nyc help identifying hotel
 

I am trying to book as nice a room as possible for as little money as possible... we are a family of 4 so i will book a suite or two rooms. have been bidding on priceline to no avail... have considered hotwire but prices are higher. just found something interesting on lastminutetravel.com but they don't make it easy to ID the hotel and ideally i'd like to know what i'm getting. it is a 3* near times square for $102/nite, so for two rooms for two nights with tax and fees the total is $487 --- much less than any suite i could find.

below is the description they gave.... does this ring a bell with anyone?????
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This is a fairly new hotel, which offers the ultimate in convenience for conventioneers. We are also convenient to Penn Station, the Lincoln Tunnel and Madison Square Garden. Time Square and the Theatre District are also within walking distance, as is the famous "Restaurant Row", and various "Off Broadway" theaters. This is also an enclave of diverse, ethnic restaurants located just two blocks away. Whether you are traveling on business or pleasure, come enjoy the charm of New York City. Parking is conveniently located nearby.

Fitness Center Handicapped Room Non Smoking Rooms Self Laundry
Ice Machine Tour Desk Interior Corridors Vending Machine(s)
Multilingual Staff

Isn't there a new Courtyard by Marriott?

Sounds like the new Marriott, which has gotten some good reviews here.

This just a GUESS - please don't hold me to it! Do you think it's the Best Western Convention Center on 38th between 10th and 11th??

This sounds like the Best Western Convention Center

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html

Despite the somewhat ok reviews, I wouldn't choose to stay there as it's sort of a no man's land. I'd also be really concerned right now with the bedbug scare going on, cheaper hotels in that area seem to be most at risk. In fact, it could just as easily be the Regency Inn & Suites which was just featured on Dateline NBC as infested with bedbugs. Don't do it! Pay some extra money and stay elsewhere.

I don't know what dates you're traveling or where you live, but contact www.apartments2book.com They have contracts with many of the major suite hotels and get good prices.

Having just returned from the city, my guess is it is in the Hells Kitchen area, from 9th ave to 11th- and I believe mclaurie has it right on target.

I don't think they'd have called the brand new Marriott a "fairly new hotel".

They didn't spell Times Square correctly ("Time Square")?!? hmmm...

Check the affinia hotels website (affinis.com). they have some good special offers and many of their hotels have suites. I had family stay in the Shelburne a couple of years ago (I got spcial offer on a 1 bedroom suite there at that time for $178!) . It was very roomy, and in a good location.

Yup....Best Western Convention Center....read the description on this link...same mispellings and all:

http://www.lastminute.com/site/find/World/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York-City/LMN-Hotel-3417-0-1-TOU00030$v1v$.html

wow. you guys are good!! thanks! i like the rate, however, the bed bugs.... (or even thought of bedbugs) -- sounds like i should pass. thanks for the suggestions of other places.

i have been on affinia's website. i thought the rates were quite a bit higher, but that is probably because my dates are the monday and tuesday after Easter, which is school vacation week. I would think the suite type hotels such as Affinia offers will be selling out to families that week.

so glad I decided to run it by this forum before taking the plunge. Thanks a million.

Lest we start misinformation, there has been NO mention of Best Western Convention and bed bugs. It was the Regency inn & Suites. However, I still think the location of that Best Western is not very good for a family trip.

I URGE you to contact apartments2book as they have several of the Affinia hotels and generally at prices cheaper than directly through the hotel. Their #1 in NYC is the Affinia 50. Eastgate Tower is currently the cheapest of the Affinia hotels. It's #8 on apts 2 book.

hi mclaurie. I am looking at their website. Is is a UK company?? I am very impressed with the quality of the apartments that they show, but am not quite sure how one books... it looks to me that it requires a call to the UK (which is fine but a little more complicated than booking online).

I keep chuckling thinking about the bedbugs (although it really isn't a laughing matter). When we were in NYC in the fall we splurged for a suite in the Towers at the New York Palace.... to go from that to a flea bag hotel in noman's land: it just strikes me as sort of funny.

I think I will try to book the one bedroom suite at the #1 property. looks really nice and is closer to my sister and brother in law (whom we are visiting - they are on Central Park South by Columbus Circle)

Yes, it is a UK company. There's a form to fill out online or they say you can print out the form and fax it to them if you don't want to phone. I've figured out the following hotels, so you can check reviews on tripadvisor

1=Affinia 50
3 probably Kimberly
4-Best Western Hospitality
7=Radio City apts.
8=Eastgate Tower
9=Murray Hill East Suites
11=Beacon

The nicest of these, imo would be 1 and 3. But I'd fax them with your dates and ask them which properties they can offer for your dates for a 1 bedroom suite with 3 beds and see what they say.

hi mclaurie- you wouldn't know what #5 is, would you? it looks quite nice (although their rates aren't posted...).

I checked Affinia's website: Affinia 50 is $399 for my timeframe for a one bedroom. I will let you know what I hear from apartments2book.

