Hello all.... I'm trying to plan a brief trip to NYC for June '03 for possibly up to five ladies. After reading lots of information here I like the idea of the Beacon Hotel... pretty good reviews and they have a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom suite that would accomodate all of us together. Breaking down the price per person, per night at the rate I was quoted seems reasonable at $74.

Apparently The Beacon is in an area called Upper West Side. There is a Comfort Inn Midtown that also sounds interesting if my group gets down to 2 or 3. Also, if this location is better for us may just get two separate rooms instead of a suite at the Beacon.

Our main purpose for traveling to NYC is actually to attend the Yankees/Cardinals series, with only 24 hours devoted to pure sightseeing, but I'm assuming as long as a subway station is near whatever hotel I choose, that would not be an issue for location.

What pros and cons are there for us staying in different areas, such as the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Midtown, etc?

The upper west side is a very pleasant neighborhood. Lots of nice restaurants and shops. This is a much better option then anywhere in the Times Square area (midtown west). Midtown east is also a decent area (convenient, near much) but the Upper West side neighborhood has a bit more charm (and is a few subway stops closer to Yankee stadium).

I stayed at the Comfort Inn Midtown and liked it very much. Clean, quiet, good continental breakfast, recently remodeled, and very convenient location, just a blcok from Times Square on a block with a great variety of restaurants. I chose it becuase it's the only entirely non-smoking hotel in NYC.

BUT . . . all the rooms I saw were quite small, and I'd be surprised if any have 2 beds or even 1 bed and room for a roll-away.

Most people would consider midtown more convenient for most sightseeing, compared to UWS. Not only are there lots of restaurants, tourist sights and theaters in midtown, but the popular Gray Line hop-on-hop-off buses are based there.

IMO, the Upper West (residential, brownstones, quaint, near Central Park)is a better place to stay than Midtown (all businesses, touristy) and the Upper East (not as much character). There are plenty of restaurants in that area, and you can easily walk to several beautiful parks and the Museum of Natural History. You're also just a short subway ride away from Times Square. I'm not sure which subway line goes to Yankee Sta. from there, but it will be within walking distance of your hotel. I have heard great things about the Beacon - you have made an excelllent choice!

OK Sandi,
You got two before being called out.
Read folks...The Yanks and Cards are OUT of the series!

Thanks to Me, Jen and Suzanne for your thoughtful replies.

Anon, Have you ever heard of planning ahead? I'm talking about next year.

Anon, she's talking about a series in June '03.

m

Mea culpa...I caught that when I hit the send button...alas
Apologies ofered.

I guess a lot depends on what you're looking for. I'm always amused when people recommend hotel locations in NYC because they're quiet and residential. If I want to see a quiet residential area or brownstones, or shops, I can just stay home! I much prefer to be right in the middle of the hussle-bustle of what makes NYC unique -- Times Square/Rockefeller Center, crowds and excitement and exotic-looking people and theaters. When I'm a tourist, I do touristy things!

Anon,

Apology accepted.

Jen,

I actually like the idea of the Beacon mostly because of the 2-bedroom suite. If my group stays at five I think it would be great to be able to share the same space but still have plenty of beds and 2 baths. I have not found another hotel with the same type of room for the same price, yet. But it sounds like a great neighborhood, too. I enjoy being a tourist also. I can't wait to get to Times Square and just let my eyes pop out.

Sandi,
UWS(Upper West Side) is very close to the Times Square area. I think you will like that area, lots of restaurants, shops, Central Park, & sights near your hotel. It is a quick trip to see the Times Square area. In my opinion, it is a pain to stay in the Times Square area because it is just so extremely touristy and the sidewalks are just jammed with people all the time. You'll know what I'm talking about once you get there!

How do you know when these games will be? Doesn't next year's schedule come out in February?

xxx,

I have a 2003 Cardinals baseball schedule in front of me as I am typing this. They were handed out the day of the last regular season game. It is early though... usually don't get them until late December.

Sandi, I'd definitely stay at the Beacon Hotel. Here's their website:
http://www.beaconhotel.com You can also read user reviews about it on:
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7167048
You'll be on 74th Street & Broadway and the subway is on 72nd Street & Broadway and also 79th & Broadway. You can scoot down to Times Square either on the train or catch a bus going downtown. The 2 bedroom 2 bathroom suite sounds ideal for your gang.

You'll be near the Hayden Planetarium, Museum of Natural History, Zabar's for delicious takeout foods, loads of restaurants, Central Park and Riverside Park, and will get a truer feeling of Manhattan than being down in Disneyfied Times Squre.

I've read there's also a ferry that goes to Yankee Stadium that might be fun. Do a search on Google.

I agree with Jen, when doing the tourist thing, it's best to be in the thick of it. I vote for East Midtown, still close enough to walk everywhere and much cleaner and quieter than Times Square.

Something that people don't seem to realize (especially if they have never been to NYC) is that the area from the West Village/SoHo/East Village north through Midtown and up to the Upper West Side is VERY compact. On the subway, even on the local train, from 72nd Street (closest stop to Beacon Hotel) to 42nd Street (Times Square) is only FOUR stops. It takes door to door, maybe 10 minutes. The express ride is only ONE stop. Plus, the subway is WAY safer than you might imagine and quite busy, even on weekends and ain the evening. And it runs all night (totally safe at night as long as you are not all alone). A cab ride would be 5-10 mins, and like $5-10.

The advantages to being in an area like the Upper West Side (which, although residential, has a LOT of retail and foot traffic), are that it's a LOT quieter and easier to find a nice little cafe first thing in the morning. I totally agree that Midtown is the place to spend your sightseeing time, but you can get there so quickly.

Hotel Beacon is in a great location and looks very nice. On Broadway right there are so many stores, restaurants and cafes. The walk down Broadway will take you past Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle, Central Park and into Times Square if you feel like walking (less than two miles from Hotel Beacon to Times Square). Plus, Central Park is just a five minute walk east of the hotel. You'll appreciate being away from Times Square when it's time to nap in the afternoon or sleep at night. Even with triple paned glass, the lights and sounds of Times Square don't go away.

For the games, in order to get to Yankee Stadium from Hotel Beacon, you would take the #2 train (express) northbound from 72nd street for six stops to 149th Street/Grand Concourse, then transfer to the #4 train northbound for one stop (161st/Yankee Stadium). Maybe 15-20 minutes max. Plus, before games, the trains are very well populated with people going to the games.

Enjoy your stay in New York!!!!

I totally agree that the UWS is the better area to stay. Don't limit yourself to Midtown - its the blandest part of the city. Also..there are great places to eat, shop and trendy clubs in Chelsea ..make sure to check it out. Oh..and the subway is perfectly safe, even by yourself, at all hours of the night.

Everyone,
Thanks for all the advice. I appreciate so much the knowledge shared on this website. It has helped me countless times to plan trips to all kinds of destinations.

I'm going to make a reservation at the Beacon and if my group falls to less than the five I will just see about staying there in a different type of room. It sounds really good. With the market I've read about across the street and having a kitchenette in the rooms also will be a good thing.

Now I've got to decide on some kind of accomodations for Boston.... actually going there first but for just two days. Cardinals are going to play at Fenway park too!