New York
 

I would love some hotel suggestions in New York. I can spend up to $250 a night and prefer mid town up to Central Park. I've looked at The Waldorf Astoria, Alex Hotel and Affinia Hotels. Which is the best choice out of the 3 I listed? If anyone knows any others that would be great. I'm looking for nice rooms, decent size and a hotel in a good location. I don't want to stay anywhere near Broadway or Times Square.

Salisbury Hotel-57th St.

Just stayed at The Warwick - 54th on 6th Ave - easy
walk from the theatre, 1 block from Benoit resto (one of my
faves) and the most comfortable beds ever. Free computers
24/7.

I would eliminate the Waldorf. The rooms are really tired and it's not worth $250/night imo. When you're coming will have a dramatic affect on prices. Right now, most hotels can be found for at or under $250 if you're coming over the summer. The Alex is a very nice apartment/hotel but a bit far east. The Affinia's are all well run but they're also apartment/hotels so maybe not as glamorous as a regular hotel. Are you coming with kids and looking for extra space? Kitchen?

If you're coming over the summer (and esp. on a weekend) there are some great deals on Travelzoo.com and also on quikbook.com and elsewhere. I've even seen the NY Palace for $200-250/night during the summer. You really have to tell us who's traveling, when and what you're looking for apart from location.

Re Benoit, I'm sure they're happy to have Rhea58 as a return customer. Julia Moskin of <i>The New York Times</i> recently revisited this place (http://tinyurl.com/m9gmne) and experienced the same reheated cold food that we did at about the time it opened.

We complained to the maitre d' and he invited us back for a future visit. We never returned.

There's virtually nothing in a restaurant as inexcusable as cold food, unless you consider reheating it and reserving it.

Michjv, stay where you like, but avoid Benoit.

Either I have been deemed important or more probably, have been lucky, as I have had both lunch & dinner there and the only cold food received was a excellent salad one time.

Tis a shame if this is the case as the menu is quite reasonable for the area for many of the items.

Which hotel will depend on when you're coming -since prices vary widely throughout the year - and also for special events (Marathon weekend is a zoo, as if Thanksgiving weekend.

Over the summer you should have a lot of choices for $250 and I would agree to look at travelzoo.com to see what deals they have for your dates. If you want high season, it may be a different situation (the economy is so bad it's hard to predict how high prices will go this fall)