W Hotel Union Square New York??
 

How is this hotel for location, size of rooms (two adults, two kids), is it teenager friendly? Three nights in December. Thanks.

Jennifer, plug in the following URL for a review of the hotel in NY Magazine earlier this year: http://www.newyorkmag.com/page.cfm?page_id=4341 <BR> <BR>I think the location is great, right in a neighborhood of great restaurants, lots of shopping, close to downtown areas (Greenwich Village, East Village, Soho, Chinatown, etc.) and right on Union Square, with its great farmers' market four days a week. <BR> <BR>If you're planning to spend most of your time in the midtwon/Times Square area for the tourist attractions there, you should know that, while it's not difficult at all to reach that area from Union Square via public transit, you'll either have to take two trains or buses or walk west to 6th Ave to catch the subway; ditto for the World TYrade Center and other places in its vicinity. I don't find this a problem because the city is great for walking. <BR> <BR>Not sure what constitutes teen-friendly; it's currently a hip place to stay, and I see no barriers for teens. It's a short walk from Broadway below 8th St., a commercial area near NYU that should appeal to teens. If, on the other hand, you mean proximity to fast food, arcades, and that sort of thing, you'd be etter off staying near Times Square. I guess it depends on your teens.

I visited the hotel on Mother's day. We did not stay but asked to see a room for future family gatherings. It is totally a hotel Teens and kids would like. My sister and her kids liked it they said it reminded them of the Hard Rock Hotel Miami if that means anything to you. Downtown is much more accessible than midtown for tourism, largely because you are not in a business district. Lived downtown 2 blks from union square for 3 years, you can walk around at 2-3 in the morning and still see people out and about. Although you do want to exercise some caution if you are coming from a rural or suberban area. You are in close access to mid-town and soho. I think it is a wonderful location. I live upper east side now and still find myself wandering down on the weekend. A favorite haunt nearby is city bakery. The head pastry cheff has found national recognition for his tarts. There are a sleu of restaurants in the area but I will just leave you with that one (lunch)place as December is a long way off, enjoy!!! And the earlier poster is wrong on the trains, the N train goes to Time Square from Union square in two or three stop (14 (opposite end of square from w) (-23-33-42 time square).

I visited the hotel on Mother's day. We did not stay but asked to see a room for future family gatherings. It is a great hotel for Teens and kids. My sister and her kids liked it they said it reminded them of the Hard Rock Hotel Miami if that means anything to you. <BR>But they were referring to the funking colors (purple) and modern décor in bedrooms. Tall wheat grass sort of landscaped into the lobby with the thin green twirled on the ends bamboo. I thought it looked like very very modern Japanese if you can imagine. <BR>Downtown is much more accessible than midtown for tourism, largely because you are not in a business district. Lived downtown 2 blks from union square for 3 years, you can walk around at 2-3 in the morning and still see people out and about. Although you do want to exercise some caution if you are coming from a rural or suburban area. You are in close access to mid-town and soho. I think it is a wonderful location. I live upper east side now and still find myself wandering down on the weekend. A favorite haunt nearby is city bakery. The head pastry chef has found national recognition for his tarts. There are a slue of restaurants in the area but I will just leave you with that one (lunch)place as December is a long way off, enjoy!!! And the earlier poster is wrong on the trains, the N train goes to Time Square from Union square in two or three stop (14 (opposite end of square from w)(-23-28- 34 - 42nd time square). <BR>

Just call me marykelly, sorry not sure how that happened

Thanks, Caitlin, for URL. And Mary/Kelly for scoop. Hotel sounds perfect. Do you think the walk to Times Square is more than 10 minutes?

Hotel is at 17th St. and Park AVenue South. It is just under 1 1/2 miles to Times Square - will take closer to 25 minutes than 10 minutes. Nearest subway station is at 14th St. The best line to use for places north and south is the N or the R. Going south these trains provide access to the Village, Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown and the financial district. Going north it is less than a 10 minute ride to Times Square.

Jennifer, as I pointed out in my first post, Union Square is NOT right near Times Square. And I think 45 minutes is a more realistic estimate for walking time from Union Square to Times Square given that 25 is about right from where I live, which is about midway between the two. This means walking brizskly, not strolling. Figure on 25 min. with the subway--5 min to the station at 14th and Union Square West, 10 min for getting on a train and riding to 42d St, 10 min for walking west to Times Square. As I said before, the location is good and won't hamper you, but if you plan to spend most of your time in midtwown and Times Square, you might want to look for a midtwon hotel. <BR> <BR>I strongly suggest you get a NYC map before you come; you'll find the city is pretty easy to negotiate, but it will make more sense if you are familiar with the layout and have a sense of distances. I recommend Streetwise Manhattan, an easy-to-use trifold laminated map you can find in your bookstore's travel section.

