We're planning a 10day trip to N.York this Christmas and i have found the following hotels in our price range:
Michelangelo Hotel
Courtyard Times Square
Grand Hyatt (i think this one is 200-300$ cheaper for the total stay)
Which one do you reccomend? Any other options?
I read at TripAdvisor great reviews for Michelangelo, except for the street noise, which might be an issue...

Of the 3 you mention, I'd pick the Michelangelo no question. It's an upscale elegant hotel in a great location. There's nothing wrong with the Hyatt if you want to save some money, but it's not as good a location (imo). It's further away from the theaters. There is a Xmas market in Grand Central which is right next door to the Hyatt. That makes the area even busier than it normally is.

Don't know what price you got for the Michelangelo, but the Blakely is a smaller hotel right near it with some suites that might be nice for a bit of extra room for a 10 day trip. Check prices on quikbook.com also.

Mclaurie, i found the Michelangelo, 8 nights for 2100$total(taxes included).
I thinks it's a good price for such a hotel. (although i don't really care that it's so close to theatres because i don't think that we'll go to more than one.. we prefer to have nice dinners and cocktails at night, or something really special like an opera..

cristine, that's a GREAT price for the Michelangelo at Xmas time. Where (what website) did you find it???

At their own www.michelangelohotel.com. It's more expensive the first 3 days (before Christmas) but after that, the rate goes down to 195$/night. Quickbook gave me the same price.
I think i'll book it, and we'll have plenty of time if we find something more... contemporary in that price range whick we might like more

We stayed at the Michelangelo last summmer. We also got a great internet rate. What a great hotel, we loved it. We thought the location was great, nice size rooms, and helpful staff. we would definetly stay there again.

I too would recommend the Michelangelo over the other two. Want a nice dinner? You won't do better in New York than to walk across the street to Le Bernardin!!!

If you want contemporary, keep on eye on the London NY hotel. It's currently the Rihga Royal but will reopen in the fall with new decor as the London. They may offer good Xmas prices.

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt on our last New York visit. Pros for us was the location, right at Grand Central Terminal with easy access to the metro system and a short walk to many midtown locations. Cons were the tiny bathrooms with very little counter space and the noise from adjoining rooms. We could easily hear every word being spoken by our neighbors.

We secured a very good discounted rate so we were generally pleased with the hotel. We were also aware of some of the negatives of the hotel beforehand from Trip Advisor reviews. However, if I were paying the full rack rate I would not have been as happy with our room.

Michelangelo.

It is so much nicer than either the Courtyard Times Square or the Hyatt and the location is fantastic.

The Michelangelo has become a favorite any trip to NYC. Classy, close to TS, easy walks to the Rock, Theater, etc. You won't be disappointed. What? Noise in the City? LOL.

Please don't stay in Times Square. New Yorkers avoid that area like the plague and, inevitably, when visitors complain that NY is noisy/crowded/loud, it's because they stayed in Times Square.

Public transportation is excellent and 24/7 in Manhattan, so location, while important, certainly isn't the end all and be all like in many cities.

Of course, New Yorkers wouldn't stay in Times Square. But what does that have to do with people who are spending money to go to New York for the main purpose of being in "the big city"? The last thing I'd want if going to New York is a quiet little neighborhood. Heck if I wanted that I'd stay home and save the money. People often travel because where they're going is different from where they are. We don't have a Times Square at home, so when going to New York, I like the lights, the noise, and the action.

When was the last time you heard a visitor complain that New York is busy and noisy? That sounds like a local's complaint possibly, but not a visitor's. They'd be disappointed if they arrived and the city was dead and quiet.

By the way, most of the hotels I've stayed in have windows (duh) and I've never been bothered by sounds while sleeping unless those sounds were coming from drunks or loud people passing in the hall -- Times Square hotels don't own the market on that activity.

By the way, when most tourists say Times Square in terms of hotels, they're including an area up to about 10 blocks long and two blocks wide or bigger, not the single main intersection.

We like lights, we like big noisy cities, although i know we may find Times Square tacky.. but it's our first time to N.York so we want to be in the 'centre' of things!
On the other hand i'm really afraid of noise 'INSIDE' the room which we can't stand! well... we might learn to use earplugs...

cristine, the Michelangelo is mere steps to Times Square but worlds away.

Please trust us on this, you will be thankful you did not stay right in Times Square.

Times Square has gotten so that it is next to impossible just to walk through the crowds are so bad.

To see Times Square, go to The Broadway Bar at the Marriott Marquis and sit at one of the window tables and have a glass of wine. It is a wonderful way to experience Times Square without having it get all over you.