My husband and I are visiting NYC for the first time in middle of March. We dont really know where to stay..I have read everything I can find about Mid towns, UES and UWS. I have reservations at Hampton Inn near Madison S.G. and Comfort Inn CPW. Is the Madison S G area safe at night? Is Comfort Inn at CPW. We will have 4 days and just plan to see the sites and enjoy ourselves. We will not spend much time in Hotel. Any advise helpful....Thanks!

seaglas7,
I have only been to NY twice, but both times I stayed a half block from Central Park West on 72nd. I really loved the location as it had a more residential/neighborhood kind of feel to it. By the end of a busy day of sight seeing, I found the upper west side to be a nice relief as it seemed much calmer to me. I felt very safe there at night. Also it's great being by the park. We found it convenient to the subway and easy to go all over the place. Have fun!

I think you would find it easier to stay near Madison Square Garden, since this is your first trip to the city. Staying there, you will be close to all the subway and bus lines, and lots of things you will want to see are a walk from where you are staying. There are also a few restaurants down off 7th Ave that are local fun places like Molly's. There is also a very good Irish Pub/restaurant on the corner of 8th and 33rd. All over that area you will also find fast food places so you can grab something and run and alot of the delis in that area will also be open late for snacks.

Lots of shopping in the immediate area, central to that being Macy's on 34th. It is one HUGE city block of store.

I'd suggest getting a map/subway map of the city, so you have some idea of where you are staying in reference to all the things to see and do.

Hopefully by mid-March our weather will be a bit more welcoming, it's been a pretty dismal winter, I am so looking forward to putting my boots away.

Hope this helps and have a great time while you are here.

Comfort Inn Central Park West is in a much better location.

The area around Madison Square Garden is kind of gritty...and VERY noisy. It's crowded with people & traffic because a major commuter hub (Penn Sta) is right there, plus tons of shopping (not the nicest NY has to offer) and fast-food chains.

Central Park West in the 70s borders one of the best areas of Central Park (enter at 72nd). The West 70s are full of beautiful brownstones, and it's quiet and safe. There are lots of restaurants on Columbus Ave and Amsterdam. There are several subway lines within a few blocks. Also the Museum of Natural History and the Planetarium are only a short walk away.

And I'd prefer the Comfort Inn location but not that Comfort Inn. It doesn't get very good reviews on tripadvisor. While both areas are perfectly safe, the area around MSG is not very attractive and it's very commercial. Yes, easy to get around but...

The Comfort Inn Midtown is a better location and gets better reviews. Or what about the Beacon or the Milburn on the UWS?

I agree to stay on the upper west side. The MSG area is quite dreary - and after rush hour tends to be very quiet. Really the only thing if interest there is Macy's - unless you're going to a Knicks game.

The UWS is a mid/upscale residential area (co-ops on Central Park West itself are multi-millions of $) with great access to the Park, good transport by subway (lots of buses too - but these are too slow to take far) and a ton of good, inexpensive restaurants along Broadway, Columbus and Amsterdam. Much more pleasant than the area by MSG.

Between those two areas, another vote for CPW. It's a much more attractive and safer.

The MSG area is about as bad as Times Square in terms of noise & crowds -- but without the dazzle. Definitely stay on the UWS if those two locations are your only choices.

The Upper West Side is our favorite place to stay when we visit the city. It's a lovely and diversified neighborhood, conveniently located to the subways.

We have stayed at the Beacon a number of times and have never had a complaint. Every room that we stayed in so far had a small kitchenette, which was very convenient.

There are some great little stores in the neighborhood that we always check out - Zabars, Fairway, Citarellas (sp?), H & H Bagels. Grays Papaya has the best hot dogs and Big Nicks is open 23 hours a day, if you like diner food.

I cast another vote for the UWS. Enjoy New York. Peace. >-

Robyn

Thank you for all the helpful responses! I think I will check out the UWS some more ....maybe UES as well.

That Comfort Inn is awful!!!

The room was so small that when the door was opened, it brushed the bed, which was pushed up against the oppositte wall, and the same thing happened with the bathroom door at the foot of the bed.

Noisy heating and plumbing systems, housekeeper walked in on us without knocking; the only elevator broke (we were on the 10th floor), rude front desk help, etc, etc.

Upper West Side, definitely! But please try to find someplace other than the Comfort Inn. My husband stayed there several years ago and the room was just as abram describes--an incredibly efficient use of space available, and not an inch to spare.

We have been happy with rooms at the Excelsior, across from the Museum of Natural History and just half a block from a subway station. We used Quikbook to find good rates.

Just a heads up there are few if any reasonably priced hotels on the upper east side. The Affinia Group of all suite hotels has one (I think Lyden Gardens). They also have the Surrey which is quite pricey. The UWS has lots of options that get good reviews including

The Beacon, the Lucerne, the Milburn, and the Excelsior.

Check www.biddingfortravel.com