Where to stay in NYC if going to a Broadway play?
 

Hi -
I'm trying to arrange a two night trip to NYC for myself and 2 of my kids (late teens). I've never been to a Broadway play but would love to.

I know there must be numerous theaters. Are most of them located in one area of NYC? Can anyone recommend any hotels that are close (maybe even walking distance) to some of the theaters?

Thanks so much - Jill

I think the largest concentration of Broadway theaters is between 44th and 48th Sts, between 7th and 8th Avenues.

When we go to NY for a theater weekend, we have liked the Doubletree Suites, which would easily accommodate three people.

Thanks for the suggestion!

I've just narrowed down the theaters - one is the Majestic at 245 West 44th Street and the other is at 246 West 44th Street - so very close to each other! Any additional hotel suggestions in that area would be very much appreciated. Thanks! - Jill

A lot of it depends on your budget and the time of year you are going - it's a lot more expensive to go in, say, November than it is in February.

Some people don't like to stay in Times Square/the Theatre District because it's busy and noisy and crowded, but for a short trip where the purpose is to see shows (Gypsy and Phantom?) then I think that area would be perfect.

Off the top of my head I would suggest The Hilton Garden Inn, the Hampton Inn, the Westin Times Square, and the Marriott Marquis. I suggest these hotels because I know all of them have rooms with two double or queen beds (which a lot of hotels in Manhattan do not have.) I'd suggest plugging your dates into kayak.com and seeing what comes up. You will want to look at the hotels that are marked as being in Midtown West/Times Square.

I bet your teens would like staying in Times Square area.

Check out the Embassy Suites...great for families...good rates but will have to take the Tube to Times Square. I think the room may be worth the ride myself...plus the included hot breakfast...

we have stayed at the Marriott Courtyard on 5th and 40th several times with our grandchildren(teens). Very good location. No breakfast, but an inexpensive deli right next door.

Actually, I strongly recommend NOT staying in or around Times Square. It's fine to visit with the kids, but it's not particularly a pleasant place to stay, in my opinion. Far too many crowds, far too expensive and mediocre food. It's better to stay on the east side or in one of the more residential areas (the Upper West Side even has some attractive hotels above Columbus Circle).

Getting around NYC is very easy and safe by subway or bus (never a need for cabs) or just on foot (the best way, in my opinion).

Find the hotel you can afford and stay where you find the best hotel for the best price. That's your primary consideration in NYC. The only inconvenient locations for you would be the Upper East Side or the Financial District. And if you do end up staying in the Times Square/Theater District area, the best and cheapest restaurants are WEST, along 9th Avenue. And it's ompletely safe to walk there day or night.

Agree - unless your hotel budget is unlimited you need to shop for value first and location second - esp since with 3 people you will usually have to go for the larger or upgraded room with 2 beds.

I agree that Times Square can be tumultuous, but the teens might find it exciting. If you can get a good value someplace in Midtown West, I'd take it. When you get out of the theater late at night, it's nice to be within a few blocks of the hotel so you don't have to compete for a cab or hassle with the subway when you're tired.

With all due respect to Doug's comments above, I'd have to say I agree not to stay right in Times Square IF you are unable to walk a couple of blocks. Can you? But from the original hotels mentioned by bethke14, if you simply walk one to two blocks to the west -- along Ninth Avenue you will find in a 10 block area well over 100 restaurants, mostly very reasonable, mostly very good, of all ethnic types as well as American, and mostly filled with locals (those thousands and thousands of people who LIVE in the area) not just tourists. I fail to see why that would be so difficult. No one has to remain within a block of Times Square and simply choose between Bubba Gumps and Olive Garden places!

I assume when people say "stay near Times Square" they are not restricting themselves to being able to walk a few blocks away from it, or staying a few blocks away and walking to it. And yet as others have said, it MAY be the most exciting area for the teens (and yourself) to stay as well. I don't know where you're from, but many of us have quiet, nice residential neighborhoods at home. When we spend big bucks to go to NYC, we want to get what we can't get at home. We have nothing even remotely as busy, hectic, colorful, and noisy as Times Square. I don't think it's "bad" to enjoy that for a couple of nights when you can't get it at home. Would you want to live in the middle of Times Square? Definitely NOT! But you're talking about being a tourist and looking for excitement for a couple days, right? It's perfect to stay within a couple blocks of the "busiest and most colorful center of New York".

Bethke's recommendations really are perfect if any fit your budget.

By the way, I wonder if the people who tell tourists NOT to stay near Times Square also tell people NOT to stay on the strip in Las Vegas. We all know that it is the noisiest, busiest, gaudiest, and most touristy area of Las Vegas, right? In fact it is totally fair to say that The Strip is to Vegas what Times Square is to New York! Surely there are nicer, quieter, prettier neighborhoods to stay in Las Vegas, and people could take transportation to The Strip if they need to see a show or casino, right? Do you think these posters "practice what they preach" and avoid The Strip when THEY go to Vegas?