I think #5 is the Blakely hotel, formerly known as the Gorham. It did have a complete renovation. Not all rooms there are suites. Very well regarded.

easy come, easy go... the Blakely appears to be booked (at least by trying through their website - not sure if this apartment2book.com would have access to rooms that the general public does not... I wouldn't think so).

I do agree with you that #5 is the Blakely (the bedspread at the foot of the bed gives it away).

Haven't heard back from apartment2book yet.

I think not only could <i>this</i> booking co. have rooms when the hotel itself doesn't, but I think that happens a lot with other booking cos./websites as well. The hotel gives a co. so many rooms that the co. &quot;guarantees.&quot; The hotel then sells the remaining rooms. Now as far as the hotel's concerned, all rooms are taken. But the booking co(s) may not have sold on all the rooms they're committed to.

thanks mclaurie... I have no knowledge of how these things work so I am glad to hear that there is a possibility of staying at the Blakely. At this point it is my first choice.

If that doesn't work out, the Affinia 50 is my second choice.

If that doesn't work, I will bid on Priceline again (it seems people are winning the grand hyatt and the barclay for in the $120 per night range... - I'd be happy with that outcome - the only thing that wouldn't make me happy would be to win the NY Sheraton Hotel and Towers, we stayed there before and imo it was one of my worst hotel experiences. the doors to the rooms are paper thin - there were youngsters partying in the hallways til all hours - I felt like I was right out there with them - the noise was so bad - I will only bid on MTS as a last resort).

My last resort is to book two rooms on hotwire... I believe it is the Paramount for $140 per night for each room.

btw, still haven't heard from apartments2book. I am starting to feel like an impatient American.

If you go the Priceline route, the way to get the Hyatt or Barclay and avoid the Sheraton is to only bid MIDTOWN EAST. The Sheraton is in Midtown West. Have you not looked at the hotel lists on biddingfortravel.com or betterbidding.com? If not, you definitely should.

I would NOT use the Paramount. The rooms are miniscule and most of the rooms only have 1 bed. What are your dates?

I've booked the Blakely directly for Easter Week with a $285 rate ...suite with two queens. I'll report back.

hi, I meant to say Midtown West (where the Sheraton is), not South. Yes, I use biddingfortravel and betterbidding. I have been starting with Upper Midtown/Central Park South and adding zones from there. Perhaps I should give up on CPS and start with Midtown East.

I think first I will call the Blakely directly and see what they have (I'm not allowed to bid again on Priceline until tomorrow anyway).

I called apartments2book this morning and was put on hold for over 3 minutes. I gave up and hung up as I had no idea if they were going to pick up the phone and I have no idea how expensive it is to call overseas. They still haven't emailed me back.

downsouth, good for you! i just called the blakely they only have 4/17 available and are completely sold out on 4/18 (those are my dates - mclaurie, any other ideas?). Their rate for a one bedroom on the 17th was $345.

We really need the seperated bedroom space as my 4 month old is not sleeping through the night yet - who knows if he will be by April 17th (hopefully). I don't want the whole family waking up when he is up at night.

In order to get the Hyatt or the Barclay on Priceline, you <i>have</i> to bid for midtown east. Perhaps the reason you're coming up dry is the UMT/CPS hotels are harder and more expensive to get. I wouldn't add MTE to an UMT bid. You'll wind up overpaying for a MTE hotel. I'd start again with a separate bid and you shouldn't have to wait to do that if you haven't tried MTE yet.

Assuming you are 2 adults and 2 children, I see the Beekman Towers, an Affinia hotel for $219 for a one bedroom suite for 4 on 4/17-19 on quikbook.com The location isn't as good as the Blakely, but hey, it's $219 for all of you!

The Kimberly (one of the apts 2 book hotels) is available for a 1 bedroom suite for $285. Gets very good reviews. There are more good options but I think you shouldn't pay more than this.

I should have added that Kimberly rate was also on quikbook.com They also had the Affinia 50 but it was much more $$ so I wouldn't commit to anything that isn't cancellable b/c apts 2 book could come back to you with something good. The quikbook options should all be cancellable. Double check.

Look at reviews for these on tripadvisor.

i will not be bidding on MTE afterall. read this tripadvisor review:

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The Grand Hyatt has bedbugs!! I realized that after my fiancee and I stayed there in Sept. and I developed dozens of red welts all over my body. Later I find out that they were bedbug bites and they got into my luggage and in my bed at home!! $1,500 in exterminator fees later, here I am. DO NOT BOOK HERE EVER!!

Oh boy. #-O

heard back from apartments2book. here is what they had for my dates. any ideas of what #30 is? this is the closest to where we would want to be and is in our price range (looks fairly nice on the apts2bk website, here is a link: http://www.apartments2book.com/newyork30.htm). thanks for all of your help!!

