Seeking advice on 34th Ave. HoJo
 

We're planning a trip to NYC in June. I've used tons of info. off this forum and found two hotels at a great price fo rthe time we're coming--$110/night. I've seen positive comments for one of the hotels, On the Avenue, but no comments on the other. It's the Howard Johnsons on 34th Ave, and I'm hoping someone out there can tell me about this place. All we need in a hotel is a clean bed and bathroom and a quiet night's sleep, but HoJo also offers a complimentary breakfast, which sounds very convenient. <BR> <BR>Other posts have said On the Ave. is in a nice neighborhood; how about this HoJo? Please give me any info. and/or advice you can on this hotel. Thanks in advance; and thanks to all the other people out there who have posted information!!

he Howard Johnsons on 34 St is in a bustling tourist and business area, near Penn Station and Macys. It is not an unsafe neighborhood, but extremely heavily trafficked and not very attractive. However it is conveniently located near many tourist attractions, ie Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, Empire State. <BR>On the Ave is on the upper west side, musch more residential and somewhat quieter. It not as touristy, but still located near such sites as Central Park, the Museum of natural History, and Lincoln Center. <BR> <BR>Unfortunately I dont know anything about either hotel.

Andrea, <BR> <BR>Two years ago a few friends of mine and I stayed at the HOJO you're inquiring about. Then, they were doing a bunch of renovations (no light fixtures in the hallways, no painted walls, etc.) and I could not believe we were paying over $100/night there. Plus, there was this guy who was staying next to us and had his alarm clock beeping throughout most of our stay (except the last night and lots of complaining. I am going to NYC tomorrow and am staying at On the Ave. I know it's not by all the sites, but a bunch of sites (regardless of wherever you stay) require some type of walking. Anyway, that's all the sites I saw when I was in NYC last time (i.e., Rockefeller Ctr., Statue, Times Square). I'm sure the renovations are finished now, but nothing was grand about the place. The restaurant in the downstairs area was not great (just breakfast and drinks). It surely was not a place I'd eat a steak. It did, however, have a nice mexican restaurant (and awesome margaritas) located across the street. There was also a nice italian restaurant that was a couple of blocks away and across the street. <BR> <BR>Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy your stay. I'll try to remember to let you know how my stay was at On the Ave upon my return. <BR> <BR>Good luck.

Briefly, 34th Street is not a great area to be in at night. On The Avenue is in much better area.

I've stayed both in that HoJo and in the one on Park Ave South. Rooms are tiny at both but the 34th Street facility is not nearly as nice and it is a noisy location. Inthat same general area is the Hotel New Yorker at 34th and 8th, a grand old hotel that has been restored and has enormous rooms which are impeccably maintained (they were when I stayed there last year) It's a few dollars more but worth it. Also near there is the Hotel Stanford on 32nd just off Broadway by Herald Square and the Manhattan Mall. It's a very nice small hotel with moderate rates - just a tad more than HoJo. That entire part of midtown is pretty much dead at nigh other than the occasional diner or coffeeshop. ON the Ave is a better bet for location and my friends who stayed there in Nov 99 were very pleased.

I also would recommend staying at On the Ave based on the fact that it's in a nicer neighborhood. And if you do want to go to the Times Square area (for Broadway, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, or whatever), On the Ave is near a subway stop for the 1,2,3, & 9 subway lines -- if you take the 2 or the 3 they are express trains and you are only one stop away from Times Square! The 1 & 9 stop many times in between. <BR>