Help Me Decide Between Two New York Hotels?
 

DD and I are coming to New York May 22nd--29th, seven nights. I have reservations at two hotels and can't decide which one will best suit our needs. So where else to turn but Fodor's?

The choices:

Hilton Garden Inn--Chelsea: two queen beds, small refrigerator, microwave, free wi-fi

or

Staybridge Suites Times Square: two double beds, full kitchen, free wi-fi, free breakfast.

Our plans include four Broadway shows, The Met and the Cloisters, the Tenement Museum, a food tour in Greenwich Village, Ellis Island, Chinatown, Top of the Rock, Central Park, etc. (not necessarily in that order).

The Staybridge is approximately $100 more per night. I know we wouldn't spend that much eating breakfast, but perhaps the location alone makes it worth it? Discuss...

Hilton Garden Inn--Chelsea
121 West 28th St (b/t 6th & 7th Aves)


Staybridge Suites Times Square
340 West 40th St (b/t 8th & 9th Aves)

I assume you are going to travel by subway? Otherwise, cabs will be expensive and being near the theater would be better. Chelsea is a great location for restaurants, etc., and Times Square is a zoo but it can be a zoo in a good way depending on what you like. I assume you've checked trip advisor for reviews of both?

Yes, we will be traveling by subway, except to and from the airport. The Staybridge is rated pretty high on TA, something like #27 out of 440 properties.

vjpblovesitaly: Trip Advisor is offering discounts on both hotels. Staybridge Suites is a little more 'buzzy'; both get excellent reviews and although I'm not sure Staybridge Suites is worth the extra money to me, it might be to you. Check over on oyster.com for more photos of both hotels. You'll have to decide if you want to be so close to Times Square for your extended stay. The crowds can get to you after a while!

It looks like the Staybridge is near the Port Authority Bus Terminal, not an area I would stay in.

Why stay in the middele of all the crazies when you can wonder around nice tree lined streets in Chelsea?

I've never stayed in either hotel ( I live here) but I know the locations. I would pick the Hilton Garden Inn
For $700 difference (100 per night) you could take taxis all over the city and eat breakfast (and some other meals) anywhere!

From the theater district it's just a 5 minute subway ride (2-3 local stops) that takes you to the exact block where the Hilton Garden Inn is. You can also take a simple 10-15 minute bus ride if you prefer. Not the prettiest block, by the way, as it in the middle of the wholesale flower area,but still convenient and safe. The Staybridge is on a less pleasant block in (my opinion) a less pleasant immediate area

Well, that's why I'm asking for input. The last time I was in New York was 1999 for a much shorter, much different type of trip. I have never been in Chelsea at all so it's hard to compare.

Three or four years ago, I'd have really avoided that 40th and 8th Street location near Port Authority. But that area has cleaned up considerably. Love the huge new Dean and Deluca right at the corner of 40th and 8th in the new Times building. It is hardly what anyone would call Times Square either, but a walk up either 8th or 9th Avenues will find you a huge array of really good, inexpensive, neighborhood type restaurants of all ethnic varieties.

If they were the same price, I might take Staybridge over Hilton, but I don't think I'd pay $100 more per night for it!

Well, I'll probably be the only dissenting opinion here but I'd chose the Staybridge Suites. The #1 reason? You are going to 4 Broadway shows in 7 nights. There may be a matinee in there but the majority of the nights you're there you can be in walking distance of your hotel - or not. If I were traveling with a DD that would be a BIG plus. Would it be worth $100 more? Probably. Maybe. Let's see if we can get the $100 down...

Okay, the breakfasts. You may only want a coffee and banana in the morning but if you want to eat a breakfast you're saving probably $20 a day. You didn't mention the evening receptions. If you eat a large lunch while you are out and about, you may get away with buying only one meal a day. That evening reception and having sodas/water/snacks in the room may save you another $20 a day. I know that the other hotel offers microwave and small fridge. The location of the SS is more in the middle of what you want to do and you could more easily stop by to rest or whatever during the day. Regarding the location - bwino spent almost a month there in winter and LOVED the location. As Neo says, that area has changed a good bit in the last few years. I like Times Square AREA hotels because it make navigating the city easier and quicker. Midtown is more centrally located. When I'm staying on the UWS (for free) I love the apartment and I do love the neighborhood feel...but it DOES take me twice as long to get to the Village than it would if I were staying in Midtown. Based on the list of the things you plan to do, Midtown is a good fit. So, there's a possibility that the $100 more is more like $50 - $60 more. Is it worth it in travel time? To me it would be. Others would give an opposite answer.

Can you get the rate down lower? Did you book using a AAA rate? If not, join AAA and you'll save 10% immediately. Keep an eye out and check the rates periodically and if they drop, rebook at the new rate. OR just call and talk to the hotel manager and tell them you're situation and see if they would adjust the rate to match the HGI. For a weekend, they probably wouldn't. For a week rental? There's a chance he would.

