I am planning on a romantic DAY into evening in NYC with my boyfriend.
We are both recently separated and have children living at home. I am not yet ready to have my kids deal with an "overnighter," so we are planning to return to LI at around 10 or 11 PM.
We were able to take off a day from work the week of February 14th.
My question: Are there hotels in the city that are more apt to give us an early check-in?
Should we ask for this up-front or just show up at their doorstep?
Do we have to tell them that we won't be staying for the whole night?

I recently arrived early with my 10 month old to our NYC hotel. I knew before hand that we'd need to check in early, as he'd be long overdue for a nap. I asked ahead of time and was totally stonewalled. I decided to chance it and just show up there, hoping they'd have a room ready (around 12:30) but, again, no luck. The earlier they'd give us our room was 2:30. Good luck with this one! I think it'll be hard to find a place who will freely give you early check-in. Maybe someone else has a better idea?

So basically you just want to check into a room for sex.

You might consider larger hotels which have a higher number of rooms, thus improving your chances of them having a room you can get into. But before noon is unlikely.

geez, nice of you to point out the obvious MikeT.

I hope you and your boyfriend have a wonderful time SOS.

There are probably a bunch of short time rooms you can get if you look around some.

Call the hotel you are booking with and ask them what the occupancy is for the night before you arrive.

Let them know you would like to check in early and see if they can accommodate you.

You increase your chances by being flexible on the type of room.

If a hotel is sold out the night before, chances are you will not get an early check in.

Good luck!

I want to thank those who gave me some good info re. checking into a hotel early.
To those who felt compelled to make unpleasant comments, I have this to say:
Why would you judge me (or anyone) so harshly?
I debated whether or not to start my original post with: "This is incredibly embarrassing, but..............", but forced myself to get over it. I'm a grownup, I said to myself. I'm an adult.
This is America. Do I have to feel uncomfortable about this? Why?

Is sex purer if it takes place during the night?
If it happens in the daytime does that make it seedy?
Certainly I can't be the first person in the world to do this!
Funny, how I was freer to do what I wanted when I was in my 20's than I am now.
I'm a grown woman, and it IS unpleasant to have to "sneak around" to spend some romantic time with someone I love. Is sex with one's legally wedded husband more pure even if he is irresponsible, at times cruel, unable to take care of his own children, than a man I'm not married to who brings stability to the lives of my kids.
I could obviously simply spend my nights with him (at home), but I'm not sure if this is good for my kids quite so soon.
Life gets complicated when one becomes a responsible adult.
Is it responsible and adult to make snide comments in response to my question?
This obviously isn't the place for this kind of discussion.
I read this site because I, too, travel, and I, too, can get obsessive about finding the best places to stay, eat, see, etc. I'm just a person like those of you who have the freedom to stay overnight in a hotel with the person you love.
Next time I go to a PTA meeting where the subject is how mean adolescent girls can be to one another, I'm going to remember, thanks to some of you, where they get it from.
People are capable of great acts of kindness; it never ceases to amaze me how people are capable of treating each other so badly.

I totally agree with SOS, I'm in the same boat. Trying to get a room for a romantic afternoon, the only difference is I will be alone.

Actually, I am so naive I wasn't thinking about the sex thing at all. I thought that maybe you were going to spend the day running around, and then needed somewhere to shower and change before heading off to a nice dinner! If that should be the case, write back again and I will tell you where you can do this.
Otherwise, I would just pick a large hotel and tell them you MUST have an early check in, even if you have to pay a few extra bucks to get it.

Two points you make really stand out:

1)"I read this site because I, too, travel, and I, too, can get obsessive about finding the best places to stay, eat, see, etc."
Really? Yet not obsessive enough to have ever registered here to discuss any of them? Only your need to find a place for sex in the day was important enough for you to actually register and post a question here? Kind of hard to swallow isn't it?

2quot;This obviously isn't the place for this kind of discussion."
Oh, come now. You know that is exactly why you DID post this. You could have easily come here and asked if it is possible to rent a hotel room in New York for the day. It really doesn't make any difference to us if the reason is you've got a late night flight out so you will need to leave, or maybe you want some rest during a long day of shopping or a place to go between a theatre matinee and evening performance to relax. But no, it was YOU who felt compelled to tell us the sole purpose was for having sex in the afternoon. Do you really expect us to believe that you didn't WELCOME the replies you got? Don't be silly. If you didn't want those comments you never would have invited them the way you did.

By the way, did it ever occur to you that you could call a hotel and ask if they allow a daytime use? Again, it is possible to do that without telling them the life story of your sexual pursuits. Like us, they wouldn't really care. But for some reason you feel compelled to make that the main issue!

Bugswife: I'm not sure what you mean: If I'm just looking for a place to have sex there are specific hotels for this?
What if I want to talk? Or cuddle? Do we have to declare our intentions upon checking in?
We do want a place that is nice, that we can use a base from which to go to dinner, walk around, etc.

Patrick:
ouch!
A pox upon your head!

An obvious answer is that you pay for the previous night and then you can check in anytime that morning. I actually have done this when flying overnight to Europe so that I don't have to wander around all day before showering, etc. when I arrive in the morning.

reserve an Amex fine hotel and resorts property,

Noon check-in is one of the amenities

What you are using the room for is immaterial - except of course to you.

The answer is - to be sure you can get into the room as soon as you arrive - you will have to take it from the night before. In fact, it might be cheaper to rent it from the night before and ask for an late check out - if they're not full they may grant this free - or for a reduced fee.

Otherwise, pick a very large hotel with a big turnover (ir the Hilton on 6th or the Sheraton on7th or the Marriott Marquis) - then you have the best chance of getting into your room early. But do call them to check they're not full due to a convention or something.

Otherwise you may have to do a restaurant lunch before checking in.

How interesting when someone says "a pox upon your head" but makes no effort to refute the obvious truths to all the claims made. Is the pox a punishment for figuring out what you are all about here?

sos you are so full of it. why not stick to real travel questions.

SOS - I am really not understanding your reply to my posting to you. I merely said that if you need a place to shower and change, I can tell you how to do that. I think you assumed I was talking about a hotel. What I was thinking was that you could go to Chelsea Piers and pay for a day pass ($50 each). You can use the gym, cafe, spa, etc. And--of couse their outstanding locker room and shower facilities. They also have a terrific indoor pool and hot tub that overlooks the Hudson and has views of the Statue of Liberty. Or, if you are a member of NY Sports clubs, you can use any of their outposts as well. I do not, however, have any information with regard to having sex in the club.

PS to other travelers: If you are a member of NY Sports anywhere in the tri-state area, you can walk into any of their facilities and use the restrooms while you are touring the city.

Bugswife, isn't it clear? Everything SOS says is related to sex. She's the one making an issue of this, no one else is. If she had asked about day use of a hotel and let it go at that, there would not have been an issue, but she insisted on telling us the intimate details of her kids and their reaction to "an overnighter" and ranting on and on about the adult nature of their stay, husbands who are cruel, the difference of sex in the night as opposed to the daytime, etc. Huh? Who cares, except her?

If I understand correctly, you don't plan on staying overNIGHT at all yet you're prepared to pay the price for a room for the night. So...book the room for the day before you intend on using it and request a late check out on the following day is one option.