Hotel in NYC
Oct 25th, 2017, 11:35 PM
#1
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Hotel in NYC
Two daughters and granddaughter, DH and I will be in NYC for a couple of nights, December 8 & 9. We will need two hotel rooms or a two room suite. Reason for trip is for DDs to take GD to the Nut Cracker, so a hotel convenient to the theater would be great. We are used to the subway in NY, but would prefer taxis for theater night. Would love $200-$300 range per room, but know that may not be possible at that time of year. Any recommendations will be much appreciated.
Oct 25th, 2017, 11:54 PM
#2
The Hampton Inn Times Square North has large rooms, big enough for four to share and is in a great location. A close walk but not in the craziness of Times Square itself.
http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hot...THX/index.html
This time last year I was at the Belvedere and fell in love. I've stayed in many a dozen hotels in Midtown West and it's my new favorite. Beautiful renovation of an art deco hotel. Big rooms. GREAT location! Just a short couple of blocks - I could see a sliver of neon from my window - from the theaters, but also quiet on the other side with a lovely pocket garden.
http://www.belvederehotelnyc.com/
But you said Nutcracker. There are more options much closer to Lincoln Center, although the Belvedere worked well for me (I was thrilled to go watch Misty Copeland dance!)
The LaQuinta at Central Park may have rates in that range. It had just switched from a Comfort Inn when I booked it (and changed) but the recent reviews look decent for a moderate property. People complaining about small rooms in Manhattan aren't frequent travelers to NYC. I also stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and THAT was a small room!
http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hot...THX/index.html
This time last year I was at the Belvedere and fell in love. I've stayed in many a dozen hotels in Midtown West and it's my new favorite. Beautiful renovation of an art deco hotel. Big rooms. GREAT location! Just a short couple of blocks - I could see a sliver of neon from my window - from the theaters, but also quiet on the other side with a lovely pocket garden.
http://www.belvederehotelnyc.com/
But you said Nutcracker. There are more options much closer to Lincoln Center, although the Belvedere worked well for me (I was thrilled to go watch Misty Copeland dance!)
The LaQuinta at Central Park may have rates in that range. It had just switched from a Comfort Inn when I booked it (and changed) but the recent reviews look decent for a moderate property. People complaining about small rooms in Manhattan aren't frequent travelers to NYC. I also stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and THAT was a small room!
Oct 26th, 2017, 12:33 AM
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That's a weekend. I think you may need to go up in price, but maybe not. I was fooling around on booking.com anyway, so I took a look. Most of the stuff that shows up in your price range seems to be in queens or Brooklyn.
I haven't stayed there, but fifty nyc in manhattan gets good reviews and has a junior suite- 2 queens and a sofa bed. 649 on Friday, 739 Saturday.
Love the exterior of the belvedere. 500/rm though. Thought that was expensive until I looked at the Hampton, 520/rm. ouch.
And once again my childhood dream of staying at the Plaza like Eloise has been crushed: $1200 a night.
I haven't stayed there, but fifty nyc in manhattan gets good reviews and has a junior suite- 2 queens and a sofa bed. 649 on Friday, 739 Saturday.
Love the exterior of the belvedere. 500/rm though. Thought that was expensive until I looked at the Hampton, 520/rm. ouch.
And once again my childhood dream of staying at the Plaza like Eloise has been crushed: $1200 a night.
Oct 26th, 2017, 12:50 AM
#4
That week in NYC is one of the most expensive weeks of the year. If you could switch your dates to the week AFTER Christmas, prices will drop. The city will still be decorated for Christmas and will be gorgeous. I stayed at the Belvedere in the low 200s, but it was a Hotwire bid. The HIX was just under $200. That was this week last year and October is an expensive week in NYC too. I did the blind bids on Hotwire but trust the satisfaction reviews, especially if they are over 90%. I never book anything under 80% but you may not be interested in taking that approach.
The Belvedere is $407 for that weekend with 2 adults and 2 children.
Using the Hot Rates option, there are several 4 and 4.5 star options in the $300s and even some 3.5 star in the 200s, but they are further away (lower Manhattan). I've always been satisfied with a 3.5 star hotel and higher ("lowest quality is Holiday Inn, HIX, etc) and never bid on anything less than 80% satisfaction. You can use betterbidding.com to get a prediction of what the actual property is. Book early if possible. My SIL used to take the girls up every year that week and stayed at a Central Park South property for their shopping trip - but her budget was much different than mine!
