Where would you stay in New York? Near Grand Central Station (Hyatt) or near Times Square (Hilton?)

[holidayadviceplease123]

Just that really

Planning to take the dc there for xmas and can't decide between the two

tia

Times Square

Times Square
but a boutique hotel rather than a chain

Loved The Hyatt. It's a brilliant area as safe as anywhere in NYC and transport links brilliant. Go for it.

Grand Central, or better still somewhere like Greenwich, Upper Manhattan or LES. Times Square is too much and very noisy.

For me personally the place I liked the least was times square! We stayed at the Broadway hotel, good price, nice rooms and lovely staff. The other couple we stayed with looked out their window to the empire state building! (We also went at Christmas time).

Grand Central for me. It’s near Bryant Park where there is a great Christmas market, still buzzy with lots to see and do (park, library, station itself) and not as overwhelming as Times Square.

I hate Times Square so around Grand Central.

Times Square area definitely though we preferred Hell’s Kitchen as food options less touristy

Ive stayed in both of those hotels 😂 and would choose the grand hyatt. Hilton at times square is lovely but mega busy and not much respite from it

on xmas day, would we be able to get to restaurants easily from the grand central one?

Disliked Times Square

Grand Central area

Hyatt at Grand Central.

Times Square is horribly busy at Christmas time (it’s pretty grim generally but has to be seen just to experience it)

If you are near Grand Central you won’t need to fight through so many crowds to get anywhere as you are 10 mins walk away from Times Square so a little quieter. And there is a a lovely (but probably overpriced) food market in Grand Central!

They are both on 42nd Street about 800m apart. Location wise - I don't think there is much difference.

The Hyatt is lovely, for a chain.

If you have to stay in Midtown and do a chain, I'd go for Moxy (there is one very near TS) or Westin. But personally I'd head to SoHo.

I personally wouldn't stay anywhere round there. Or Manhattan in general tbh. Last time I stayed was in Brooklyn in hipster central. I understand this is not everyones cup of tea thiugh

We stayed at the Hyatt Grand Central and loved it. There were five of us so we were in a suite and it was lovely. The location was perfect, the hotel room was in good condition and we had lots of space. There's a great spot for breakfast just across from it. It's in walking distance of some fab places. This was last summer.

The pearl hotel, just off Times Square is brilliant with a simple buffet breakfast included. At 5pm every evening they ask you to join them in the lobby for a free glass of wine! The only problem is at new year they close down the streets around Times Square (you maybe gone by then) but even with a letter from the hotel the police wouldn’t let us through but when I rang reception asking if there was another way the manager came and collected us from the crowds and got us safely back.
I love NYC, have a great time!

I'd have to take dd out to eat for every meal. And on xmas day, I'd need to be able to get to a McDonalds or similar for her, easily

Would it be easy to get to Times Square from grand central, do you know?

Do the trains run on Christmas Day? I know that the tube in London doesn't run on xmas day and iirc, neither do the busses

thanks everyone for your responses

I feel like the grand central hotel sounds best (and cheaper!)

We stayed in Tryp by Wyndham Times Square with 2 kids, was a great location and not right in the square and the room was a decent size for New York

Thank you for this - would the food market be open on Christmas Day?

Do you know if there's a McDonalds near to grand central station?

The Hyatt says that 'in room dining isn't available'

I thought that meant room service but does it also mean that I can't bring food into my hotel room, do you think?

xx

I wouldn't stay at either, I would look UWS, SoHo, almost anywhere other than Midtown. It will be horribly busy, Times Square isn't somewhere worth spending time in beyond seeing it once (barring going to shows). Public transport is excellent in NYC and you will likely have to travel anyway for some of the sights you want to see. There is no real 'central' in NYC. If you're limited to those hotel groups for loyalty reasons, try posting on the New York trip advisor forum for other options in the same group.

Sorry to sound shitty and bossy but so many people I know have booked Midtown hotels and then hated their trips to New York.

I went last easter and stayed by Times Square and I absolutely loved it!