family hotel near times square

Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 03:50 AM
  #1  
mikki
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family hotel near times square

Can anyone recommend a nice hotel for a family w/young children (under age 10)? We would like a breakfast included and maybe a pool. We will be doing the touristy things...museums, broadway show, ellis island, etc.in July. What would be the best (convenient) area to be in? Thanks in advance for your responses!
 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 06:20 AM
  #2  
angela
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I can suggest 2 hotels in the area, the Hilton Times Square (very new just finished in august 2000) which I recently stayed at and the Doubletree Guest hotel 1 block away which i used to stay at.

HOWEVER, I do not recommend either or anything in this area for that matter for a family visit to NY. This is a rather sedy area and I only stay here when I have to for business, when I come for pleaure with husband we stay elsewhere. The Times Square area is very DIRTY and rundown. after dark there are people selling drugs on street corners and more pickpockets than you can imagine!!!!

I would suggest something on the upper east or west side as both are very safe and nice. I'm sure the upper west side is less expensive but this is a more residential area with less acitivty and restaurants also less convenient for getting around and seeing sights other than Central Park. i prefer the upper East side. there are all levels of hotels from the ritz and Plaza right on down. I prefer the Swisshotel (moderate to expensive by NY standards but not deluxe expensive) on 57th and Park Avenue due to the great location. I block to Bloomingdales and other shopping, 1 block to a major subway stop, 3 or blocks to museums. It is very safe and cleanand plenty of restaurants and stores nearby. If this hotel is out of your price range, I suggest lookng it up to find its location and lookng for other hotels in that area!
 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 06:57 AM
  #3  
Patrick
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Angela, are you talking about the same New York City that I visit a lot? The one in New York State between the Hudson and the East River? The last time I saw open selling of drugs in Manhattan was in front of the Lincoln Center on the upper West Side. Yes, there are pickpockets all over New York as there are in any city, but I have understood the most adept ones hang out among the shoppers on Fifth Avenue, where I did see a purse snatching incident one day. Times Square could be accused of being a little too tacky or touristy, but it is hardly what I would call seedy. If the family plans to attend Broadway shows it is likely that you will pass along some sex shops and things along Eighth Avenue, and the heart of Times Square itself but they are all cleaned up and gone from the "new" 42nd Street area of Times Square. The Times Square Hilton is built above a brand new generic sort of family entertainment complex and food court and across the street are more family type businesses and entertainment venues. Mikki, do not let Angela scare you. I would highly recommend the Times Square area as the best location for you, although I'm not sure that any of the hotels have pools.
 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 07:09 AM
  #4  
jill
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Mikki,
I totally agree with Patrick. Times Square may indeed be touristy as Patrick said, but I would not call it seedy, dirty or rundown. There are a great many restaurants and attractions in the area that are geared toward families. The area is appropriate for a family vacation.
 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 07:19 AM
  #5  
rqf
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Except for the information about hotels strongly recommend you pay no attentionn to Angela's comments about the Times Square area. I don't recognize the Times Square describes. It is not seedy and it is not dirty. It is not rundown and drug dealing is not rampant. Times Square may be too glitzy for everyone's taste but her depiction of the area is far from truth. Since more than 30 million people visited the city last year is is to be expected that are a number of disgruntled visitors.
As for hotels. Not too many have pools.
Doubletree would be a good choice - don't know about a pool. There is a hotel on W. 57th that has a pool and is affordable. It changed ownership recently and I think it is now a Holiday Inn.
Read Patrick'note carefully - he is right on the money.
 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 07:55 AM
  #6  
annK
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Mikki the Times Square in the early post was the Times Square of years ago, but ALL that has changed, all of the seedy "theatres" on 42nd st are done, torn down and have been replaced by movie theatres, Maddame Trousant (spellling?) Wax Museum, a great food court (we go to there all the time) a new broadway theatre and lots of restaurants.

There are several hotels in the area, and I would recommend the Holiday Inn, just north of Times Square as a good location, not sure about the pool though, not alot of indoor pools here. If you are going to be here for a week or so during the summer, you may want to try Fire Island or Jones Beach for a day, both easily accessable on the Long Island Railroad, (we do that almost everyweekend). And of course there's Coney Island (but that area is a little rundown).

