Hello,

I need NYC advice for a short weekend trip with my 14 year old daughter. I do not know NYC that well, but I have narrowed our hotel choices down to:

Westin Times Square
Intercontinental Barclay
Swissotel-The Drake
Grand Hyatt New York

I am looking for advice as to the general area of each of these and the general overall quality. We will not have a car and look to walk to two Broadway shows while we are in New York. We do not require luxury, but do wish to have a nice place for a father/daughter long weekend.

Thanks in advance!

I'd go with the Westin, for sheer convenience in walking to the theatres, plus overall quality.

For the best price, use Priceline.

enjoylife, did you read the question? Your response has NOTHING in the world to do with the question asked. Or did you accidentally post this on the wrong thread?

Thanks for the reply Patrick,

Any other thoughts on this? Are the areas of the hotels about the same..Midtown East vs. Midtown West?

Well, first of all - although these hotels are all midtown - and easily walkable to the theater district - the only one actually near it is the Westin - on west 43rd St.

The Grand Hyatt is on east 42 (near park Avenue) - about a 10 or 15 walk to most theaters - right neat Grand Central Station is a primarily business area

The Drake is on Park and east 56th - north and east of most of the theaters. this area is mixed business and shopping. Would probably be a 15 minute walk to most theaters

The Barclay is on east 48th near Park - also mostly a business area - although if you cut straight west you will run past Saks, St Pats, Rock Center ad the Music Hall on your way to the theater district - again 10 minutes or so

Caveat: theaters are a little spread out and the walks can be several blocks longer or shorter depending on which shows you pick.

Also - this asumes a NYC walking pace - 1 minute per n/s block and a couple of minutes per e/w block - not the usual mall meander - which would take significantly longer.

Hope this helps


The Drak

Further clarification of my answer, which is in agreement with what nytraveler has just said, is that the other three hotels are much more in business sections. The Grand Hyatt in particular is kind of dead around it at night (other than inside Grand Central Station). From the Westin, you can also go just a block to the west and along 9th Avenue you're in the heart of "Hell's Kitchen" which is filled with more local type restaurants which are inexpensive to moderate and are much more for locals that they are for midtown expense account diners.

NYtraveler is right on with respect to where your hotels are located. None of them are particularly bad choices, though. Of them, I would probably take the Intercontinental Barclay. I've stayed there before and it is a lovely hotel -- nice lobby, nicely appointed (and decent sized) rooms with nice bathrooms, good service. It is east of the theatre district, but still near shopping, rockefeller center, on the subway line to the Metropolitan Museum, etc.

If you are going to see two shows, I would stay at the Westin. Whenever I need a hotel in the Times Square Area, I also consider the Marriott Marquis.
For a father-daughter weekend, I would not consider Priceline as previously suggested. There is less of a chance for a guarantee of two beds. Enjoy the city.

Thanks for the help!