New York City Marriotts
 

My wife and I are planning to redeem a one week Marriott level 7 hotel certificate for a trip to NYC in May, 2015. The level 7 hotels that we can (theoretically) choose from are:
1) SpringHill Suites New York Midtown Manhattan/Fifth Avenue
2) Courtyard New York Manhattan/Herald Square
3) Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square West
4) Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown East
5) Courtyard New York Manhattan/Chelsea
6) Courtyard New York Manhattan/Central Park
7) Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park
8) Courtyard New York Manhattan/Upper East Side
9) New York Marriott Downtown
We would be doing the usual tourist things, including Broadway plays, and are comfortable with lots of walking and using the subway. We are Marriott Platinum and can take advantage of the concierge lounge if available at the hotel.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Can't comment on most but the one on the upper east side is in a very inconvenient location - not near a subway and you couldn;t pay me to stay there.

My first instinct is. Chelsea, or Central Park, mainly because I don't like staying in TS or HS, etc. I'd have to see the addresses.

Agree that UES not most convenient.

There seem to be two midtown east locations. I stayed at the one on Third Avenue and it was fine. Location is good, a block from two subway lines.


http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel...-midtown-east/



A friend just stayed at the one on Lexington and when we walked in we were horrified by the horrible smell in the lobby. This may well have been corrected by now but it gave a bad impression.

In general, the Courtyards are superior to the regular Marriott-branded hotels in NYC and are often more expensive.

Right off the bat, I'd scrap the Marriott Downtown (unless you want to be next to the 9/11 Memorial) and the Upper East Side, which is on 1st Avenue (far from transit and anything else you'd want to experience).

My top two choices would be the Courtyard Central Park and Residence Inn Central Park. They are brand-new (having literally just opened a month or so ago) and have a truly excellent location at Broadway and 54th. They will be top of the line. Do Residence Inns offer free breakfast? I can't remember. But the rooms do have kitchenettes, and I believe they make up the top half of the hotel, so the room could have remarkable views if you get one high enough and if you are on the west or north side of the building.

Next choices would be Midtown East (if it's the one on Third at 52nd St) or Chelsea (a convenient location on 30th Street but on a very dreary block that's close to some excellent restaurants in the Flatiron District).

The "Times Square" location isn't bad because it's not really in Times Square. It's on West 37th and 8th Avenue, which is between Herald Square and Times Square, so convenient.

But finally, the Spring Hill Suites may be a major contender because it's in a good location near Bryant Park (not really on 5th Avenue but close), and it offers free breakfast, something none of the other hotels offers. All the hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so the breakfast may top it for you, or the quality of the brand-new "Central Park" hotels. Residence Inn will give you the biggest room

I've stayed several times at the Courtyard-5th Ave (3 E. 40th St) and think highly of it. It's only a couple of blocks from Bryant Park, the same distance from Grand Central Station, and less than half a block from 5th Ave & 40th St. For me, it's a good location and the hotel has the quality you'd expect from a Courtyard property.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'll probably go with the Residence Inn Central Park. Staying there a week, being able to get some coffee and a small breakfast most days won't detract much from the culinary experience in NYC. Location seems great, too.

That Residence Inn looks fabulous. We love staying by Central Park. Enjoy your trip!

The rooms at the Courtyard Midtown East are HUGE by NYC standards. I had a regular room and it had 2 queen beds, a large sitting area with sleep sofa and chairs, desk and desk chair, and had enough space around all of that to ballroom dance. Seriously large and nice room. I loved it. Good location.