found a great deal with Expedia for the Ramada Plaza New Yorker. Midtown in New York. How close is this to shopping and Times square? I'm picking between this hotel Ramada Plaza New Yorker and the Renaissance. The Ramada is of course much cheaper, but how is is for location, location. Shopping, theater, Christmas sight seeing vs. Renaissance? Thanks fodorites, you all provide a great wealth of information.

Read the reviews on tripadvisor. One writes
"Some of the surrounding neighborhood is intimidating after dark, but you can find that anywhere in NY. Overall, it was a nice stay. You get what you pay for!"

Another writes
"Leave all your valuables in the hotel safety deposit boxes as the neighboorhood is not giving much safety feeling at evening hours. The hotel has very dirty corridors and is smelling like hell. It badly needs a renovations as it looks as from the 50's with obsolete furniture, ACs and bathroom."

And another
"If your hotel is going to be a large part of your trip you should stay elsewhere or if you want something with a "just off the interstate" feel try the Days hotel on 48th. Thats not an insult some people like to know what they're getting. "

Yes, to a certain degree I've taken these comments out of context. Many people feel it's a reasonable price/value relationship but YOU said in your other thread cost doesn't matter and you want a NY experience. This ain't what you're looking for.

You are right, cost doesn't matter, however my cheapness keeps sneaking through when I see a good deal. I just have to remember you get what you pay for!

Generally, RUN when you see the word "Ramada."

I stayed there in December 2002, so there may have been changes. Overall, I found it not great, but not too bad for New York for what was charged either. I think some of the Tripadvisor comments above about the neighborhood and it "smelling like hell" are way overstated.

It is a large, tall hotel (claims to have been the largest in the world when it was opened) and I hear many of the rooms have great views of the Empire State Building which is just a couple of blocks away. (Mine didn't, although I could see some short stretches of the Hudson River and New Jersey in between some uninteresting buildings.) The lobby area and restaurants and shops connected to it are large, busy and attractive and give quite a different impression from the upstairs hallways.

Those hallways, though, were truly, shockingly shabby, although I don't remember any offensive smell. The room was very small, but that is common in New York. It and its furnishings were basic, and not very contemporary as noted above, but in much better condition than the hallways. I particularly remember the bathroom as being clean, pleasant and well equipped. It was cold when I was there and I remember the room (and the bathroom) as being very effectively heated.

The location isn't that bad. The immediate surroundings are discount stores, busy during the day, not much so at night, but not a slum. I didn't see any particular reason to be fearful there more than one should use appropriate caution anyewhere in Manhattan. If one wants to be close to the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden or Macy's, it's a prime location. Times Square is not really close but walkable, 12-15 blocks, and the subway close by.

I'll probably try Priceline next time, or pay more for something more attractive, but when a good rate was of prime importance, and Priceline wasn't delivering at it, I wouldn't rule out going back to the New Yorker. (I'll ask for one of those Empire State Building views though!)