The Belvedere is $407 for that weekend with 2 adults and 2 children.
Using the Hot Rates option, there are several 4 and 4.5 star options in the $300s and even some 3.5 star in the 200s, but they are further away (lower Manhattan). I've always been satisfied with a 3.5 star hotel and higher ("lowest quality is Holiday Inn, HIX, etc) and never bid on anything less than 80% satisfaction. You can use betterbidding.com to get a prediction of what the actual property is. Book early if possible. My SIL used to take the girls up every year that week and stayed at a Central Park South property for their shopping trip - but her budget was much different than mine!
Oct 26th, 2017, 10:17 AM
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YOu can get the Hudson or the Empire, both near Lincoln Center, for about $350 per double room on those dates. You can get the One Sixty which is a good location (not sure about the hotel, not my style) for cheaper. But if the Belvedere is only $400 a night for 2 rooms, that's great.
Oct 26th, 2017, 02:25 PM
#7
Try to get a hotel within walking distance of Lincoln Center.
With 5 people you will probably have to take two taxis. Will you be going to an afternoon or evening performance? Getting taxis after an evening performance can be a real PITA. (But you do have the subway right there at LC.)
With 5 people you will probably have to take two taxis. Will you be going to an afternoon or evening performance? Getting taxis after an evening performance can be a real PITA. (But you do have the subway right there at LC.)
Oct 26th, 2017, 03:18 PM
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My "go-to" in NYC is the Pod 51; you might also look at its sister, the Pod 39. Less expensive than many NYC hotels, they offer some nice amenities, even though the rooms are small and rather basic.
https://thepodhotel.com
https://thepodhotel.com
Oct 26th, 2017, 04:26 PM
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Thank you everyone for every suggestion. They will be handy for other trips.
One DD is treating the whole family to the trip so had final decision, and she booked the Belvedere right away. Many she looked at and liked were already booked for at least one of the days.
I wish it could be another time too, but that is the only weekend DD could come to the States. She remembers Christmas and seeing The Nutcracker in NY when she was little and wants to take my GD (her niece) and my other DD. They are going to an evening performance.
One DD is treating the whole family to the trip so had final decision, and she booked the Belvedere right away. Many she looked at and liked were already booked for at least one of the days.
I wish it could be another time too, but that is the only weekend DD could come to the States. She remembers Christmas and seeing The Nutcracker in NY when she was little and wants to take my GD (her niece) and my other DD. They are going to an evening performance.
Oct 26th, 2017, 06:42 PM
#11
"...and she booked the Belvedere right away."
Oh, goody! I absolutely LOVED it! My king bed room was HUGE. Loved the windows! Loved the location. Loved the pocket/ community garden a short walk away. Visited with a dad whose son was an understudy in a Broadway show and he spent the time wandering around the city and hanging out in the garden with other folks. Some nice folks even let me go into the locked section of the garden and take photos of the different plots. I have so many photos of that! I should make an online album. There's a great little story about a disabled woman and her window. I'll gather the info and share later.
Oh, goody! I absolutely LOVED it! My king bed room was HUGE. Loved the windows! Loved the location. Loved the pocket/ community garden a short walk away. Visited with a dad whose son was an understudy in a Broadway show and he spent the time wandering around the city and hanging out in the garden with other folks. Some nice folks even let me go into the locked section of the garden and take photos of the different plots. I have so many photos of that! I should make an online album. There's a great little story about a disabled woman and her window. I'll gather the info and share later.
Dec 18th, 2017, 08:55 PM
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A report back. Thank you all for the help.
We took the train from Baltimore. It was very crowded and not as clean as it could be, but still a lot better than driving, IMHO.
We took a taxi to the hotel but then took the subway once. DD who lived in NYC for years insisted. It seemed to me the subway had been cleaned up a lot a few years ago. The subway stations we were in this time were pretty awful and smelled worse. I was transported back to the 60s. I was very glad I did not have luggage on the filthy subway steps. A highlight was a small, rather cute rat down in the track area. I am serious. GD likes anything with fur and she found it thrilling. The rest of the time, it was taxis. With five of us, it wasn't much more and the older I get, the more I am willing to pay for a little comfort, less walking and fewer steps.
