My son (11) and I (Female) are going to NYC in a few weeks to see the Lion King - evening show and go ice skating in Central Park. He'll want to go to Toys-R-Us etc and we've been to NYC in the summer so we've done most of the tourist stuff. This is just a quick Mom and Son weekend trip.

I am able to book one of the above hotels in the club level with 2 double beds:
Sheraton - $620
West Time Square - $720

This is for both nights including taxes. Where would you stay. I thought the Time Square one would be better for walking back to our room after the show but is it worth the extra $100. I know it is hard ot get a cab after the plays end in Time Square.

I would like to stay under $700 for the 2 nights, have a room with 2 beds and be a nice hotel. I don't mind being a way from TS but then would like to be close to one of the subway entrances.

We will not go shopping on Fifth Ave or eat at any high end restaurants so I would love any other suggestion you might have from your own experiences.

just to be clear, is it the SHeraton NY Hotel and Towers or the Sheraton Manhatan? They are across the street from each other but different amenities (inodor pool at Shertaon Manhattan; differences in the club levels) and feel.

The Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers. Thank you.

I have stayed several times at the Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers on the club level, twice w/my son when he was 12 and 13. The rooms w/2 doubles are tight. You walk in the room and right next to the door is a very small bathroom. I mean two people can't fit in it, and when one person is in it that person must close the door to be able to sit on the john; very little vanity space as the sinks are on metal legs. So the bathrm. will be tight. The room is fairly newish and updated, but nothing spectacular. Beds and pillows are good quality, not "heavenly sleeper" but good. Btwn. the two beds is one night stand. On far side of rm. on other side of beds is a long built in dark cherry color running desk on the wall under the window w/ergonomic webbed chair. One thing is there is no dresser in the rm. Small closet, and the TV is on an older peice of furniture more like a TV stand w/a cabinet under it than a dresser. It just holds the TV on top so everythign else you need counter space for ends up on the built in desk on that far window wall.

Club level service is pretty good. Breakfast is a good assortment of fruits (several varieties of berries, apples, oranges, bananas), pastries, good coffee (starbucks), hard bioled eggs, cheeses, meats, yogurt, sort of european style. I think there is also one-two hot dishes also. But is is cramped in the area where the food is served. The seating area is good, nice view high up on one side where the bar is, but it gets crowded at peak times. Afternoon-evening appetizers and drinks: you pay for the drinks, unlike some other Sheraton clubs. Appetizers are pretty good, a fe hot, some cold. I know there great little desserts and choclates out, but I am not sure if those were at appetizer time in early evening or if they were later at night.

I have stayed there a few times without my son also. So in spite of the small rooms I go back. One gripe is that there is a weird thing in these rooms w/sound. You can hear the person in the next room (clearly, like if they are on the phone I can hear what the conversation is about) but only in the area of the wall close to the window. It is like there is not enough soundproofing in that one area. I have had to knock on the wall to let people know to keep it down. I am noise sensitive though, maybe it wouldn't bother you or someone else.

Thsi hotel is a convention hotel- it can be a long process at the front desk and they are busy busy busy. But I've always gotten pretty good service, and I like the health club.

I love Starwood points and take vacations to Asia using them. So I will stay at Sheratons and Westins whenever I can. Personally, I'd find out more about the Westin, because it is likely to be nicer from what I have read.

i took my grandson (age 10) to new york for 4 days in december. we stayed at a great hotel in a very safe area. On The Ave is on the upper west side. i would rather pay for cabs and stay somewhere besides times square. by the way, i paid far less for our hotel and the room ws beautiful, with flat screen tv, large bathroom and dreamy feather bed. i highly recommend it.

oh, one more thing. If you stay at SHeraton NY you get to use the great indoor pool at Sheraton Manhattan. You might not have time for this, but on the other hand, it might be jsut the thing for your son when you both want a one hour break. It is a HUGE indoor pool (I beleive it is the biggest one in Manhattan) and very nice; I have met people there who live in the city and pay for memberships to the pool.

You must be hitting the school break week. Things appear to be booked up pretty good.

Try the Belvedere..very reasonable..a little off the beaten path..but still walking distance to Times Sq etc..I was there last October, pd $150 night..2 double beds, small kitchen area, fridge, microwave, etc..

If you do a search here for Westin club level you will find most people think it's not worth the premium. It is on lower floors. Here are a few previous posts

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34544791

http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....tin+club+level

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34544791

The Sheraton is a big convention type hotel. Neither of these options would excite me, let alone paying over $300/night.

What other options do you want to consider?

Jumeirah Essex House looks really nice with views of the park. It's a little pricier but I either want to stay right in Time Square where we can walk to food and Lion King or right outside Central Park where we can walk to the park and the skating Rink. Either place, I'd like a room with a view. I know you can walk to any of this stuff but if we are close it's easier to go back and forth the to room if we want to.

