Hotel with kitchenette
 

Hi!
I'll be visiting New York in August, and I'm looking at hotels - I know it's early days, but I believe in making reservations as early as possible. I'm a female traveling on my own. I want an hotel with a kitchenette, just in case I don't feel like going out and looking for a restaurant in the evening, after having walked all day long.
So far, I've found 3 which seem to meet my requirements,and which are quite cheap (considering the general price in New York hotels), which allows me to stay a pair of days more in your beautiful city: the Salisbury hotel, Radio City Apartments and the Affinia Manhattan hotel. Which one would you choose? Or would you prefer any others?
I've read reviews on Tripadvisor, and they seem quite similar. Some people here don't seem to like the Affinia situation, but people on tripadvisor don't seem to find it a problem, and the rooms look nicer/more modern. Is it dangerous for a lone female late at night?

Thanks a lot for your help.

New York is the safest large city in the country and you should be fine out at night as long as you aren't walking alone down dark alleys - or near the docks - at 3 am.

If you are thinking of 10 or 11 pm - that isn't late in NYC - shows and moves are breaking and people walking home to to transit routinely up until midnight.

I don;t like the location of the Affinia Manhattan - it's perfectly safe but not that pleasant.

I would also check the Beacon the upper west side - a mid/upscale residential neighborhood - on Broadway with a ton of restaurants and sidewalk cafes in the area - and lots of pedestrian traffic. Also right near Zabars if you want to bring in gourmet meals. Call them for info on rooms with kitchenette.

Yes, to The Beacon. It's a great location and a well-managed place with lovely suites. We had a 2 bdrm/2 bath with a full kitchen. It was perfect for a 5 girls' getaway, and was only $525/night in June last year. Great market across the street, as well as other options. A subway station close by. Sits on a pretty boulevard. Two thumbs up.

nytraveler and Tabernash2:
Thanks a lot for your answers. I have just checked the Beacon's website and it looks really nice. I've already contacted them to ask about their rates in August.

End of August is cheaper than beginning if your dates are flexible. I think one of the best apt hotels is the Best Western Hospitality. The Blakely is another good one not far from Radio City apts but much nicer.

Not sure what you mean by your Affinia comment. They run a good hotel but imo are often overpriced and charge for wifi, silly in this age. Affinia Shelburne is often affordable but for any sort of kitchenette you need to book a deluxe studio.

The Affinia Manhattan has an ok location but noisy and overly busy location (across the street from Madison Square Garden), but Radio City Apartments is better located, though just as busy as the Affinia to be honest. The Salisbury is in a more residential area.

Just be aware that some of the "kitchenettes" at the Affinia hotels are nothing more than a mini-fridge and microwave. If that's enough for you, then by all means go for the Affinia.

And if proximity to excellent Korean food appeals to you, then the Affinia wins hands-down.

Here's another vote for the Beacon. We've stayed there several times, although it's been 10-15 years ago.

Our rooms always had a kitchenette, which was supplied with pots, pans, dishes, silverware, glassware, etc... The hotel was always clean and presentable, and the neighborhood on the Upper West Side is a plethora of cultures, which gives you many options for dining and shopping.

Robyn :)>-

There's also a grocery store right across the street from the Beacon. Nice big room, too.

Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Times Square

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel...-times-square/

Also consider the Staybridge Suites.

BUT consider delivery. Any food you want can be delivered almost any time you want. It's actually one of my favorite things about NYC. Cheaper than cooking, much easier and you don't need a kitchen. Just order in your dinner from one of the great restaurant options around you. My first dinner would be from a Thai restaurant. The next would be from Pio Pio. The remaining nights can be easily decided. :-)

The Residence Inns in Manhattan are by no means budget properties. In general, Marriotts in Manhattan are overpriced, especially the Residence Inns and Courtyards. I think the OP is on the right track with her choices. And there's nothing wrong with the Beacon if it's affordable.

Another vote for the Beacon Hotel. We had a kitchenette in the room and loved the supermarket across the road which has hot food etc you can take back to your room for an easy meal. We bought stuff for breakfast in the room and ate in a couple of nights as we were worn out from walking all day. It's a short walk to the subway.

Kay

Thanks for your replies. I'm checking all the hotels you suggested. It's good to have different opinions.

As for the date, I know the end of August is cheaper, but I'm a teacher so have to adapt to my school holidays.

A noisy area is not a problem. I'm Spanish, and well used to the noise.

I had not considered delivery, but will keep it in mind.

We stayed at the Affinia Dumont last summer for 5 days. We loved it, but I think the Beacon is a better location (from what I know at least). I mostly am posting in to offer a differing opinion regarding the Affinias. Doug, it wasn't a kitchenette because it was a full kitchen. It had a range (ie stovetop burners and oven), full sized refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and more dishes and pans than one usually ever finds.

