
 

Greetings,<BR><BR>We're thinking about spending two nights at the "West Park Hotel" in NYC near Columbus Circle from July 1 - 3. How noisy is it there? Will this be an unpleasant experience, or is it OK? Anyone who lives or works nearby could perhaps lend their opinion, earning my eternal gratitude.<BR><BR>Also, any first-hand experience with the West Park? They say it's been renovated inside. True?<BR><BR>Thanks in advance!<BR><BR>-- Peter

I'd ask for a room in the rear of the building as the view fromt he front is nothing special. Haven't heard how it is inside but I'm in that neighborhood on a very regular basis and it's a great location - close to the sybway, Central Park, the upper West side and easy access to midtown and elsewhere. You're also a short block from 8th and 9th Ave where a great selection of restaurants abounds at all prices. It's just far enough from the circle that traffic noise shouldn't be an issue but there is an enormous new building being built directly across the street (new AOL Time-Life building). You will have noise from construction equipment during the day but thankfully the worst noise is over (I passed by many times when they were blasting into bedrock to secure the foundation). With a room towards the back and on an upper floor I don't think the noise will be any worse than any other NYC hotel and probably better than most.

Columbus Circle, as the name states, is a busy traffic intersection , basically dividing Midtown Manhattan from the upper west side. From what I can remember, the hotel is on a side street (58th?)--obviously can't be right at the circle. I doubt it's any noisier than any other Manhattan hotel, that is to say it certainly will be noisy if you're not used to big city traffic in general (several bus routes pass through Columbus Circle, and in NYC they're pretty much 24 service, though less frequent at night) In general, Higher floors are less noisy, and rooms facing "the back"--which could be an airshaft--will be less noisy than rooms with a view (the view would be Columbus Circle, possibly Central Park if a high enough floor) Keep in mind that there's also a major construction project, the two enormous towers of the new AOL/Time Warner headquarters, going on right smack dab in the middle of Columbus Circle. Again, you shouldn't be getting the construction noise at night, but...

wow, Owen, your posting beat mine by a couple of minutes, but I wonder if we were separated at birth :)

Thank you! As always, New Yorkers are the best, most helpful folks around!<BR><BR>-- Peter

We've booked the same hotel in May, primarily based on location and price. I figure we won't be there during the daytime anyway. Peter, I'll let you know when we get back.

Note to Cindy: if you were born at Syracuse General in 1956 we realy need to talk {:-)<BR><BR>Peter and Belinda - the hotel is far enough down the block that any park view would be marginal and oblique at best. It is far enough down from the circle that traffic noise should not be an issue. Traffic flow on the circle seems ot be smooth enough that you won't get the chronic honking of taxi horns that is so common in areas such as Times Square. I doubt that construction starts with any real major activity level before 7 AM and ends by the dinner hour. Should be just fine, not to mention that if you're anything like I was when I used to visit here as a tourist, you'll rarely be in the room except to sleep!

I've learned the hard way on my last couple of visits to NYC that the worst noise experience is when one is on a lower floor (even below the 10th floor) and faces a back entrance to another hotel, where laundry and trash trucks back up (BEEP BEEP BEEP) and load and unload ALL NIGHT LONG. Have had a few hellish nights like this. I'd choose an "airshaft room" or a room facing a busy street (with traffic that moves and the FRONTS of buildings facing me) any day. When you check in, look out the window, and down, and beware.

Thanks again! What a great bunch you all are. ;-)<BR><BR>-- Peter