If we stayed at Jumeirah Essex House, we would go up early Saturday morning rather than Friday evening so we can get a nicer room with a view of the park. I don't particularly want a room with a Kitchen. We will eat small breakfast - maybe a bagel or fruit at most. I imagine it will be Pizza or hot dogs for lunch and dinner will be something alittle more sit down near the Lion King or near our Hotel. Sunday we would like to go to Serendipity (sp) on 60th. We've been twice before and it's a fun time with good food and desserts.

Basically I'm looking for a room under $300 per night for 2 nights or under $450 for one night. I like nice, new bathrooms with a tub. No kitchen, More modern looking w/ light interiors and not the frilly, heavy dark flowery fabrics of the European type vintage hotels. I've stayed at the New York Palace (I like that), the Penisula (again very nice) and the Waldorf=Astoria. I didn't like the Waldorf at all. Small, stuffy dark rooms.....

I'd like a view of Central Park or Time Square - either would be fine.

Thanks again.

Whoa! Westin has sold the Essex House to this Jumeirah group. That is big news to me, because I also stay the the Essex House a lot (4 to 5 times a year). I loved it as a Westin. It is a great art deco hotel - the art deco architecture is apparent in the lobby especially. Unless they have alrady renovated and change it (I doubt it since they just bought it in January) the rooms are classic and nice, not real modern though, but not overly heavy in decor either - just classic. Bathrooms are classic and marble; drapes are heavy and usually light to mid-blue in the rooms I've stayed in. Only once was I given a rooms w/central park view, although I have stayed there for 10 years as a Starwood Gold level member. But that view of Central Park was great. I like the Cafe Botanica off the lobby for breakfast - it is nice to get a table right on Central Park South.

I usually stay here for business, but also stayed here once w/my son. It was a great location for walking in Central Park, skating there, and going to Micky Mantle's restaurant down the street on Central Park South (my son plays baseball). It is a bit of a walk to Times Spuare and theaters but it can be done, just put on the walking shoes.

I am very sad to hear that this hotel has left the Starwood group. They gave very good service and I liked it a lot -just classy enough.

emd, I discovered this news doing some research for Nancy. Interestingly, Le Parker Meridien has JOINED Starwood. Le Parker Meridien actually fits your description to a tee, Nancy, and it has a rooftop swimming pool. Not sure how nice the bathrooms are. The website says the suites have separate tub and shower.

But if you don't have to be at a Starwood Hotel, I would pick the Essex House in a minute. Love the location. I think you have to pay for the park view.

You might also have a look at the Sofitel on 44th b/w 5th & 6th. It has the sort of feel you describe and it well located to the theater. Another idea is the Michelangelo. While it's not modern decor, it's fresh and not heavy. They claim to have the largest tubs in the city. Good location for both the theater and the park but I don't think you'll get any views there.

mclaurie, that's right! I saw the news about all the Meridein's joining Starwood but didn't think of Le Parker being one of them as I rarely stay in Meridein's in the U.S. (love the ones in Europe though). I have always wanted to stay at Le Parker. The rooms look great on their site, a little on the modern side for me but very nice. And this hotel might just fit the bill for Nancy. Rooms are $275 the weekend of Feb. 11 for Meridien Passport members, which is a discount from the rack rate so it pays to be a member. And you can't use a Starwood card there til 3/17.

Thank you so much. Okay- after lookinga at the hotel sites and costs I really like both the Le Parker Meridien (interiors are great) and the Jumeirah Essex House (for location - right across the street from Park). For a park view room - both are comparably priced. I'll do a little more looking at reviews of these 2 hotels - but I will go with one of them.

I also have to decide whether arriving on Friday at 4:30 and paying an extra night is worth it or arriving on Saturday at 10:30 makes more sense. (we leave NYC Sunday at 4:30)

I'm leaning toward Friday as it really gives us time to do something on Friday evening (maybe see Drumstruck) and we can get up Saturday and be skating by 11 instead of just getting into the City. I've almost got myself talked into it. :0)

You've all been great. Any other comments are always welcome!

I think either of those hotels will be really nice. Both have pros and cons. Parker Meridien has the pool (although if this is of interest to your son, check what their rules are on kids using it, may only be certain hours). Parker Meridien also has 2 kid friendly restaurants, the Burger Joint and Norma's. Parker Meridien is more modern. I think the service at the Essex House is probably much better (unless new management is causing any upheaval).

In your shoes, I think I'd book for the 2 nights and maybe decide closer to the time, maybe based on weather? It's easier to cancel one night than to add one night.

Make sure you try to stop at the zoo to see the polar bears on your way to skating. Has he been to FAO Schwarz?

gocitykids.com is a good site.

re mclaurie's suggestion on FAO Schwatrz if he hasn't been there: He won't be too old for it. My son, who is now 15, still likes to go there for the cool action figures and Star Wars area (which is great, I love it too). There are other "themed" areas he'll probably like there.