NYC w/ the teens - mid Nov
 

I had posted looking for suggestions on a weekend trip w/ the teens (girls) and got some great suggestions. We were looking for a trip which would allow us to see a show(play or musical) and do some sightseeing/museuming. Considered Phila but when I heard Mary Poppins was coming to NYC I suspected they'd go for that - and they have. Two years ago we stayed in the Murray Hill area in a suite and it was great - not too far but also a bit quieter and more like a neighborhood. Any suggestions for a different area of town to stay (not Times Square) that would be convenient to get to MOMA and Broadway and also shopping (of course).

If you're still looking for a suite, the best options would be the Blakely or Radio City Apartments. The Blakely is near but not in TS. Another would be the Salisbury.

mclaurie - thanks for these suggestions - RCA looked great but no availability for our dates. Salisbury looks like a good deal and we can get slightly better by going package route through Expedia. Any thoughts on Belleclaire or Excelsior?

They're in the same great neighborhood (upper west side: mid/upscale residential with tons of great inexpensive and + restaurants, good access to Park and Museums and good subway service - 2 lines) and both are budget.

Belleclaire is 3* and seems to get slightly better reviews. Excelsior (2*) gets more mixed reviews - but to me some of them seem to be from people who were expecting more than is realistic for their budget.

I would have thought the Excelsior was a better hotel than the Belleclaire. On the upper westside where this 2 are is also the Beacon and the Milburn, both suite hotels. The Salisbury is within a walk to the theaters while staying on the upper westside will require transportation. A lot of people like staying on the UWS feeling it's more like being a local. The Mus. of Nat. History is up there directly across from the Excelsior. You'd also be across the park from the Met museum and many others.

Have never stayed in either the Belleclaire or Excelsior - since I live here - but have seen outside and inside public areas and they seem similar - pleasant but modest. Comments come from those who've stayed there - and as I said - some seemed to be from people thinking a budget price should get them a 4* hotel.

Same areas also has the Lucerne - which is prettier/nicer but also pricier.

has anyone heard of the Woo Goo Central Park Tempo apts?

do a search here on woo goo. there have been issues. also check tripadvisor.com for more info.

Check affinia.com, they may have something.

Woogo are scam artists
woogosucks.com

Taking the bull by the horns I looked on quikbook for the weekend of Nov 17-18. If you want a 1 bedroom suite, right now, the lowest price is $305/night for
the Kimberly which is in midtown east, a good hotel.

There are rooms for 4 people (2 double beds which are often queens) at around the same price at the San Carlos (which also has suites), the Salisbury, the Helmsley Middletowne, the Park South and plenty of others or for less at the Belleclaire, Kimberly, Excelsior (these have suites but not at this price). You can get a studio suite (ie larger than a regular room, kitchenette) at the Affinia Manhattan for 4 for $299.

Most of these are cancellable (book now, pay later). I'd book one and then see whether there are any "deals" on travelzoo or elsewhere closer to your trip.

We really want a suite w/ sep br and living room area w/ sofa bed - that is why it is so pricey. I know that that is prime/time for NYC.

Well $305 for the Kimberly is a lot better than $450 for the Salisbury I think.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html

Don't know how that affects your flights though.

Also, the Beacon Hotel on the upper westside has a 1 bedroom suite for that weekend for $325/night on their own website.
beaconhotel.com

Is that the weekend?

The Kimberly comes up for that weekend (nov 17-19th, 2 nites) at $445/nite + taxes - making it over $1000 for the 2 nites. The Beacon is much more reasonable - thanks for that tip - will look into that as a possibility.

I assure you this morning the Kimberly was $305 for a 1 bedroom on quikbook. Right now it's $365 (?) But the Beacon's a good option.

So here's an interesting observation. It's been driving me crazy about the change in quikbook price on the Kimberly. If you put in <b>2 adults and 2 children</b> the price for a 1 bedroom suite at the Kimberly is $305/night for Nov 17-19. If you put in <b>4 adults</b>, the price is $365. But it's not $445.

You need to be really careful about this kids price thing. Many hotels in NYC count 13 and up as adults - so don;t assume you can get kids rates just because they're YOUR children.

Interesting that on the hotel's own website the 1 bedroom suite is indeed $445 for 2 adults and 2 kids. For 4 adults, it's $505!! So while the quikbook prices are substantially less, the difference b/w 2 children vs 2 more adults remains the same $60/night. I can find nowhere on the hotel's website where they mention what age is considered children.

that's probably it - one will be 19 and the other 17....so in some hotels that's one child and other's it's 4 adults.

Ok - I'm in the process of narrowing our possibilities down...Radio City Apts not avail, would like to stay on Upper West Side or West side towards park/Broadway/Theatre district...looking also at Salisbury, Excelsior, and Belleclaire. Anyone else have any other suggestions?

&quot;I would have thought the Excelsior was a better hotel than the Belleclaire.&quot; Mclaurie, I've stayed in both in the last few years, and the Excelsior was hands down better than the Belleclaire. Nothing wrong with the Belleclaire (well the building heating system quit working one night, but hey, these are old buildings) but in terms of decor and amenities the Excelsior was better.

mclaurie, are you interested in possibly meeting up for a drink or coffee on my upcoming trip to NYC w/my daughter? If you see this and are so inclined, post back here.

Sorry, not trying to hijack the thread, but I saw that mclaurie had posted on it recently.

Thanks, Eileen (emd)