At the Dumont, officially the only free wifi was in the lobby and it does cause people to hang out there on the couches. However, my kids were able to get the wifi to work with the same lobby pass code on the 22nd floor on everything except the PS Vita. We had two laptops plus phones. There are no promises, but give it a try.

Of course, 5alive is absolutely correct. Several Affinia hotels have full suites that are really one-bedroom apartments with full kitchens. However, I think it highly unlikely that the OP, who is traveling on a tight budget, will be able to afford a full one-bedroom suite for herself alone.

Hi, Doug, I was just trying to make sure the record was clear because I know that people (like me) search these threads later. If I were in the OP's position going solo, I'd try to get the smallest room possible to save money and order takeout if I didn't want to eat in a restaurant. A small fridge would be nice for some yogurt in the morning or leftovers.

Agosto:

Have a look at the Milburn hotel which is in the same area as the Beacon Hotel but is less $'s - http://www.milburnhotel.com
Breakfast included in the rate. Many places to eat or carry out food nearby. Subway close by.

Good luck and report back where you stay. You will love NYC.

Take care.

Sandy

SandyBrit:
Thanks for your suggestion. Have you got an email address for the Milburn hotel? They still don't have the artes for August, and I'd like to contact them.

Thanks again for your help.

PHONE or contact them on facebook or twitter.

Agosto:

1) Click on http://www.milburnhotel.com
2) Go to left hand side of screen, color is green, and click "Contact Us"
3) Scroll to the very bottom of the page and you will see "to e-mail a message to us "click here" green color

e-mail: [email protected]

Phone numbers are listed on the contact page if you want to call.

Sandy

Mclaurie and SandyBrit:

Thanks. I was watching the milburn hotel page on my ipad, it seems to be the mobile version, and I could not see the 'contact us' tag. I prefer to use email rather than phoning. On the one hand, you have any offer in writing, and on the other hand phoning from Spain is quite expensive.


Does anybody know the Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea? Somebody in a different forum suggested it, and it seems rather nice. It'a also got good reviews in Tripadvisor, and they are offering a good rate for my dates. Is anyone aware of any problem with the hotel, or in the area?

By the way, I have just booked my plane ticket, I'll be there from the 1st to the 9th in August. Yipeeeee!

Agosto:

Well done on booking your plane ticket.

I would only book a hotel this early that you can easily cancel. This allows you to continue to search for offers.

You may want to consider starting a new thread with a different heading on the Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea. You will get many more replies.

Years ago I stayed at this B&B htpp://www.innon23rd.com located in Chelsea. Location is o.k. and safe.

Do you know about htpp://www.quikbook.com this is a discount site and often has good deals on hotels. Most you can cancel.

Another discount site is htpp://www.travelzoo.com but the deals are usually much closer to the time of your holiday.

I have booked hotels using both and no problems whatsoever.

Sandy

"Does anybody know the Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea"

A very good choice. If the rate is good, book it! :-)

DD and I stayed there for 7 nights in May 2012...I am posting on my Kindle and am on my 3rd glass of wine...I can tell you more tomorrow but basically agree with starrs.

I have booked the Hilton Gardens Inn Chelsea!

The reservation can be cancelled, in case another good (better) offer arises in the meantime.

I'm so excited!

Update: I have found a good rate at the Beacon hotel (approximately the same as I was going to pay at the Hilton Garden Chelsea), so I have booked this and cancelled the Hilton. The reviews for this hotel are better, both here and in Tripadvisor, and -according to Google earth- the area is far nicer. Thanks everyone for your help (and your patience)!

Great-- I think you will like it. Can't beat the location and rooms are a good size. There's a reaaly nice subway station nearby, and you close to the Natural History Museum and Central Park.

Agosto, I think you have made a wise choice. I think you will enjoy the diversity and options that the Upper West Side neighborhood has to offer. If you remember, please come back after your trip in August and let us know how it went. Have a great time.

Robyn :)>-

The area the Beacon is in is mid/upscale residential (multi-million $ condos and co-ops on CPW, mansions on Riverside and upscale high rises on all avenues with more moderate smaller buildings and brownstones on side streets).

You are right near the subway, Central Park, the Musuem of Natural History, the NY Historical Society and right across the Park from the Met. (You can walk through in about 15/20 minutes or just hop the 79th St crosstown bus),

There are a ton of moderate/inexpensive restaurants of every possible ethnicity up and down the avenues (Broadway, Amsterdam, Columbus) and right across the street is Fairway - a huge gourmet food shop - for either fresh foods or prepared meals easily reheated.

You will not regret staying there.

Jayne1973, artstuff and nytraveler: Thanks again. I'll report when I'm back!

We loved the Fairway grocery across the street for snacks and even small meals. If you are lucky there might even be a show you are interested in at the Beacon theatre next door.

Jayne1973: That would be lovely!