I would also suggest the Dupont Suites which is on 34th between Lex and 3rd Ave as a good location, and you get a bit more room with a suite hotel.

I will do a bit of research and see if I can come up with a name or two of hotels that have pools.

 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 08:08 AM
  #7  
MARA
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Although you may want to stay by Times Square there are other options. If you can get or go on line to see the Sunday New York Times, the travel section always has New York City hotels listed. They run specials each week, some may offer breakfast and some may offer free parking. Look in to this it may help. As with Times Square being seedy & run-down, it has changed a lot over the last few years.. It has gotten a lot better. Hope this helps
 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 09:35 AM
  #8  
Caitlin
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Re the above post, the online edition of the NY Times travel section does not include the advertising that's in the hard-copy version. If you want to stay in the immediate Times Square area, I doubt you'll find a hotel with a pool, and there are not all that many with pools in general. I know people have mentioned one with a pool near the UN; does anyone remember which hotel this is? Also, re breakfast included, you're more likely to find that with the mid-price chains (like Holiday Inn) or independent hotels; most in town do not include breakfast. It would help if you could give an idea of your approximate budget; also, are you wanting two adjoining rooms, one room with extra beds, or a suite situation? Some suite hotels (including the Dumont Plaza, mentioned above) include kitchenettes, which makes having breakfastat the hotel a breeze. As the posters above have said, Times Square is plenty touristy now but not overly seedy--and plenty of police presence, no drug dealing. The biggest problem you'll likely encounter staying there is noisiness at night.
 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 10:22 AM
  #9  
beth
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I'm not so sure i agree with the others. Times Square is definitely better than it used to be but i still wouldn't call it a "family" atmosphere. I stayed at the Hilton Times Square with my husband during the United Nations meeting in September (all other hotels were booked) I agree there is a very nice food court next door and right across the street is a huge vidoe game entertainment center perfect for the family. If however you walk out the back door of the hotel you are right by the bus station with several undesirables hanging out here. if you do stay in this area, don't let anyone out on their own after dark!
 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 10:34 AM
  #10  
Chris
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It doesn't offer breakfast and there's no pool, so why am I recommending you check out the Mayflower Hotel on the Park? Because in spite of the lukewarm reviews the hotel receives from Fodor's and other sites, it is an affordable, convenience, quiet and excellent choice for a family visit. I discovered it by word of mouth from another friend who was referred by ANOTHER friend. You can get a big room or suite, and it's worth facing the park for the beautiful views. The subway is right on the corner, with a straight shot to Ellis Island. Times Square is a ten minute walk away and perfectly safe, night or day. Central Park is directly across the street and that's wonderful if you have kids. The Museum of Natural History is a ten minute, beautiful walk up the road. And there are coffee shops and affordable places to eat on nearby corners. It's a convenient oasis in the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.
 
Old Feb 23rd, 2001, 08:33 PM
  #11  
Karen
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In two different week long stays in Times Square, I didn't see any drug dealing, panhandling or pickpockets...the only highly visible presence on all streets were police. Times Square is very busy, full of people, but we never felt anything but safe. Doubletree Guest Suites was a very good hotel for us, but did not offer breakfast with the room rate.
 
Old Feb 24th, 2001, 11:21 AM
  #12  
mikki
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Thank you all for the helpful responses. I wil not limit myself to looking at Times Sq. but I will not shy away either. We will also need a place to stay for 1-2 nights on L.I. We will be visiting friends in Westhampton. Any suggestions? Thanks again!!!
 
Old Feb 24th, 2001, 01:03 PM
  #13  
laura
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I was in Times Square this past tues. and was pleasantly surprised by the change since my last visit there yrs ago. It has been cleaned up beautifully, so don't worry , mikki
 
Old Feb 25th, 2001, 09:09 PM
  #14  
deb
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My 18 year old daughter and I are going to New York in May. We wanted to stay in Times Square area because she wanted to be by the place where they do the
TRL, MTV. Has anyone stayed at the Comfort Inn or Days Inn??
 
Old Feb 26th, 2001, 03:26 AM
  #15  
rqf
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Days Inn is conveniently located with regard to MTV studio - a five minute walk. I have never stayed there (live in NYC) but have read reviews, in the past, that were favorable. It is one block west of Broadway and the northern end of Times Square area.
 

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