Hi All,
I've been doing my research on where to stay when I go to New York (so much that I'm almost cross-eyed now from all the internet use!) and I think I've finally narrowed it down a bit.

I was reccomended to stay in the Midtown/Theater District area of town, but I've found a place I like the look of that's in the Upper West Side. My guide book tells me this area is "an architectural wonder" but doesn't give much help on the general feel and vibe of the area..what's it like? Is it much quieter round there? Are the subway links just as useful? Are there bars for evening entertainment?!

(Sorry if these are all seemingly obvious or stupid questions by the way, but they're relevant for certain areas of the city I live in, so just checking if New York is the same!)

Also, does anybody have an personal experience or opinions of these hotels - good or bad, it'd all be very gratefully received:

1. Hotel Belleclaire
2. Ameritania Hotel
3. Flatotel
4. The Belvedere

Cheers!

Luda, tripadvsior.com is the place to go to find out what others say about the hotels you're considering. Here's a link to reviews on the Belleclaire.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._New_York.html

While most of the reviews are good, one person described it as a step up from a hostel. That person checked out & moved to the Milburne nearby and was happier. Beware that there are some rooms at the Belleclaire with shared bath rather than private.

The Upper West side is a very nice area to stay. It's more residential than midtown so it's filled with restaurants, groceries etc. that cater to people who live in the neighborhood. While it is less frenetic than Times Square, it's still lively at night with people out and about. Plenty of bars on Columbus and Amsterdam Aves. You'll find many more locals than tourists. Transportation is good.

People on this board have also mentioned the Belvedere (you might try doign a text search here). The reviews are mostly good on tripadvisor, but rooms sound small.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._New_York.html

The Belevedere location is closer to Times Square but not in the middle of the hubbub.

If you're interested in staying on the upper west side, other decent hotels in that area are the Beacon, the Lucerne, the Excelsior and On the Avenue. Prices may be higher at these-I'm not sure.

Have a great time.

We stayed at the Excelsior in March and was very pleased (it's just by the Natural History Museum and near to several subway and bus lines). And some friends stayed at On the Ave, which has had mixed reviews, but they liked it.

We got a good rate on quikbook.com.

Thanks guys.
Can anybody tell me more about the Upper West Side area and what sort of feel it has? Are there plenty of bars and restaurants around or is it the sort of place that's very quiet after dark??

The Upper West Side is a wonderful area and as a poster above said more residential but there are lots of restaurants,bars, cafes and shops. I think it is a great location unless you prefer the 24/7 hecticness of Times Square.

If you're worried the area will be too quiet at night, don't worry! There's lots of activity. There's a big Sony multiplex movie theater (it houses the IMAX screen), lots of restaurants & bars (the food will be somewhat more affordable than in midtown), shops big & small (there's a big Pottery barn store). There's a comedy club called Stand UP NY on west 78th st. Lincoln Center (theater, opera, ballet & concerts) is located here too.

Try doing a search here for Upper West side. There have been previous strings on the area.