Whenever we travel we like to stay away from the main tourist sites. It gives you a different view of that particular place.

There is no need in NYC to stay in or near the theatre district to go to the thatre, there is the subway, busese, cabs, and the most interesting way to see NYC, by foot.

Unlike Las Vegas, NYC has many modes of transportation, many more things to do in different areas, a cooler climate, and you are not frustrated by the traffic by one street.

Fine, so when you go to Las Vegas you stay "away from the tourist sites". When you go to Venice, you avoid staying within the city of canals itself because it's too touristy. If going to San Francisco you prefer staying across the bay. In Paris, transportation is really easy, so you prefer staying out in the suburbs instead of near the Seine, the Louvre, or the Eiffel Tower -- they are all easy to get to. I think you are in a vast MINORITY there.

But to each his own. I live near a beach. If I go to a resort location, I could care less about staying on a beach. Others who live in cities MUST stay on the beach if they're going to a resort location. Those who live in New York would logically avoid seeking a Times Square -- who could blame them? Many of those of us who live in quiet towns MUST stay in the heart of the action, or at least near it. Sure we could take subways and busses a half dozen times a day and get to it. That's really not the point. It's a choice.

And Auduchamp, let's be friendly and honest here. This is not a new and should not be some "tense" argument between us. We each have our feelings on this matter. I know that my opinions will not change yours, and you surely know that your explanations will not change mine. You've given your viewpoint. I've given mine, just as others have given theirs.

And YES, I do fully understand that some tourists DO HATE staying anywhere near Times Square -- but we all know that thousands and thousands who stayed there once DO return to stay in the same general area on every return visit. Clearly they return to that area by choice after having done it once -- or a couple dozen times.

Patrick,
I have to agree with Doug and Aduchamp on this one. Staying in Times Square doesn't give a sense of the true character of New York City.

OK, but for some of us the "character of what we WANT TO SEE in New York" IS the the glitz, not a typical quieter neighborhood. People planning to move to New York may concern themselves with various neighborhoods and find where they want to live -- and of course staying in Times Square wouldn't give them any feel for that. But let's be honest here. Most tourists going to New York really don't care a fig about how people live in New York -- they are going there to do the famous things.

Similarly, staying on South Beach will NOT begin to give you the true character of Miami. But isn't that the part of Miami most TOURISTS would want to see? In my opinion, locals would be totally wrong to tell tourists to "avoid staying in South Beach as it won't give you the true character of Miami". Of course those locals would be completely correct about it not reflecting the true character of Miami, but do you think any of those tourists care?

Staying in the Left Bank of Paris will NOT give a tourist the "true character of Paris" either. But most tourists would just as soon be there as they would in a suburb where they see how the "real people" live. Some tourists say they'd like that, but let's be honest. Most tourists (especially for their first trip to a famous city) are not looking for the "true character of a city", they are looking for what makes it famous -- the tourist sites which are most popular because most tourists want to see and enjoy them.

I go to NY at least twice a year specifically for theater. We ALWAYS stay in the Times Square area. It is so easy to walk to our shows each night and dining in the Theater Row or Hell's Kitchen districts is quite good. We love the hustle, bustle of pre and post show activities. Your teens will absolutely LOVE the area.

As for staying on the East side and telling people they can easily get to theater via subway is somewhat misleading. Unless you stay in the immeadiate vicinity of Grand Central Station (frankly, an area I hate for hotels) one can't get a subway "cross town". Getting a taxi cross town -- especially pre-theater, is impossible!

Hotels rooms in NY are expensive, no matter where you stay. Adding costly taxi fares just makes the matter worse. Give a look at the Doubletree, Times Square. It would be an excellent location and room layout for your family if the budget allows.

The Times Square area affords one excellent access to No/So subway lines for seeing any other section of the city, you can also easily find things such as GrayLine tours and Tix Booths.

Two nights in NY - to see Broadway plays -- I believe it would be unwise to consider any area other than Times Square.

Jill,

We always stay at the Belvedere for our annual theater weekends.

http://www.belvederehotelnyc.com/

Rooms have small kitchenettes which might be handy with teens.

I grew up in a suburb of NYC, and was fortunate to have parents who took us into the city frequently to see museums, theater, and friends/family.

Now, when I go to NYC, it's for a theater weekend, when we see four plays in three days--and we like to stay in Times Square so we can easily go back to the hotel between a matinee and an evening performance.

<i>Staying in Times Square doesn't give a sense of the true character of New York City. </i>

Maybe not, but that wasn't what the OP asked for. She asked for hotels that are convenient to the theatre.

I grew up in NY and have been back many many times, and many of those times have stayed in Times Square (with kids) and think it's perfect for kids and for theatre-going. Who cares if it's crowded and noisy -- you're not sleeping on the street.

We've stayed at the Residence Inn, Renaissance, Times Square Hilton, Times Square Westin. They're all fine. Friends have stayed at the Courtyard mentioned above and liked it, too.