murray hill suites?
 

I am looking at the Murray Hill Suites or the Murray Hill East Suites as a place to stay in April and can't find a single thing written about them in any guidebook or anywhere on-line. Anyone familiar with these?<BR><BR>I'm a little leery of a hotel that doesn't have a website and NO reviews, but I like the price and location. As far as I can see, they are not connected with the Manhattan East properties.<BR><BR>

I lived in NYC and I believe I know these suites but you'd have to give me the address to be sure. If they are in the 30s and around 3rd Ave. or Lexington, you will be in a quietly upscale residential community called Murray Hill. You will not be very near any popular sights so subway, bus, and taxi will need to be found. It is a safe neighborhood and if you want to stay in NYC like a resident rather than a tourist, this would be a nice spot for a low key and local flavor of NYC. Gramercy Park, which is about 15 blocks south, (not as far as it sounds, 15 min walk) is also a small upscale neighborhood. I don't have any info about the rooms or service for you as I've never stayed there.

yep, that's the location. 31st and Lexington for one and 39th and Lexington for the other. I like the idea of the residential area, but am concerned that the price ($209 for a two-room suite) might indicate shabby and dirty rooms or bad staff. I'm hoping someone has stayed at either one. <BR><BR>Otherwise, I'm going with the Avalon or Gorham. More hectic surroundings, but tried and true hotels. <BR><BR>NYC is so hard to choose a hotel. You can't just plan on the usual chains and there is such a wide range of style and quality at any price. The places where I've stayed previously don't have the type of suite we want this time or if they do, the price is outrageous.

My spouse has stayed at the Murray Hill Suites on business trips and says they're fine. She's a fairly white-glove sort of traveler; I trust her judgement.

I believe they are part of a chain of hotels in NYC called Manhattan East Suite hotels. Their website is www.mesuite.com.

I can certainly understand how this can become confusing -- so many hotels with such similar names. I do know that Murray Hill East Suites used to be part of the Manhattan East Suites chain, but that chain has really upgraded their act<BR>and their rates. Murray Hill East Suites no longer seems to be a part of that chain, and is sometimes listed as a two star hotel.<BR>There is a Shelburne Murray Hill Suites which is part of the Manhattan East Suites chain and can be seen on their website as mentioned above. It is located at 303 Lexington.<BR>But there is a also a Murray Hill Suites (without the Shelburne) located on 31st between Lexington and Park. This one is apparently not part of the Manhattan East chain, and I only found a reference to three apartments in this building that are rented on a transient basis.<BR>I can also highly recommend the small Allen House at 71st and 3rd Avenue, actually above the wonderful Grace's Market, in a wonderful neighborhood. There are a handful (maybe 15) beautifully equipped and decorated apartments, up to 2 bedrooms and 2 baths available for week or longer rentals. Of course, there is a good savings if rented by the month rather than by the week. A large and wonderful 1 bedroom cost us about $4500 for the month of May this past summer. Another wonderful bargain is that these are apartments and not an apartment hotel, so you save all taxes. Again, unfortunately there is no website. The manager is Marion and you can call her at 212-794-1110. Or email me for more details if you are interested.

Thanks. This has all been helpful. I tried the Manhattan East group, but they are pretty high priced, at least for that particular weekend. I'm glad to hear that another fussy traveler was happy with the Murray Hill Suites. <BR><BR>I think I'll just call all three (including Allen House) and see how they are when I ask questions. Sometimes that can tell you a lot. After all, on previous trips, the Broadway b&b were charming on the phone and the Wyndham could barely stand to give me the time of day. And what a surprise, it was exactly the same during my stays.

re: shelburne murray hills.<BR>go with shelburne on lexington between 38th and 39th. I've stayed there many times on business. Its all suite hotel so it has a kitchen which comes handy.<BR>Its in a residential area, so not as noisy as midtown location yet close to subway stations. 5 blocks north is grand central and 5 blocks south is #6 line on 33rd street. I've stayed at WCourt and I prefer this one. The rooms are very clean and staff are courteous.

Can't provide input on the lodgings inquired about, but just wanted to offer a personal opinion on that area -- 38/Lex -- it's my favorite..I love the neighborhood-ness of it; it 'looks' the way NY is supposed to look (imho), and I find it convenient enough to everything i want to do. It's partly sentiment - my very first trip to NYC in 1960...I stayed at the YWCA on 38th just off Lex with a girlfriend. Castro was in town, staying at the Shelburne around the corner, and every nite, there were crowds of people in the street, screaming CAStro! CAStro! What an initiation to New York!

Topping for Tony.