Hi

OK...I'm staying in New York for 4 nights as part of my honeymoon. Interested in seeing a couple of Broadway shows and seeing the sights (1st time in NY). Looking at Michelangelo Hotel or the Kitano Hotel.
Can get an executive room (with sitting area) at the Michelangelo for $275 per night or a standard room at the Kitano for $233 per night.

What would you reccommend?

Thanks

Martin

I do know that some of the rooms at the Kitano are very small, so presumably a "standard" room would be one of those. And the walk from most of the theatres to the Kitano is considerably more than to Michelangelo. My choice would definitely be the Michelangelo. We liked our "standard" room there, so I assume an executive room is even better.

I have stayed at the Michaelangelo on several ocassions.
They serve coffee and muffins in the morning and if you tell them you are on your honeymoon they may upgrade you to a junior suite at no extra charge . They upgraded me just for asking. There Junior suites are quite nice and they are big. Nice sunken bathtubs and a TV in the bathroom as well as in the Bedroom. They have a turn down service and bathrobes. The Michaelangelo is a great place to stay and they are very service oriented. You will not be sorry if you stay there.

Stayed at the Michelangelo recently with my husband for a weekend and loved it! We booked using Quikbook and were upgraded. I'm sure that you will be upgraded if you let them know you are on your homeymoon! Great lobby and continental breakfast in the a.m. Turndown service, fluffy robes, extraordinary service. The a.c./heater units are a bit noisy.

I second the Michelangelo. Everytime we have stayed there (I think I booked the executive), they have upgraded us. One of the nicest little things they do at turndown is put ice in your bucket. It's a nice touch when you get back late.

Hi Folks

Sorry to go on about this. But this is the final piece of the honeymoon jigsaw and as we're already a bit overbudget I'm scouring the web for the best deals, but I don't want to compromise on quality.
Revised deals to consider...
As before
Michelangelo - Deluxe Room - $297 per night (ignore the price in my original post)

Or - have found these other hotels - all classed as 'Midtown West' - which is what the Michelangelo was classed at...
Empire Hotel - Jnr Suite $138.75
Hilton New York - Double Room $219
Waldorf Astoria - Deluxe Room $229
Hilton Times Square - Double with River View $265
Algonquin - Double $173

Anyone got any thoughts on these - they are all cheaper than the Michelangelo - but if quality and location aren't nearly as good then I'll go for the Michelangelo anyway.....just wondering if any of these come close?

Thanks

Martin

This hardly classifies as expert opinion on the Hilton NY, but you can take it for what it's worth:

I had lunch there a couple of days ago with a friend who was staying there. She (a frequent traveler) said her room was "just OK" and badly needed freshening up and redecorating. The Hilton's location is good but less so if you want something near Broadway.

Also, I was a bit turned off when we asked the concierge to recommend a quiet spot for coffee and great dessert, and she told us to go to the touristy Rainbow Room, which had a long line and required reservations (plus I'd already been there). Turns out, the bar at the Warwick Hotel across the street was perfect, but we had to find it on our own.

I've told this story before, but clients of mine stayed at the New York Hilton. She awoke during the night because her husband next to her in bed was coughing, almost choking. She asked if he was alright. No answer, but continued coughing. She asked again. No answer. She turned on the light to find him fast asleep. The coughing was from the room next door. Can you say paper thin walls!!

I stayed there in 1968. I think it was very new and nice. No comments I have would be meaningful today.

None of the other hotels you mention will be as nice, new or comfortable as the Michelangelo, except maybe the Hilton Times Square which is new. Check tripadvisor.com. The Algonquin is an old famous hotel with lovely old world public areas but I've heard many of the rooms are TINY. The Iroquois is right next door & recently renovated top to bottom. I'd check that out. BTW the Waldorf is NOT midtown west but midtown east.

If you're looking to save some $ there are other locations/options that would work but not necessarily in the theater district (not a bad thing IMO except for getting home from the theater at night when taxis are at a premium).

I think the Kitano might still be an option. I think they cater to a Japanese clientele & it's located not far from Grand Central Station on the east side-not often mentioned here though.

People have very good things to say about the Library Hotel-also east side with some rooms very small but charming.

There's a brand new hotel-not yet opened-called the Alex on the east side. I saw rooms for $250 listed on quikbook.com

Why not consider a standard room at the Michelangelo?

Hi

That's what I'm thinking about at the moment - standard room is $280 a night at Michelangelo.

What about the Casablanca? Seems pretty good location? Anyone got any thoughts about it?

Many thanks

Martin

Hi,

For what it's worth, I'm having the same dilemma! I think I have narrowed it down to the Michelangelo. When you cross ref with other hotels the room sizes, amenities, etc. it would seem Michel comes out on top every time. So many guests say such great things about it. Also, and i know this is very minor, but i love the bathrooms! I love the idea of watching the news while I'm brushing my teeth (i'm a bit of an info junkie) and the tubs look huge (v. important for long soaks after walking the streets of NYC all day long..!)

I'm booking a studio for $260 direct with the hotel website

You don't mention the dates you plan to travel so I cannot cross reference the rates you quoted.
One thing I would advise anyone who is traveling to NYC to do is check and see if their company has negotiated rates with any hotels in the destination city.
You could be a receptionist for Ernst and Young in Dallas and find out the E&Y has a fabulous rate at a great hotel that they will extend to a leisure traveler. E&Y obviously has offices all over and if you do not travel on business, how would you know?
The Michelangelo offers great negotiated rates to many companies... and the rate would be much better than 275.00 (well... depending on the dates of travel)

Hi

My stay in New York would be July 13th - July 17th 2004 - 4 nights.

Does this help?

Thanks

Martin

This is what I see for the Michelangelo... it comes out to 232.00 a night:

SUPERIOR ROOM KING BED/325 SQ FT/NEOCLASSIC
DECOR/EMPIRE CHERRY FURNITURE/BOUDOIR CHAIRS/
MARBLE BATH W/COLOR TV AND 55 GALLON TUB
COMP. ITALIAN STYLE BREAKFAST, LARGE ROOM,
BOSE CD PLAYER, FREE SHOE SHINE AND NEWSPAPER
TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES NOT INCLUDED
245.00 PER NIGHT STARTING 13JUL FOR 3 NIGHTS
195.00 PER NIGHT STARTING 16JUL FOR 1 NIGHT
930.00 TOTAL RATE STARTING 13JUL FOR 4 NIGHTS

Hi

Yeah I can see that for a superior room...that's not including the 13% tax charge though or the $2 per room per night charge...

Is it?

Martin

No... taxes and service charges are not included.
There are much better rates for this hotel but they are specific to corporations.
Also, as you get closer in there may be better deals.
Book something that does not require prepayment unless it's an unbelieveable deal. That way you can change if something better comes up.

My daughter and I stayed at the Michelangelo a couple of weekends ago, and loved it. We splurged on an "executive" room with 2 queen beds -- had lots of space, walk-in closet, ample bathroom with a big tub. Hotel was comfortable and staff helpful. Location excellent, for theatre especially -- across the street from Mamma Mia, and round the corner from Hairspray.

Only negative (and not a huge one because there are many places we could go to nearby): We were underwhelmed by the "continental breakfast" which was extremely limited in its offerings. Or maybe I'd been spoiled in Quebec City by the Dominion's creative and yummy breakfast spread...