Sorry I have to say Caitlin is exaggerating on her definition of travel. I walked to and from work every day from 12th street to 55th street (in warmer months), it took me 40 minutes. I walk over 3 avenues and I am 40. I had to clock myself so that I would not be late. 20 city blocks is equal to 1 mile. I also walked home from port authority to the 12th and 3rd it takes about 25, 30 if I am winded and yes I am looking in windows along the way. Well Jennifer you are getting a taste of what New Yorkers are like, we all think we are right. You will not want to be going as far as Port Authority anyway. Your stop will be on 6th avenue (avenue of the Americas) they call it the 42nd street stop but you will not be taking the exit to Port Authority, tack on another 10 minutes for the trek to that exit. The N train available IN UNION SQAURE And the walk from the W is about 2 minutes you do not walk over to the west side. You walk over to the right side of Union Square or you do this underground after entering on the eastern side of Union Square. The east side changes to west after Broadway downtown. Entrance for your train is on both sides. If you are in shape yes you can easily walk up to midtown but I would only suggest this if you are going to stay in midtown. Also a cab ride to midtown is about $5 dollars if you are in a group it makes sense just to hop a cab. <BR> <BR>I would also strongly recommend an opera or ballet at Lincoln center in place of a bway show. I only started doing this a few years ago but the experience knocks the socks off of anything I have seen on Bway. It is art on stage. The operas are translated in front of your seat on a small screen and you can sit in balcony for as little as $25 dollars. The ballet will send you into another world. I would splurge for Orchestra. It is an experience you are not soon to forget. <BR>P.S. your hotel will surely give you a map and Zagat's hotel guide says the W rooms are "shoe box size". That is a NYC hotel room, I am sorry to say, a high premium is placed on real estate here. <BR>

I was looking at different W Hotel on map(sorry), but I now like the location of the Union Square one. Sounds like we can walk in all directions to see stuff, then take a taxi home for $5. The train stuff sounds overwhelming, we're from California (not LA). thanks so much.

Jennifer they were just disagreeing it is very easy to understand the trains once you see a map of the system. Mary/Kelly is right a lot of know it alls in NYC. Kind of confusing when they come head to head with one another.

If you take the N or R train from 14th Street to Times Square you will exit the subway at 42nd Street near 7th Ave. It is not a 10 minute walk as suggested in another note. If you do decide to walk go west on 17th St. to Broadway. Walk up Broadway to Times Square. Broadway runs on a diagonal so by doing this you will save the equivalent of walking six or 7 blocks. In another note it was stated that walking 20 blocks is exactly one mile. That is true for going north/south. When walking east/west (avenue to avenue) it is about the same as walking 3 blocks north/south. Example: Walk up Park Avenue (4th Avenue) to 42nd St. Distance is 25 blocks. Walk west on 42nd from Park to 7th - same as walking 9 north/south blocks. Total blocks walked - 34 or 1.7 miles. Go to Broadway on 17th as suggested above. Total blocks to Times Squire - about 27 blocks or a little over 1.3 miles. <BR> <BR>Now you probably know more about walking in NYC that you care to know <BR> <BR>

MaryKelly, I don't think I was exaggerating on travel time. I don't know where Jennifer and her family are from, but I doubt they walk as much as New Yorkers do, and I also doubt very much that they walk as fast, even before taking into account that they don't do it every day like you and me, and will want to LOOK at everything. I based my assumptions on my own experience with out of town guests--no matter who they are and in how good shape, it always takes at least half agakn as long to walk somewhere with them as it normally would for me, and if they've never been here before, it's guaranteed to be slower, because they--gasp!--want to see what's around them. I'm glad you're in good shape and can walk fast--more power to you. But Jennifer and her family aren't commuting, they're sightseeing, and they could easily take 45 minutes to walk from Park and 17th to 7th and 42d.

Note: The W New York has some really small rooms. We just averted a disaster when we discoved that our boss was booked into a 200 sq ft. room. They do have larger rooms. <BR> <BR>The W Union Square rooms start at about 400 sq. ft. The rooms are divided into 3 types. Wonderful, Spectatular and Mega. If you can afford it, shoot fo Spectaular or Mega. If you dates are set...try booking a W Hotel internet only rate on the www.whotels.com site. It can save you a couple of bucks. <BR> <BR>Also, if you can afford room service...breakfast at the W properties is usually wonderful. <BR> <BR>If you have teenage girls..the Aveda bath products will be a major hit. Happy trails.

There is a Hard Rock Hotel in Miami? I thought there was only one in Florida, in Orlando. If there is one in Miami I'd love to stay there, Thanks.

W Union Square is in a great location for walking to Gramercy Park, Union Square, Greenwich Willage, and the East Village. <BR> <BR>Most people would not consider it to be in "walking distance," as that phrase is normally used, of Times Square and the Broadway Theatre district. You CAN walk, and I've done so many times (I live around there), but most people wouldn't. (My custom is to take a subway or taxi to the theatre--but don't count on a taxi after 7:30, usually there aren't any--and walk home.)