Which Marriott for best NYC location?
 

We're a family of 4 who would like to use points for most/all our stay in NYC next summer. Looks like we'll need 2 rooms regardless of our choice. We'd prefer to walk as much as possible (avoid cab fares/see the city instead of the underground). I know some of these will require public transport, but which Marrriott (East Side vs Residence Inn Times Square or another?) is best located for arrrival at Penn Station, visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Broadway theater, Lower East Side Tenement Museum, shopping - 5th avenue/boutiques in neighborhoods, sightseeing to Ellis Island/Status of Liberty, etc? Thanks!

I like the East Side Marriott for its location but rooms are small. It is a historic building and doesn't have full amenities like most Marriotts. Depending on your Marriott status (I'm a platinum) the breakfast bar at the top of the hotel is very nice with wonderful views of the city.

I'm not crazy about Times Square but Residence Inn does have bigger suites for families.

East Side has the better location IMO.

HG

Prob. the Times Square one.
Fifth Ave is the "dividing line" between East & West side.
St. Pats, Rock Center , Saks
& the better uptown stores are all
on 5th - an easy walk.
At 42nd there are subways which you' ill need for down sites.
Depending on length of stay look
into getting a $20 Metrocard which
gives you a couple of free rides (@$2
each) & can be used for more than 1 person.

Thanks...what I've found based on my reading so far: the Residence Inn gets rave reviews on Tripadvisor, but it doesn't really have a "Times Square" location (garment district?) which most people seem pleased about (quieter?). Unfortunately, it does NOT have suite large enough for 4 (kind of strange for a Residence Inn, IMO). My husband knows the Marriott East Side better for business, but the free breaksfasts at the Residence Inn might be a plus and the kitchen facilities, plus the East Side "costs" more points...They aren't so far apart on the map, but I am interested in which location is best for visitors to NYC...

i stayed at the marriott marquis in times square in the 1980s and was physically attacked in an attempted mugging within 10 seconds of walking out the front door, in broad daylight

....ahhh those were the days.

NYC is a big city and you can't possibly visit all the things you mention without using some transportation. Rather than focusing on being within walking distance of everything (b/c it's not possible) you should focus on amenities for your stay. How long are you staying and when are you coming? If it's the height of the summer and you're here for a week, you might like the Marriott Financial which is all the way downtown but has a pool and would be near Ellis Island/SOL, Tenement museum, Soho, LES and the discount store Century 21. They also have some suites. I wonder what the difference in points would be for a suite vs. 2 rooms.

There are actually 9 Marriott hotels in Manhattan. There are 4 Courtyard by Marriott:
>Courtyard Fifth ave. (40th st. right near Residence Inn)
>Courtyard Upper East side (a brand new hotel with swimming pool)
>Courtyard Times Square
>Courtyard Midtown East
Then
>the Residence Inn
>Marquis in Times Square
>Renaissance Times Square
>Marriott Financial Center
>Marriott East Side

The Marriott Marquis is the largest of the midtown options. This is the one in Times Square. Locals hate Times Square b/c it's so crowded and filled with tourists, but for many visitors, it's where they want to be. The Marriott has good sized rooms, floor to ceiling windows with mostly great views, double glazed windows so not noisy.

The Residence Inn is the only one with kitchens in all the rooms. If it weren't for your Marriott points, I'd urge you to look into an all suite hotel. But maybe you can find a suite in one of the Marriotts.

PS, yes the Residence Inn has only studio suites (all one big room) and no one bedrooms. If you'd consider saving your points for another trip, have a look at Affinia.com a group of all suite hotels and see what a 1 bedroom would cost. The San Carlos is another good suite hotel. Some of their 1 bedroom suites have 2 bathrooms.

I've stayed at every Marriott in NYC many times over for business. First of all, did you look to see which ones are available for the week that you want? I just did a quick search and not all are open for every week.
The difference in points is almost negligible - 120,000 for 5 nites at the Residence Inn and 140,000 for the same at the Marquis.
For business, I like to stay at the Courtyard on West 40th because it is quiet. But, when I go for fun, I like to stay at the Marquis or the Renaissance. The rooms at the Marquis are the biggest and you really do feel like you're in the center of things. The downside is that other items are much more expensive - like breakfast. This can be $20 a head.
The rooms at the Residence Inn are nice, and it's a new property. It is located diagonally across the street from Bryant Park. About a 10 minute walk to Times Square. The plus of staying here is that breakfast is free and there is a small "dinner" that is free on business nites.
I would not consider the East Side Marriott - too old and too noisy at nite ( the windows are quite old)
I also like the Financial Center Marriott for the great views of the Statue and location to Battery Park. If you stay here, it doesn't have the same feel as staying in midtown. Much quieter at nite.
I guess that I would pick the Marquis. Since you are using so many points anyway - why not be in a fun spot? You'll be quite close to the theaters and subway access is easy.