I am planning on a mother-daughters trip to the Big Apple in June. I am looking at the Empire Hotel. Our thoughts were to sightsee in the morning and maybe lounge by a pool in the afternoons. I am learning that pools are nearly non-existant. Is there any type of lake /pool areas for sunbathing in Central Park?

Is this hotel in a central location to subways? Restaurants? I also read is was renovated. Anyone know if it's completed...and if the rms are large enough for 3 women?

Thank you!

The Empire is in a good location. It is one of my favorites, but the rooms are the smallest I have encountered in NYC. Would not recommend it for three.

Agree that the rooms at the Empire are very small - and 3 people would be a squash. Do they even offer triples? The location is fairly central - but there are many other options that will have larger rooms.

And you're correct - very few hotels in NYC have pools - and those that do are usually for exercise - swimming laps - not lounging around since they're indoors. And no - central park doesn't have a pool or a beach. There are lakes - but they're surrounded by grass and woods - not for sunbathing. Really people do;t come to NYC to sit around a pool. (There are city beaches - but they're about an hour from Manhattan.)

NYC does have a series of city pools but they are packed to the gills with local kids. And some health clubs have pools - again indoors for exercise.'

If you really want to lounge around a pool you might search for NYC hotels with outdoor pools - but I'm not aware of any (since they could be used only a few months per year) - but there may well be a couple.

Take a look at the Travel Inn. Travebuff recommends it often - http://www.thetravelinnhotel.com/def...x?pg=amenities

In NYC, people sunbathe on the *grass* - in Sheep's Meadow in Central Park or the Long Meadow in Prospect Park, on little areas of grass in the new parks along the Hudson River and Brooklyn Bridge Park in that borough, and on their rooftops (tar beaches), among others.

There also is the Floating Pool. Each summer for the last few, the parks dept docks it in a different place around the city. If I remember correctly, like other city pools it's free to use. But it's a timed entrance, for which you wait in line. No boomboxes, picnics, etc. No information yet on where it will be docked this year:
http://www.nycgovparks.org/facility/pools/floating-pool

You also could take the subway out to Coney Island; it's a straight shot, about 1 1/2 hours from midtown. Walk the boardwalk, ride the Cyclone or the Wonder Wheel, and park yourself in the sand next to the denizens of "Little Russia" and other locals. Great cultural experience! But if you're looking for a pristine beach experience, you will be in for a huge shock.

Depending on how long you are here, shopping and site seeing might be your top priorities, if not you can head to Penn Station and spend the day at Jones Beach, one of the best in the area, or Fire Island, part of the National Park System. You take Long Island Railroad out a a taxi to the Ferry and the Ferry over to Sunken Forest. There is a wonderful walk through the forest and a beautiful beach. There is a changing/shower house and a snack bar, as well as a ranger station so if you have a free day, this would be the place to go.

Yes there are lots of open space in Central Park and on hot sunny days, you will find lots of sun bathers enjoying the sun.

For pools, there are alot all over Manhattan, but not in midtown, mostly in residential areas, like my area on 145th just off the A train. The pool is HUGE and ther is a changing area, and lots of space for sun bathing.

The only hotel I know of with an outdoor pool is The Travel Inn, on W. 42nd St, close to Times Square, lots of restaurants close by and the room would be large enough for 3.

Have a great time while you are here.

The Parker Meridian in mid-town has a nice pool area/spa, they actually sell memberships for the summer. The Gansevort hotels, both downtown and Park Ave. South also have pools, they are more of a "scene", but you could sun bathe there.

If you are not staying at one of the pricier hotels that has a nice pool (like the ones owlwoman mentioned) note that pool access can be very expensive, like $50 or more per person per day. I live in the city and would really love a good outdoor pool day sometimes, but the price stops me. There are also some hotels where the pool area is more like a bar (including swim up bars) with a very shallow pool, and no quiet lounging areas http://nymag.com/nightlife/barbuzz/73699/

Parker Meridien charges $100 per person for a day pass, $765 for a 3 month membership . It's an indoor pool with skylights and lots of windows

Can I just say that I'd actually steer the OP away from the idea of "lounging by the pool". That's just not what one does in NYC. It's like recommending that someone going to Kauai search out all the local art museums. Even if that's a real interest, it's perhaps not the best way to spend time in Kauai. Only ggreen got it right. People do go to the Sheep's Meadow and the various city parks for sunbathing.

People in NYC go to Central Park and lay out on the Great Lawn or the Sheep's Meadow. You'll need to bring your own blanket and/or chairs. On Monday evenings, people crowd into Bryant Park in the summer to watch a movie outdoors, often bringing food and wine to while away the time (but it's very busy and crowded, more of a social scene than a movie-watching scene). Or there are sometimes concerts in Central Park when people do the same thing.

