My husband and I have the opportunity to spend a weekend in New York. We'd like to visit Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Central Park, Broadway, and take a Circle Line Cruise. We're looking for a hotel that is walking distance from some of the above mentioned sites, but we also want it to be near some good bars & mid-priced restaurants. We can choose between the Best Western President Hotel, the Metropolitan Hotel, Gorham NY, Omni Berkshire, and Best Western Woodward. Which of these are the nicest and/or have the best location? Thanks in advance for your advice!

The recently renovated Omni Berkshire is in a different category from the others you mentioned...it's a four diamond hotel. I'd choose it in a heartbeat if the price was similar.

We just got back from New York on Sunday and I have to tell you we stayed at the best hotel in midtown. It has huge rooms, is relatively cheap and is where a lot of celebrities stay b/c of the huge suites the hotel has on the top floors. It's the Rihga Royal on W 54 and 7th and is in walking distance to all what you mentioned (we went to a concert at Radio City Music Hall Thur night). We payed $220 a night -- well worth it. We had a suite -- huge room, huge bathroom. And we did see 2 celebrities!

Thanks for the input. We can get a sizeable discount on the 5 hotels I listed. The Best Western President will cost $105/night while the Omni is $188/night. We can afford the Omni if it is worth the $83 extra.

Pam, I'd do the BW, based on the price and think of the meals you can have with the per day savings. Afterall you are going to be in the room to mainly sleep and be out all day long.

The BW is close to everything and easy to get to all the major attractions.

Also you might add a trip on the Staten Island Ferry at dusk to see the city lights comming up and the Statue of Liberty.

Have a great time.

Go on the 7pm, 2 hour circle line cruise. The host gives an informative description of everything and you circle the Statue of Liberty and return to pier 42(?) just after dark. We thought is was the best $20.00 each that we spent. The taxi fare from theatre district is about $6.oo

The Righa Royal has been the JW Marriott for several months now...

Thanks Joann; we'll do that. I didn't realize there was a 2hr tour that late in the evening.

Any other tips on the sites we wanted to see?

Pam,

We only walked through Rockefeller center square at night--just couldn't get up and out early enough to see Katie, Matt, Al and Ann. My 18 yr old daughter had toured Radio City with a school group 3 years ago and liked it so much she insisted on going again and taking my husband. She loved the architecture and ornate bathrooms and both were facinated by the mechanics of stages, curtains etc. Everything was set up for the Tony awards the next day.
We stayed at the Doubletree on Broadway--it is a very congested area but fun. The TKTS booth lines can be very long--I waited for Two hours on a Friday afternoon, only to discover they didn't have any tickets for my first choice show (Chicago). We saw "Kiss Me Kate"
instead and thought is was the best of four shows we saw. Monday night "Chicago" was available even at 6pm when there was no line. If you want to see a play, are not too particular, and since you only have a few days, I wouldn't waste any time in TKTS line--just go at 5 or 6 when the line is short or non-existent and there seems to still be a good selection. When walking, remember that the "street" blocks are very short (from 47st to 42nd st. in 5 min), but the "avenue" blocks are much longer. Also, if you plan to use bus/subway, you can buy one Metro card and both use it.

Pam:

I just got back from NY and I stayed at the Gorham. I really enjoyed it. My friends and I shared a suite. The staff was very helpful. Also, it was within walking distance to Rockerfeller Center, Central Park and many other things. I would also suggest you go on the Circle Line Cruise at night. It was just wonderful. I would say it was the best $20.00 I ever spent! Enjoy!

Snipped from another reply:

Also, if you plan to use bus/subway, you can buy one Metro card and both use it

This only applies to a Metro Card where you pay full fare (1.50). Discount fare Metro cards ($4 Fun Pass, $17 unlimited ride card) can only be used by one person. If a second person wanted to use it that person would have to wait out a time delay - I think it is 20 minutes.

Thanks for all of the great information! One last question... We're flying into Newark International. What are my alternatives to taking a cab (hotel estimates a taxi to be $60-$80). Is there a shuttle service that's reasonable cost and timewise; afterall, we only have a weekend and I don't want to spend it in traffic to/from the airport. How about the bus/subway? I'm thinking public transportation might be a pain with luggage. Any thoughts?

Olympia Airport Express - $11 a person. Takes you to bus terminal at 42nd and Broadway. From there a cab to the hotel.. Cost of cab to President around $3.50, about $5 for Woodward and Gorham . A few minutes to President, about five to other hotels. If you didn't have too much luggage you could walk to President. Fare to other hotels would be a few dollars more and cab ride under 10 minutes.
Express Shuttle USA - a shared mini van that would take you to the hotel - $14 a person. On demand at the airport. There is also the Super Shuttle $15 to $19 a person depending on where you are going in Manhattan. Also a mini van.
Bus to bus terminal and then cab to hotel - an hour or so.Other two would be an hour, maybe less, maybe more - depends on how many stops the van must make before getting to your hotel
Cost of taxi - fare based on zone can range from $34 to $55. Fare for you would be closer to $34. Must also pay a $6 tunnel toll and a turnpike toll - around $1. Tip extra. Would probably be the fastest way.Read a note recently from someone who took the taxi - said they had to pay the toll coming and going back even though there is no toll going back.
If you decide on a cab check with the dispatcher to determine what you are required to pay.

See discussion (incl. my message) about cab/car service vs. shuttle from Newark to Manhattan on this forum, search for thread entitled "Newark to Times Square"
(06/07/2001, 16:35 pm)

Short version: For more than one person, ESPECIALLY if you don't want to waste time, take a cab or car service, not
a shuttle service. Will cost about $50.00

Have used a car service from all major ny airports into the city---the one I usually use is COMPUTERCAR--they may even have an email address-I don't have their 800 no. around but they are located in Queens,NY and it's a 516 area code--If I remember last year-we paid $35 plus tols and tip from LaGuardia--Newark being further away from NYC would probably be $10 more--but call them--I even used them in the city to meet us after the theater to take us to dinner or back to the hotel-been using them for years.