Starrs,
The Belvedere was great. Thank you for the recommendation!
We had a room with a King size bed which was down right spacious with a sitting area, etc. The bath was gorgeous, all redone with marble. It had a second vanity and sink separate from the bath. Bedding was nice too. Very nice bathrobes for everyone. The chandelier in our room was beautiful. It was very quiet. DH and I don't have as much energy as the DDs and GD, so we didn't do as much as they did. Having such a lovely room to relax in while they went out was very nice.
DDs and GD had a room the same size as ours, but with a different bath arrangement and two double beds. So it was a bit tighter than ours, but still spacious for NYC. I have absolutely no idea of the cost. DD made arrangements and paid for everything. GD was ecstatic over the bathrobes, and wore one going back and forth between rooms, dragging it on the carpet like a train.
Older DD, who used to be a dancer, was beside herself with joy at seeing the ballet, said the performance of The Nutcracker was perfection, the best she has ever seen. GD plays harp and was impressed with the two, huge, golden harps in the orchestra.
We all went to Macy's for the Christmas Display and the tree in Rockefeller Center. At some point, we sat for awhile in St Patrick's Cathedral. A covering of snow made everything very Christmasy. GD made snowballs and petted every dog she saw.
We all went to the new American Girl Store. It is not as nice or as big as the previous one, but still fun to see all the amazing rooms, furniture, etc. for the dolls. I know all that stuff is totally ridiculous in price, but I loved dolls as a child and still do.
DD and GD went ice skating in Bryant Park - Charming in the snow. DH and I went to the Strand. It is nice to see a bookstore still flourishing.
Both DDs shopped.
I am frugal and it seemed like a lot of money for just a couple of days, but DD said to stop thinking about what useful things it could have been spent on, that she wanted to do it and it made her happy. So, lovely trip.
We took the train from Baltimore. It was very crowded and not as clean as it could be, but still a lot better than driving, IMHO.
We took a taxi to the hotel but then took the subway once. DD who lived in NYC for years insisted. It seemed to me the subway had been cleaned up a lot a few years ago. The subway stations we were in this time were pretty awful and smelled worse. I was transported back to the 60s. I was very glad I did not have luggage on the filthy subway steps. A highlight was a small, rather cute rat down in the track area. I am serious. GD likes anything with fur and she found it thrilling. The rest of the time, it was taxis. With five of us, it wasn't much more and the older I get, the more I am willing to pay for a little comfort, less walking and fewer steps.
Starrs,
The Belvedere was great. Thank you for the recommendation!
We had a room with a King size bed which was down right spacious with a sitting area, etc. The bath was gorgeous, all redone with marble. It had a second vanity and sink separate from the bath. Bedding was nice too. Very nice bathrobes for everyone. The chandelier in our room was beautiful. It was very quiet. DH and I don't have as much energy as the DDs and GD, so we didn't do as much as they did. Having such a lovely room to relax in while they went out was very nice.
DDs and GD had a room the same size as ours, but with a different bath arrangement and two double beds. So it was a bit tighter than ours, but still spacious for NYC. I have absolutely no idea of the cost. DD made arrangements and paid for everything. GD was ecstatic over the bathrobes, and wore one going back and forth between rooms, dragging it on the carpet like a train.
Older DD, who used to be a dancer, was beside herself with joy at seeing the ballet, said the performance of The Nutcracker was perfection, the best she has ever seen. GD plays harp and was impressed with the two, huge, golden harps in the orchestra.
We all went to Macy's for the Christmas Display and the tree in Rockefeller Center. At some point, we sat for awhile in St Patrick's Cathedral. A covering of snow made everything very Christmasy. GD made snowballs and petted every dog she saw.
We all went to the new American Girl Store. It is not as nice or as big as the previous one, but still fun to see all the amazing rooms, furniture, etc. for the dolls. I know all that stuff is totally ridiculous in price, but I loved dolls as a child and still do.
DD and GD went ice skating in Bryant Park - Charming in the snow. DH and I went to the Strand. It is nice to see a bookstore still flourishing.
Both DDs shopped.
