Hotel help for NYC
 

I want to use some rewards points for an upcoming stay in New York City. My choices are The Best Western Presidential Hotel at Times Square, The Westin New York at Times Square, or The Sheraton Manhatten at Times Square. Any advice?? Also, is the simplest way to get there from JFK airport by taxi and, if so, what would it roughly cost? Thanks for your help.

I think the fare between JFK and Manhattan is a flat rate of $45 plus tolls and tip. You can probably google to confirm at an official website

The Sheraton Manhattan is not in Times Square; it's in the 50s, but it's a decent large hotel, as is the Westin. Neither is very exciting but the locations are good. I'd probably opt for the Sheraton. The Best Western President is also ok but would probably be my third choice.

Take a taxi or don't. That's really your decision. If I'm traveling alone, I never take a taxi. I always take the Airtrain/LIRR combo or the NY Airport bus. You can also take a shared van service to your hotel, but this sometimes takes a long time because it makes several stops. It also costs about 1/4 the price of a taxi. So I guess the short answer is that a taxi is somewhat easy but also quite expensive.

A taxi from JFK to any of these hotels will cost a flat rate of $45 + any tolls (probably $5) + tip (drivers expect about 20% or more). I generally plan on spending $60 or $65 on this trip, depending on how helpful the taxi driver is.

The BW President is sort of a dump. The Sheraton is well located but in desperate need of renovation. The Westin is far and away the nicest hotel of the 3. It happens to sit across from the Port Authority bus terminal so if you're traveling alone or as a couple and want to save a few $$$, take the Express Airport but to Port Authority for $15/person and walk across the street. A taxi from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan is $45 plus toll and tip or about $60 in total. http://www.nyairportservice.com/ You should avoid the shared vans that drop people at their hotels (especially for the Westin). Aside from taking forever, buses and drivers are not reliable.

I would stay at the hotel with the cheapest rate.

My gay friends, who live in Florida, always stay at the President when they come to NYC for Gay Pride in June. They have been staying at this hotel for 17 years. They like it for the convenience and the low rate for a suite.


If there are at least two of you, I would take a taxi to the hotel. If you are alone, have almost no luggage, are an intrepid traveller, and want to save a few bucks, I would take the Skytrain/LIRR. That combo will be about $10 per person. A taxi to your hotel from Penn Station should be around $8.

Thin

My gay friends would never stay in a dump, McClaurie. The President is not the St. Regis, but I don't think it is in the same category as something like the Milford Plaza.

Thin

Thin, this poster is using <B><red>POINTS</b></red> for a <B>free</B> rewards stay. It's not about price as I understand it. I get that the BW President is a bit funky and it's cheap, but have a look at the rooms at the 2 hotels and then tell me, if they're both free, which would you choose?

So sorry. Did not see POINTS.

I would stay at the Westin if I had points.

Thin, pointless

Are we talking about the President Hotel on West 48th? I was told that hotel's rooms were totally redone recently. Here are some pictures of the room. Why wouldn't I (or anyone) want to stay in those rooms? Mostly they are sort of junior suites, I believe, and spacious by NY standards as well as very stylish.

http://www.bestwesternnewyork.com/ho...-times-square/

I SWEAR that Lee and Patrick were NOT my friends from Florida who stayed at the President. :)

Thin

A cab from JFK to Manhattan is a flat fee of $45 - with bridge or tunnel toll and tip (20% of fare but not toll) for a total ofa bout $60. Yu an also take a shuttle bus to the city for abuout $18 and walk or take a cab t oyuor hotel. You an to Air train and subway for T7.25 - but it will take much longer and you will have to tote your luggage up and down several flights of stairs.

nytraveler, I might disagree with that last part about luggage.
There are no escalators (and elevators) at JFK to get to the AirTrain, and there are elevators at the changing point to the Subway. Depending on your final destination, there may be none there either. I did the AirTrain and then the E train to less than a block from my apartment, less than an hour (last time I did a taxi it took longer than that) and there were elevators AND escalators at my final stop at 50th and 8th. I literally did not have to lift my luggage once! Of course at some final stops there might be stairs only.

Hey, Thin, would it bother you if we WERE your friends from Florida? LOL
I've never stayed at the Preident, but just ate lunch a couple days ago at the adjoining Saigon 48. Coming out of the restrooms into the hotel lobby, I noted a nice display of pictures of the redone rooms and was very impressed. The lobby looks quite chic too. I didn't realize it was a Best Western. That fact didn't seem evident from the signage of the hotel.

"There are no escalators (and elevators) at JFK to get to the AirTrain"

Really? Maybe I'm unclear on your meaning. My experience moving from the airline terminal to the AirTrain involved pedestrian bridges between the two and/or elevators. But as NeoPatrick states, it's anyone's guess what you'll find at your destination.

Sorry, Patrick but there ARE elevators at JFK for the Airtrain. I have taken them over the years. The last time was when I came home from my trip to Paris in November, 2008.

And there are definitely escalators at Jamaica Station for the LIRR.

Thin

Wow, ellenem, that took me a minute before I realized my typo. Yes, of course I MEANT to say there ARE elevators and escalators at JFK to AirTrain. I have no idea how that "no" got in there. I think I had started to say "there are NO stairs", but changed the direction midstream and screwed it up. That was my whole point -- that to many destinations you don't encounter any stairs at all.

I just saw something interesting about Manhattan's two Sheratons. Starwood is about to pull the Sheraton brand-name from the Sheraton Manhattan. In the coming months it will be an independently operated no-name-brand hotel operated by Starwood. It may eventually be torn down or drastically remodeled. The Sheraton New York is undergoing a $90 million rehab. So mclaurie's warnings about that hotel seem to be well-founded. Better opt for the Westin unless you want a lower-rise hotel like the Best Western President.

I've noted the much bad-mouthed Milford Plaza is closed for a huge renovation for something like a year and a half. I suspect when it is done it will be another "expensive" hotel.

I hope they don't tear down the Sheraton Manhattan. IMO it has the best indoor hotel pool in NYC - really huge.

I have stayed in both Starwood properties and I agree the Westin Times Square is a much better hotel.

We just took the Air Train + subway from JFK to the Hyatt last weekend with 1 suitcase and 1 tote bag. Very easy, we were at the hotel in slightly over an hour and it was $14.50 for 2 of us. Everything was very well marked.

I too would pick the Westin.

Your replies have been very helpful. Thanks!

Luggage toting for the Air Train subway route depends on which stations you use. there are elevators at the Air Train end - but most subway stations in Manhattan have stairs only - usually narrow, steep and often 2 or 3 flights. Escalators are fine when they're working (usually) but at few stations and elevators are fairly rare and often out of order.

Sorry - length of trip depends on day of week and time of day. I've done it from midtown Manhattan to JFK in 30 minutes - but if you hit bad traffic/accident it can easily take an hour - or rarely more. Air Train and subway - depending on time of day can be an hour to an hour and a half.