I am bringing my wife,mother and 8 yr old daughter to NYC for a weekend in March-then onto Boston for 7 nights.
Since we may spend a number of evenings in our hotel babysitting,we are looking for a good quality hotel in both NYC and Boston with pleasant public areas in which we can have a drink and watch the world go by.
All suggestions would be gratefully received!

Avoid the Hilton on 6th Ave-it is soulless

Avoid the St. Morritz on S. Central Park (next to the Plaza Hotel which is WAY fancy). St. Morritz is tiny, cramped, dirty, and the service sucks. They participate in a discount service so the rooms are fairly cheap...you get what you pay for. The location is good, but not worth it. Any hotel right on Times Square will be lively and convenient. I think there is a Holiday Inn or one of the major chains there. It is huge and lots of events happen there. Not your typical chain hotel. Good luck!

Thanks Laura
Iwas beginning to think that "limeys" weren't welcome on this site.Even Tweedy had blanked me!
Anyone else help me out?

The hotel depends on your budget. Most of the upscale hotels have very nice bars. Among my favorites are the bars at the Pierre, St. Regis and Waldorf. The Royalton on 44th has very comfortable seating in the lobby area where where drinks and some food are served. Among the more reasonably priced hotels the Roosevelt has a very pretty lobby bar and the Mansfield and The Time Hotel both have rather "hip" bars as does the W New York.

Thanks Steve,
I just got a quote on a deluxe room with a city view at Trump Towers for $395 a night.
Is there likely to be any lobbylife there?

I have not stayed there, but the restaurant-Jean Georges is often ranked number one in the city.

If it's the Trump Tower at Columbus Circle the lobby is very small - I didn't see a bar when I was there.

My favourite hotel bar is at the Four Seasons (57th and 5th) - don't know about the rates, though.

Thanks for the info-I think we will leave Trump Towers alone.Time Out gives the Mark hotel lobby/bar areas a good write-up.I am also thinking of the Marriot Marquis which sounds like all human life passes through there-or the Waldorf.Any preferences anyone?

Hi Sean:
I would go with the Marriott Marquis. It is lively and fun. Right in the heart of Times Square. And you are right that all kinds of folks pass through. I think the Waldorf is a bit too "stuffed shirt" if you know what I mean. Have a great visit!!

Just book the Plaza and have done with it!

OK-last request.I have narrowed it down to :
Le Parker Meridien Exec suite triple$280
The Warwick , ,, ,,,,, ,,, ,,$275
The Algonquin Standard ,,,,,,,,,,,,$300
The Avalon Deluxe ,,,,,,,,,,,,$270


The Regency Luxury room ,,,,,,$255
Which is the most lively/best value?

Boston - the Ritz has a wonderful bar looking out onto the Public Garden, but not a lot of 'public' area. Four Seasons has a nice (bigger) bar as well (Bristol Lounge) with view of the Garden as well - they have a great late night dessert buffet on the weekends and a casual menu in there too.

The Copley Marriott has a 'bar'/'lounge' that looks over people walking from the Pru center to Copley place - both upscale shopping places. Rather busy place and they have a piano player usually. Not the BEST hotel in Boston, but might afford you some activity and quick access to shopping.

My head is a city and various pains have now taken up residence in various parts of my face.A gum-and-bone ache has launched a cooperative on my upper west side.Across the park,neuralgia has rented a duplex in my fashionable east seventies.Downtown,my chin throbs with lofts of jaw-loss.As for my brain,my hundreds,it's Harlem up there,expanding in the summer fires.It boils and swells.One day soon it is going to burst



What was the question again?

John,
Just go to the dentist,will you-there's a good chap!