I am frugal and it seemed like a lot of money for just a couple of days, but DD said to stop thinking about what useful things it could have been spent on, that she wanted to do it and it made her happy. So, lovely trip.
Dec 18th, 2017, 09:05 PM
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Thanks for the report, Sassafrass! Sounds like you had some wonderful moments.
FWIW, I take the Amtrak through Baltimore to NYC about once a year and ride the subways in NYC routinely whenever I'm there. I'm very glad to report that my impressions have not been as negative as yours. I sincerely hope that your experiences were atypical.
FWIW, I take the Amtrak through Baltimore to NYC about once a year and ride the subways in NYC routinely whenever I'm there. I'm very glad to report that my impressions have not been as negative as yours. I sincerely hope that your experiences were atypical.
Dec 18th, 2017, 10:16 PM
#14
It sounds like an absolutely wonderful trip!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the Belvedere. I've stayed in many hotels in NYC and it's probably my favorite. I love the decor, the ambiance and the location (close to the theaters). Your GD sounds absolutely precious with the excitement about the robes.
One of my favorite memories is a guy friend of me calling me when he realized I was in the city at the same time. We met up and I took his daughter to the American Girl store. I think he was just worn out! He followed along but I think he rested a lot. The dolls are expensive but she saw one of the dogs as soon as she walked in the store and I talked him into buying one of the pups. She was thrilled. She's now a teenager, going to college soon. Great memories!
I just love your descriptions of your trip. Absolutely magical! It makes me miss it even more.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the Belvedere. I've stayed in many hotels in NYC and it's probably my favorite. I love the decor, the ambiance and the location (close to the theaters). Your GD sounds absolutely precious with the excitement about the robes.
One of my favorite memories is a guy friend of me calling me when he realized I was in the city at the same time. We met up and I took his daughter to the American Girl store. I think he was just worn out! He followed along but I think he rested a lot. The dolls are expensive but she saw one of the dogs as soon as she walked in the store and I talked him into buying one of the pups. She was thrilled. She's now a teenager, going to college soon. Great memories!
I just love your descriptions of your trip. Absolutely magical! It makes me miss it even more.
Dec 19th, 2017, 06:08 AM
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Rain and watery snow always make streets and subways a little dirtier, so really not a problem. It did not damper our enjoyment.
One funny thing I meant to include. A few days ago, in Big Lots, GD saw a gigantic, five feet tall, fat, soft, blue Mother elephant with a baby. The thing is bigger than me and cheap (only $30.00), not particularly well made (I will probably be mending it), but it was love at first sight. She said, "Look, Nana, lt is plush. It says so right on the tag." When she sat on Santa's lap at Macy's, she asked him for a big, blue elephant. He must not get requests for elephants often because he seemed taken aback for a moment, before saying he would do his best, but could not always bring everything in his sleigh. Santa doesn't know, but the elephant is already hidden in my guest room. Santa's job is done.
One funny thing I meant to include. A few days ago, in Big Lots, GD saw a gigantic, five feet tall, fat, soft, blue Mother elephant with a baby. The thing is bigger than me and cheap (only $30.00), not particularly well made (I will probably be mending it), but it was love at first sight. She said, "Look, Nana, lt is plush. It says so right on the tag." When she sat on Santa's lap at Macy's, she asked him for a big, blue elephant. He must not get requests for elephants often because he seemed taken aback for a moment, before saying he would do his best, but could not always bring everything in his sleigh. Santa doesn't know, but the elephant is already hidden in my guest room. Santa's job is done.
Dec 24th, 2017, 03:15 PM
#20
I just spent two nights at the Belvedere last week for $170 plus tax per night for one of the renovated king rooms. Through December 31 you can book using a special winter rate from the website for next year. Prices vary by the time of year, but there are some midweek nights in January for about $100 per night plus tax.
The rooms in the same category are not all the same size. I have had large corner rooms with lots of seating and a view of the Hudson but this time we had a room without any extra seating except the chair at the desk and no view. I got over it though I suppose I could have asked whether they had any other rooms available.
The rooms in the same category are not all the same size. I have had large corner rooms with lots of seating and a view of the Hudson but this time we had a room without any extra seating except the chair at the desk and no view. I got over it though I suppose I could have asked whether they had any other rooms available.
