NYC Hotel Help?!?!
 

I've tried to do my homework but am still confused as to which hotel would be best. We're a family of 4 (so no Priceline) planning to go during spring break for 5 nights. Here's my narrowed down list:<BR>Novotel $169<BR>Omni Berkshire $199<BR>Muse $211 <BR>Millennium Broadway $199<BR>Sheraton $209<BR>We want to be close to theaters and in a safe area to walk around Times Square. Am I missing a better hotel in the same price range?<BR>Thanks!

Hi Lisa-<BR>Are you planning on taking two rooms?<BR>I ask because we stayed @ The Muse and found the room to be very small. Another problem is the noise from the Times Square area which continues throughout the night.<BR>One option might be the Rihga Royal. All the rooms are suites and could possibly hold all four of you. Good walking distance to the theater, etc.<BR>Hope this helps.

Howard,<BR><BR>Thanks for responding! I looked at the Rihga Royal website and it looks great but it's $299 a night. I was hoping to keep the room around $200. Our kids are still small enough that I think one room will be fine.

We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard at 52nd St. &amp; 3rd Ave. Large room with 2 queen beds for $189. We had planned to walk more but it was so cold that we took the subway a lot and this was a great location for catching the subway.

Lisa:<BR>Why are you excluding Priceline just because you have 4 people? With Priceline's rates being 50% less, you can get 2 rms for the price of 1. More room for everyone, and more importantly, 2 bathrooms, making the morning rush alot easier.

Of your options, I'd take the Sheraton at $209.

Lisa-If it's one room you're after than definitely rule out The Muse. For two of us the room felt small.<BR>One other thought- the Westin@Times Square may have rooms that are somewhat larger and the price should be in the $199 range.

Of the list I would take the Omni Bershire. Great location on Madison Ave and 52nd St. Very elegant lobby, and many good comments on this forum, do a search. Also checkout rates quikbook.com.

Why not Priceline, you ask? From the original post I get the idea that lisa is somewhat particular. That's why she's asking which of those already selected hotels is best for location and the room. For some people it isn't simply the bottom line. Getting stuck with a hotel just because it &quot;fits&quot; by general location and not being able to decide whether I wanted it or not is not worth the savings to me. Why ruin a trip because you bid and then got stuck with a hotel that you really didn't want to stay in? Some things are more important than money to me, believe it or not.<BR>

Lisa, check out The Gorham Hotel on West 55th Street. It's a very lovely boutique style hotel that is in the center of everything. You can walk to all the major tourist areas and it is in a very safe area. Rates vary so go on their website, but you could probably get a deluxe one bedroom suite with 2 queen beds, a separate living area with a pullout couch, a kitchenette, and marble bath with whirlpool for about $250.00.

Check out the Mayflower. Two adults and two kids can stay in a good sized room for New York with a pantry and small fridge for $189. And if you ask to be upgraded to a suite when you check in, you probably will be--we are every time. The hotel is in a great central location to everything, you can walk to Times Square totally safely, and Central Park is across the street which is GREAT with kids. Check it out.

Here's another recommendation for the Mayflower, though it's a bit of a walk from Times Square and the theatres (all depending upon which shows you're seeing). <BR><BR>Many who use Hotwire and Priceline report that if you stick to 4 stars and above, no problem ever getting a room with two doubles for a family upon request. No one has reported that they've been refused.

Lisa - the Sofitel is the best one, it's one 44th, near the square, and not on your list. It should be. I but you could talk the reservationists down to 190 a night.

Thanks to everyone! I still would like to stick to everyone being in just one room. Has anyone else had experience bidding on 4 stars on Priceline and being able to request 2 double beds? If I was sure about location I would go ahead and reserve the Omni. I've stayed at the Omni Royal Orleans and loved it. I guess I'm off to check out the Gorham and the Sofitel.

Priceline for a family of 4 in NYC is very risky. Many of the hotels only have rooms with 1 large bed and room for only 1 rollaway. I've used priceline for my family (also 2 children), but i always check biddingfortravel.com to make sure there aren't any hotels frequently rewarded that can't accommodate us. I don't use priceline if there is a possibility of getting a small room. This is a problem in Boston and most likely NYC as well, we've been successful in DC, Phil. and some smaller cities. I actual have done priceline in NYC for visiting guests (I live here) and ended up with a suite at the Avalon, but I think we just lucked out.

We've stayed at the Sofitel and found our room with two doubles cramped (this was before I discovered Hotwire and PRiceline). We've almost always been successful with four stars at getting assigned a room large enough for the four of us. Twice (Hyatt) we were charged $30/night to upgrade, but they also gave us a room on the Regency level with a fantastic view. Even with the extra $30/night, rate was way lower than booking through other resources.

We stayed at Novotel in Oct and really liked it. Nice room and great location.