Tasha8182

My fiance and myself are a couple of 20-something's and we are planning a long weekend in NYC around the middle of August. I own an entertainment card and with this I can get 50% off of a rack rate room at an assortment of hotels in the city. I have been to New York a handful of times but have never stayed at any of these hotels. We are pretty flexible with the location, and will stay anywhere between midtown and the upper east side. We will be making the rounds so no one place is necessarily better for us. I guess something near a subway stop woudl be convenient. We will be going to the theater, to time square, the met, and even all the way up to zabars at some point for some lox. I was wondering if some of you might offer your opinions and suggestions about some of hotel options so that we might come to a decision. Our choices include:

1) Southgate Tower
2) Gorham New York
3) The Avalon
4) Shelburne Murray Hill
5) Plaza Fifty
6) Eastgate Tower
7) The Roosevelt
8) Hotel Delmonico
9) Lyden Gardens
10) Omni Berkshire Place

Thanks all! Anything is helpful.

Austin

FYI, most rates you can get for hotels on the web (hotres.com, quickbook.com, or a hotel web) are cheaper than the 50% off rack rates. I called around and found that my $169 at the Gorham (from their website) was cheaper than 50% off their rack rate (Rack was something like $400...)

It might be different with other hotels, but I'd definitely call them and see if any of the 50% off rack rates are really cheaper.

Tasha8182

Well regardless of the what was said about priceline. Can anyone offer any suggestions about these hotels?

Austin

What was said about Priceline? Just curious...I think I missed something.

If you don't get a response on these hotels, put them in the search box above and you'll surely find reviews. Also, try tripadvisor.com They show customer ratings most of the NYC hotels.

Miranda

We just stayed at the Gorham. See my trip report for details. It's not a fancy hotel but was a good choice for us. The location was excellent and the price was right. I would stay there again.

I seriously considered Plaza Fifty but the location was a minor drawback for me. Not as convenient as a lot of other hotels from my point of view. You do get a lot of space there but for a couple like you that's probably not so critical.

I believe the Omni Berkshire was recently renovated, so it's probably pretty nice now. Worth looking into if you can get it for a similar price as some of these older hotels that haven't been updated in a while.

Nikki

I have stayed at the Gorham and Eastgate Tower. The Gorham is very well located, while Eastgate Tower is less central and a little less convenient for public transportation.

Neither hotel is fancy, but both were perfectly comfortable. I had a suite at the Gorham, which was well priced and gave a lot of space for a New York hotel. It is an older building which used to be apartments. I had a "studio suite" at Eastgate Tower, which was the size of a regular room but with a kitchenette.

I agree that you can find very good rates for these hotels both on their own websites and at Quikbook.com, which are likely to be better than the Entertainment card rate, so I would check those rates out before reserving.

hopalong

Consider the Day's Hotel (a Day's Inn) in the Theatre District. We stayed there last November while there for a conference. The rooms are larger than many hotels friends stayed in, and we walked everwhere. It is close to theatres, a subway and Times Square. The tour bus company is practically across the street, and a pass will get you anywhere.
I think the rate was about $100 per night for 2. I got the room online, at Expedia I think. If you like barbeque, plan to eat at Virgil's. Have fun!

jem

We stayed at the Shelburne several years ago and found it to be very comfortable. We had a one-bedroom suite and the price was right, as I remember--and it was huge. There was also a small kitchen with stove, fridge, microwave, etc., that made it nice for a longer stay. It was not, however, a very "happening" place and perhaps 20-somethings would find it a little old-fashioned. Furnishings were somewhat dated, but the place was clean and there were fancy touches, like the big chandelier in the lobby. The neighborhood is nice and definitely quieter than anything around Times Square. There was a good Japanese restaurant next door that I remember fondly--hmm....hope it's still there.

jem

Tasha, just one more thought. You might want to check hotel rates on www.quikbook.com just to compare with what you're getting on your entertainment book. We've had very good luck in the past using Quikbook. They give good discounts and don't require you to bid, like Priceline. In some cases they charge you at the time you book, but usually the room charge won't occur until your arrival--they tell you the conditions of the reservation on the website. It's a really good service and you might be surprised at the competitive rates. I always ask for new, renovated rooms and I've always been satisfied.

mclaurie

Tasha, since you've been to NY several times I assume you're familiar with the grid system of streets. Plot the location of your choices out on a map.

The most central, IMO, is the Gorham. Also well located is the Omni Berkshire but not real close to average priced eating places. (There's a recent thread started by a Fodorite who won a room there from Priceline & was asking about cheap places for breakfast in the neighborhood.)

Several of these choices are, I think, all suite/apartment hotels like Plaza 50, Southgate & Eastgate Tower and Lyden Gardens if the extra space makes a difference to you.

Many people like the Roosevelt, right near Grand Central, but I find that neighborhood too business/commercial. The Delmonico is a very posh hotel on Park Ave. It's near Bloomingdales and not far from the Lexington ave subway, but inexpensive dining close by will be harder to find (although Lexington ave has choices).

There is less happening in Murray Hill as jem points out, but I believe the Shelburne is also an all suite hotel with good prices. The only place I can't comment on is the Avalon. It's at 32nd st which is not far from the trendy restaurants in the 20's & a bit closer to the village & Soho than the other options.

FYI-Austin was trying to say double check prices on quikbook.com & hotres.com They may be less than the 50% off rack rate you'll get with your card.

Bo

I too didn't see what was said about Priceline, but if it's 'bidding' that you don't like, condiser Hotwire as well.

djkbooks

You should check availability for your dates at each of these hotels and the "Entertainment Book Rate". There are so many date and various other exclusions.

caroler

Unfortunately the Delmonico has closed. It's currently being converted into condominiums by the Trump family.