1=Affinia 50 at $399/nt (price is same as what is available on affinia.com)

2=?? at $255 / nt

8=Eastgate Tower at $225/nt (affinia price is $289)

9=Murray Hill East Suites at $219/nt

30=?? at $269/nt

mamadadapaige, that's a good point. The hotel had a single isolated incident involving bedbugs so it makes sense that no one ever stay there again.

In that spirit I'm compiling a list of places I'll patronize and those I won't. Could you all help me? I need a list of all airlines who have never had a single accident (don't want to book with one that has had people lose their lives), and a list of all restaurants where no one has ever gotten sick or had a case of food poisoning?

neopolitan, by all means stay at the grand hyatt if you wish... my post said that I would not - I didn't make reference to what anyone else should or shouldn't do... everyone has their own priorities.

tripadvisor exists for travellers to help other travellers... I for one appreciate the help and am influenced by it when I decide where to stay... I'm not sure why you're so steamed

I think #2 is the Affinia Manhattan.

Hmmm. Number 30 is a challenge. If it's south of #29 (as it appears on their map) and that's identified as being on 54 st. AND if it's also a block north of the F train as it says, that means it's on 51 st. unless they've misrepresented it on the map.

There is an apt. condo called Executive Plaza at at 150 w 51 st. that has some short term rentals, so that's a possibility. (Poster here Neopolitan has stayed there I believe) But it says there's daily maid service which makes it sound like a hotel. The only suite hotels I can think of in that general area are the Blakely and Rihga Royal. It doesn't seem to be either of those. Wont' they tell you? Could you at least ask whether it's east or west or Fifth Ave. since that's ambiguous on the map and in their description? Did you notice on the #30 page under the gold price box it says &quot;...including a <i>shared</i> kitchen...&quot;? What's that about?

Btw, we haven't talked about the <b>Rihga Royal</b> as a possibility for you. They're in the midst of renovations (to a much fancier place)but no one seems to have a problem with noise there. I'm not sure if their suites have kitchens. Don't know if that matters to you.

One more thought, the Manhattan Club is a timeshare on west 56 st. Owners often rent out their weeks. I think the largest 1 bedrooms have 2 full baths. There are a few websites used for timeshare rentals. tug2.net is one of them.

Wow, my apologies, about my totally misunderstanding your post, mamadadapaige.

I read this &quot;DO NOT BOOK HERE EVER!!&quot;

Forgive me for not realizing that what that really said was &quot;I won't stay there, I didn't make reference to what anyone else should or shouldn't do...&quot;

How could I misinterpret &quot;DO NOT BOOK HERE EVER!!&quot; to mean, &quot;do not book here ever&quot;?

Again my apologies.

By the way, I'm not steamed at all. Sorry that you apparently are.

And no, I haven't stayed at Executive Plaza, mclaurie. I've researched it and visited it, but could only find rentals by the month there, not even by the week, so I don't think that's it.
Could that property be Radio City Apartments?

I think I looked into Righa Royal and prices were up there... will have to revisit.

here is the description they sent me by email about #30 (I will email them to ask location or name of property, however, I only just got a response from them this morning from the email I sent two days ago -- although I really shouldn't be impatient as we aren't travelling for another 3 weeks):

MIDTOWN CENTRAL PARK RESIDENCE :
A modern and stylish Hotel style residence which is superbly located in a prime neighborhood close to Central Park, Carnegie Hall and 5th Avenue shopping which has a wonderful selection of very spacious and well equipped furnished apartments together with an on site fitness facility. This wonderful value option provides very comfortable short and extended stay rentals in the heart of central Manhattan with many services of a Hotel and easy access to transport links.

Superior 1 Bedroom Apartment -
Superbly equipped and exceptionally spacious accommodations with stylish elegance including a large double bedroom, luxury bathroom, separate living room / diner including work study desk together with a fully equipped kitchen facility
Daily Rate at $ 269 USD plus tax. To sleep up to 4 people.

NOTE - 24hr hotel style reception and concierge, daily housekeeping, business centre, air conditioned, CD stereo system, voice mail, high speed internet access, 24hr fitness centre with sauna and laundry service

ahhh, Neopolitan, now I understand...

You thought that I said DO NOT EVER BOOK HERE, but I didn't. What I said was to read the tripadvisor review - this was someone else's review that I copied and pasted into the thread. It was not my editorial - simply a review that influenced me about a place that I very well could have won on priceline had I bid for MTE.

And now mamadadapaige, I realize that my last post sounds like I was quoting you and not the tripadvisor quote that you gave. If I were making light of the single bedbug accident it was aimed at the person who wrote that report, not you.

Meanwhile if I eliminated every hotel that had a single crazed rant from a disgruntled guest on Trip Advisor, there would be no where left to stay. I have no reason in the world to believe that a similar bed bug accident isn't just as possible at every single hotel being mentioned in this thread!

Ooops, we were posting at the same time. But I hope my last post explained it better than the previous one.
Peace!

point well taken... there are probably more people motivated to write a review for tripadvisor after a negative experience than a positive one.