Would prefer to be walking distance to Central Park and museums. (Which part of CP is most pleasant to stroll through?) Have no interest in shopping or Broadway. Want to do outside kinds of things (trip will be end of April). Hoping to not have to spend more than about $350 per night (less would be good). Hope to have decent size room and handsome hotel-- but quiet is a very high priority.

Thanks in advance.

You want a hotel in the UWS. When are you going?

We stayed at the Lucerne Hotel on the Upper West Side a few years ago and had a very quiet room. The window faced a wall, not the street, and we didn't hear a sound. I would think you could request a quiet room when you book. The hotel is very close to the Natural History Museum and Central Park. Our room was decent sized and in a neighborhood of many restaurants and shops. The hotel is not a luxury property -- it is older but well maintained. I would think you would be able to get a room there for well under your budget.

The Met and other museums are located on the other side of the park on the Upper East Side. I know there are some lovely hotels on that side but believe most of them would be more expensive. Hopefully someone will be able to give you good advice about properties there.

Have a great trip!

Real quiet in Manhattan is very hard to find. Older hotels (many in NYC) often have either heating or plumbing that makes a variety of noises. In terms of street noise, you best bet is a new hotel with double glazed windows and getting a very high floor to get the least from commercial carters (who work at night), and police and fire engine sirens. Not sure that any of the UWS hotels qualify. You could try for a high floor of the Beacon - but not sure wat you will get. The new hotels are further downtown and generally more expensive - like Mandarin Oriental.

And you should know that in April Central Park will not be at it's best - most of the trees won;t be in leaf yet - happens end of April or early May here - and only the very earliest flowers will be out. Not sure what else you will do outdoors - unless you head for the zoo, the Botanical Gardens (trees still not in leaf) or explore some of the more interesting neighborhoods.

Ive never had a problem with street noise. Ask for a room on a higher floor. Also those not facing the street.

We stayed at the Chelsea Pines a month ago. I never heard anything but Charlie the cat purring. Click on my name and you'll see the trip report mentioned. Of course, the hotel is in Chelsea and not near Central Park, but that was perfect for good restaurants. Subway 1/2 block away.

I echo that comment on the Chelsea Pines. Not sure if the place would serve your purposes but in terms of quiet I certainly found it so. Loved the place too.

My guess is that the Mark might be even nicer than the Lucerne. It is a block from the Park in one of the most upscale areas of the city, and just a few blocks from major museums including the Met.
YOu'll have to check the rates for your dates. Just a thought...

http://www.themarkhotel.com/

Ironically, the quietest hotel room I've ever seen in NYC was at the midtown Novotel at 51st/Broadway. The soundproofing on those rooms is the best I've ever experienced in Manhattan, and I've toured many different hotels here. Part of the appeal may be that the hotel only starts on a mid-level floor (6 or 8) and goes up pretty high.

Of course, the location is mobbed and not at all quiet, but it is within easy reach of Central Park, though not so close to museums unless you like really long walks.

Here's a list of 10 hotels that oyster.com judges are quiet. Only one of them, the Franklin, fits your budget and preference for being near Central Park. I don't think much of it. The Benjamin hotel is not a terrible walk from CP but not sure it will fit the budget at that time.

Near the Lucerne on the upper west side,
excelsiorhotelny.com
beaconhotel.com
might be good options.
On the edge of midtown and the upper east side, the Loew's Regency fits your request. In midtown, near the south end of the park, the Parker Meridien on a high floor is another idea.

The Surrey hotel would be my #1 pick for quiet and near Central Park, but it will be way over budget.

Sorry, forgot the list
http://www.oyster.com/new-york-city/.../quiet-hotels/

I always stay at the Milburn on the UWS and it's always been quiet. You can walk to Central Park and the museums on Fifth Avenue. It also has a fridge and a microwave in the room and the Fairway market is a block away to keep you well supplied with snacks.

Many many thanks for the suggestions-- and I'd not known about that oyster site, which is quite interesting. (Though interesting, too, that Trip Advisor hotel reviews have lots of comments about some of those hotels being quite noisy. I guess it's all relative....)

What about Helmsley Park Lane or Roger Smith or Library? Someone we know has suggested those hotels, but I'm not sure how much that person knows about how quiet each is.

Thanks!

Well, as Doug said the quietest rooms will be in the newer hotels with excellent soundproofing. That could be in any area of the city (although I was the one who suggested the UWS). A high floor should help too.

I stayed at the Helmsley Park Lane a few years ago. The room was very quiet but I think the price may be above your budget unless you get a good deal. The location was great and the view of Central Park was amazing but the room decor was very outdated.

In midtown east but a very quiet hotel, UN Plaza, where rooms begin on the 28th floor.

Newness of a hotel is not a guarantee of good soundproofing; it depends on the windows themselves, the glazing, etc etc. Some older hotels might put in new, triple glazed windows, some new ones use less than great product.

Agree that UN Plaza might be good, as the only traffic noise would come from 1st Avenue and it will not be among the worst you can imagine at any time. But you are not within a block or three of museums and Central Park in that location, although you do have the Japan Society quite nearby. Roger Smith is in a congested location in the heart of midtown, in an older structure that I would not guess has invested tons to upgrade the windows. Neither is it terribly close to the Park or major museums.

Park Lane good idea. No idea of the price.

I suggested The Mark above; did you take a look?

The Hotel Mela is on your husband's list. I topped a thread and the only review on it mentioned "quiet". A Fodorite stayed there recently and I sent a message to her so she can give input. It's in the busiest part of the city so that may not be what you are looking for. But it's on 1) your husband's list 2) the oyster list for quiet rooms and 3) a review here on Fodors says it's quiet. Worth considering, perhaps.

Yes, I was at Hotel Mela last weekend and loved this hotel. Check Trip Advisor for reviews, I found them to be accurate. The room and bathroom were small but had everything I needed and was beautifully decorated. As I had an interior room it was quiet except for the air compressors down below, they were loud. At first I thought I was hearing sirens. After the first day, though, I managed to tune them out but be aware.

The only other noise I heard during my stay came from the air vent in the bathroom. Sunday morning I heard a man singing, loud and clear, "Oh, what a beautiful morning...." followed by, "Oh, what a night!". He finished the set with, "God Bless America".

Loved the location, the staff were friendly and helpful, my room was spotless. I will stay here again.

All of the 4 stars/above I have stayed are quiet soundproofed

In the rooms... betterbidding.com for deals

parksavoyhotel.com econo on the park cheaper was quiet too

long ago when I stayed there...

chelsealodge.com more residential farther away but nice