Plus one of my favorite restaurants is a couple of blocks away. It's great for pre-theater meals. It's been over a year since I've eaten there but about a dozen people have posted positive reviews of their experience here in the last year. Good food, great service, wonderful space and a location that can't be beat for a meal before (or drinks and dessert after) a Broadway show. www.westbankcafe.com

What rates do you have? The HGI/Chelsea is coming up at $329 for a 2 bedded room and $344 for the Bed and Breakfast Rate. The SS is coming up as $357 or $349 AAA (definitely not a 10% savings). But what's coming up tonight in a search is within $20 difference. Maybe you got a killer rate at the HGI?

I would not pick the Staybridge - but as a native I loathe Times Square - and much prefer areas that are more livable and have better restaurant choices. You can get several very nice dinners for $700.

That said - I have never seen either hotel (since I live here the only ones I see are those that either have industry events or at which I'm hosting a meeting - and they're much different types of hotels.)

No question that the Staybridge is closer to Boradway theaters, If being able to walk there and back after a show is the most important thing to you, then it is the better choice. If you were coming n winter, that might be enough reason to stay closer to where you'll be some evenings. And where will you be the other evenings?

And then again, the Hilton Garden Inn which is a little farther downtown then is closer to your other activities "the Tenement Museum, a food tour in Greenwich Village, Ellis Island, Chinatown"

To me the difference in price is more than big enough to offset any need to take a few taxis and eat breakfast out if you want.Would you be interested in a cooked breakfast everyday? You might or might not. And many visitors to NYC are so busy running around that they won't be going back to their hotel for snacks and drinks (which could be had for very little money anyway, especially if you have a fridge and microwave).


I don't think either neighborhood or specific hotel will be bad, but $700 will get both of you some nice souvenirs of the city (or just some extra cash in the bank)

Thanks to all for their input--it is greatly appreciated!

Of the four Bdwy shows, two are matinees and two are evening performances.

As for rates, the HGI ranges from $206/night to $233/night for the weekend, then back to $206 (plus taxes). The SS ranges from $279 to $324 (weekend--it's Memorial Day) and back to $225. Both are AAA rates (I'm a big fan) and were booked months ago. I figured the exact price difference and it is $524.41; I apologize for mis-remembering.

Also, I am aware that eating breakfast every day in the hotel could be a tad boring and not adventuresome in the least and perhaps we would welcome an excuse for some exploring and more variety.

As for the evening activities the nights we aren't doing a show, we haven't really figured that out yet...probably at least one outstanding dinner, but other than that, we are trying to be flexible and have fun with our trip.

Thanks again! This is such an awesome resource!

If you are comfortable navigating the city via subway, save the money. If this is your first visit, stay at the Staybridge. Virtually every local on this board will say to stay anywhere BUT Times Square. The SS isn't really IN what most people think of "Times Square" but extremely convenient to the shows and midtown activities. I spent years using an apartment at 8th and 50th as my base for the city so I'm a real fan of that area. LOTS of people choose to live there - even over other "more neighborhood-y" areas of the city. It's all personal preference. If you were moving to NYC you may choose a "neighborhood" over Midtown...but then again, maybe not. I've split visits between hotels within blocks of your HGI and in Midtown. If navigating the city via subway or bus comes as easily to you as locals, then $500 is a no brainer. I just really love staying in Midtown, especially if I were going 4 shows in 7 nights so I'd pick the SS. But do check with the hotel manager to see if you can get the price adjusted down. They have rates that don't show up in search engines if you don't have the codes. If you want to see at the SS, see what the hotel can do for you.

Thanks, starrs--I really appreciate your thoughts...this has presented a real quandary for me. This will actually be my 4th visit, it's just that it's been a long time since the most recent one. We are okay with using the subway, and $500 IS a lot of money when it comes right down to it.

I had been planning on asking for input here all along, but thought I had pretty much decided on the SS until this past weekend when I stayed at a couple of Hilton Garden Inns (in Texas). It was my first time staying at one of their properties and I was impressed. So then I started questioning myself! This definitely qualifies as a First World vacation problem!

The truth is you're not going to spend that much time in your hotel room at all. I will say that all the HGI's I've stayed at have been quite nice; the rooms have been adequately sized, not nearly as small as some NYC hotel rooms are noted for. Why not save that $500.00 for airfare for another trip to somewhere new? Have a great time no matter what you decide!

musicfan, I really like Hilton Garden Inns. They are very nice properties. I chose them when I got to pick a place for meetings (that people flew in for) and they have the little market next to the front desk where you can buy snacks, drinks and even things to zap in the microwave for dinner. If you are comfortable naviagating back to your hotel after shows, it's a great choice. I don't know how old DD is but I know my Mom HATED walking back to the Grand Hyatt after a show (we couldn't get a taxi as we had planned). NYC is safe, so there's no problem with walking or taking the subway back - it just depends on your comfort level. It sounds like you will be very comfortable heading back after the show. If so, save the money. BUT if you think you'd like the SS, call the hotel to see if they can bring the rate down. I'll be looking for discount codes in the interim for you. It sounds like a great trip! Looking forward to the trip report :-)