You can rent boats or bikes in Central Park, or you can take a bicycle rickshaw ride through the park. Or a horse carriage ride (though the latter is particularly expensive). There's a restaurant called the Boathouse where you can sit and enjoy the sights and some fairly decent food.

People go to Battery Park and lay out or just enjoy a drink or coffee on the promenade there. People do the same thing in Madison Square Park. During lunchtime, Bryant Park is always crowded with office workers sitting at the tables, riding on the carousel, or having lunch at the restaurant. There's a busy happy hour at the outdoor bar terrace every evening, as there are at any number of rooftop bars in the city. The Highline is also very popular and has outdoor cafes and even a wine bar.

There are any number of relaxing outdoor activities one can do in NYC to while away a quiet afternoon, but lounging by a hotel pool is not one of them.

Having just returned yesterday from a mother-daughter trip to Manhattan, I must say I agree with Doug. With all due respect to the OP, I can't imagine being in New York City and NOT doing New York City "things" nearly all the time. If lounging by a pool is what you are going for, then head to Las Vegas (we went there last summer)...the pools are numerous and gorgeous. Just my 2 cents.

Doug, I thought we were doing a pretty good job of steering her away from trying to find a reasonable pool option in NYC by explaining the reality of the situation
But we don't know if this is a long trip,if the weather will be unbearably hot when sitting in an unshaded park is pretty miserable, if the daughters (kids? teens? young adults?) really really want to be at a pool. So while it may not be a practical option, I think it's fine to say what might be possible if it's really important to the OP.

And BTW, if I were in Kauai, I would indeed seek out the local art museums!

Per the OP it is a mother and daughter - but we don't know their ages.

They can certainly look for a pool if they really really want one. But IMHO what a way to waste limited time in NYC.

I agree that there's so much to do in NYC that afternoons at the pool are not what most people would do. So what?

It's curious to me that a similar question is being asked about pools in Washington DC
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...t-at-hotel.cfm

While the answers are equally discouraging about availability, no one is saying "That's just not what one does in..."

Perhaps the pool or poolside time is needed for a specific purpose or to address a specific need.

The Empire Hotel has a pool that has obtained a very good review from its guests. The Empire is also a central hub for many of New York's popular sights.

http://search.cheapflightsforever.co..._York_City.htm

Thank you everyone! My daughters are 20 and 23. I can tell you that when we travel, it's usually activities from sun up to sundown, then everyone gets tired, cranky and overwhelmed by the third day. We have 7 days together, and one thing I know is none of us want to spend the afternoon by a pool. We can do that in our own back yard! I was just looking for places and ideas for an hr or two of "rest time" to re-charge. Anyone have ideas or '"get off our feet" activities? Thank you all for all the comments!

We stayed at the Travel Inn in March and the pool was right outside our room. Since it was cold and I'm not much of a pool lounger, I didn't pay close attention to the pool. However, the glance through the window, I think, showed a pool surrounded by concrete. It didn't seem like that attractive/relaxing of an area.

Thanks for the additional info, ilovemaui!

If you do stay at the Empire, the pool deck looks like a nice respite. (Though you gotta love the angled photo - how big is that pool really??)
www.empirehotelnyc.com/?mpage=pool_deck

It's great that you'd be so close to Central Park, so you could always grab some towels and sit in Sheep Meadow for a bit. In the other direction, there is now a strip of parkland the length of Manhattan on the west side, from Bowling Green at the tip all the way up to the George Washington Bridge. Wander part of that with the sun sparkling off the water, NJ hazy on the other side, bicyclists and runners taking advantage of the designated lanes - and you should feel rejuvenated in no time!

Nearby the Empire, the Robert restaurant at the top of the Museum of Arts & Design isn't particularly known for its food, but the ambiance is retro-funky and the view is great.
madmuseum.org

New York opens up in the spring and summer, and almost every restaurant has outdoor seating; summer concerts will be starting up (Time Out NY always has a comprehensive list); and there's always a plethora of movies, from art films to blockbusters. Again near the Empire, you can take advantage of an art film house a block or two away on Broadway or the megaplex a little farther up the avenue, plus any films or other events at Lincoln Center.

// I should ask, what are you planning on doing during your stay here? Or more specifically, what parts of the city will you be in? I'm sure we can all think of relaxing asides in each 'hood.

Many's the day I've sat for an hour in Bryant Park (behind the library on 42nd btwn 5th and 6th), sipping a coffee and watching the world go by.