Help me choose a hotel in NYC!

[Honeymoonmummy]

Hi all, first time going to NYC, me, DH and 2 DC aged 7 and 9. I'm looking for around £250 a night max, quiet rooms with kitchenette if poss and breakfast included. I've narrowed it down to 2 options - one is between Midtown and Midtown East (off Lexington Ave) and the other is in the Garment District.

It seems that they are both pretty central to main attractions, but which area would give me more choice for reasonably priced places to eat with kids? And if for any other reason, which would you choose and why?

If anyone has an alternative choice for a hotel let me know! I did look at the Kimberly having read it on here but the rooms look pretty dated and the rate I've seen doesn't include breakfast.

TIA

Many hotels in NY don’t include breakfast! Rates are often room only so don’t narrow yourself down to a hotel with breakfast when it’s often cheaper to have breakfast in a cafe. Not that anything is cheap of course! Don’t forget you pay tax on the quoted price and add double that amount for the tip. That is expected by the way!

It depends where you are off Lexington but you might be close to the Rockerfeller Centre or the Chrysler Building or right down by the Flat Iron Building. I would choose Lexington possibly but you can get a very good idea of where the locations are and what they are near by looking at the Lonely Planet guide to New York. Are they near subway stations? Nowhere in NY is near everything. What do you want to see? What is top of your list?

The Garment District doesn’t get much of a write up in Lonely Planet so I would probably swerve that one. It’s mostly offices.

Check if the Lexington one has a Starbucks or similar nearby. What about a grocery store if you have a kitchen?

I would also check to see what rate you can get with the flight as an add on. Often this can be cheaper than a stand alone booking. When are you going?

Me again: others you might consider are: The Michelangelo (they upgraded us to a suite), Hyatt House in Chelsea, Kitano, The William, Made Hotel, San Carlo (breakfast), Cumbria (2 locations), Hampton Inn at Times Square, Noble Den and Hotel 50 Bowery are all well regarded and about your price bracket in April.

I would also look at suite based hotels like Homewood Suites. They do breakfast as part of the room rate.

Thanks Bubbles/ Attila. Bubbles, I am slightly freaked out that you know I'm going in April, presume you looked at my other thread?

I will look at the other hotels mentioned. Basically, we're coming for 16 days, we're doing 4 days in NY staying at Long Island, then 8 days in Orlando, then the remaining 4 days back in NY and it's this last stint I need a hotel for. We want to do the last bit in the "heart" of NYC/Manhatten, rather than Long Island, but somewhere that isn't too loud (daughter can't sleep with a lot of noise) so I've ruled out Times Square (happy to be told differently tho), but want somewhere with family restaurant options that won't break the bank (appreciate NYC is expensive!)

The two hotels do include breakfast which I thought might be best rather than faff around looking for something in the morning and might work out a bit cheaper if included in the rate, but again happy to be corrected.

It's all a bit overwhelming TBH! Will check out those hotel options later. We do still need to book our Orlando to New York flight but I'm waiting for the flight prices to come down on Hopper and don't want to risk losing out on a hotel (it's during Spring Break/ Easter)

I was looking at the San Carlo as well Bubbles, but the breakfast doesn't sound that good.

It's not terrible but the Garment District definitely wouldn't be top of my list of neighbourhoods to stay. Based on the limited information you supplied, I would say Midtown East.

You should be aware that the general standard of hotels in New York isn't great. Dated decor isn't unusual, rooms are rather small, bathrooms a bit old fashioned, despite paying what feels like luxury prices. But they are generally at least clean, dry and warm.

Very rare also for breakfast to be included - top tip for breakfast like a New Yorker is to get "egg and cheese on a roll" from a coffee cart on the street, filling, warm and cheap for about $2. Enjoy!

Cross-post - noise is inevitable in Manhattan, sirens blaring and horns beeping night and day, even if you are on a high floor facing away from a street. So if quietness really is important, you will need some combination of ear plugs, white noise app and any other tricks.

Look at NYMA - definitely includes breakfast. Not a fabulous one but included nonetheless.

Different sets of friends have stayed at, and recommended, an Affinia hotel - these have suites .

The Midtown East hotel is the Residence Inn by Marriott New York Manhatten/ Midtown Eastside, here.

Oh and clearly I cant spell ManhattAn!

We have booked the Hyatt House in Chelsea for next year. It includes breakfast and has a kitchenette. We haven’t been before so can’t give you a review but it is recommended on trip advisor.

Oh god I'm losing the will to live now. A lot of the hotels named here are out of our price range for the dates we are going, they're more like £320-£350 per night. Can someone please just do a search for 11-14 April 2018 and book one for me?

15th not 14th!

There's a hotel on Lexington (think it's call the Lexington) around 44th street and there is a Starbucks on site and a supermarket across the road. Centrally located to the subway and main attractions. Try booking.com or trivago for a better rate

The Alex and The Hudson are v nice

The hotels I mentioned were roughly in your price range and all were highly recommended by travellers. I assumed you had some flexibility. I have never had breakfast for $2. You will search and search for that.

As you have children and are going in the Easter holidays (I guessed that because I know Feb is very cold) you are not going at a cheap time! NY has fantastic hotels and they are not at all shabby. They cost though. Like London. If you want location and breakfast for 4 of you, £250 a night is low for the Easter holidays. It just is with the $ at the moment.

Booking.com and others are not necessarily better than booking direct by the way. Always check direct and booking site prices. Your dates also include a weekend which usually pushes prices up.

The highest rated by visitors, but in no particular order, Booking.com has the following from 11-15 April:
Hampton Inn Empire State with breakfast - £900. Hyatt House Chelsea £1171, The William £1250, Made £1060, Cambria Times Square £968 (similar for the other location), Hampton Soho £1081, Hotel50 Bowery £1099, NobleDen £1126, Residency Marriott Midtown £1111, Hyatt Times Square £1149, Kitano £1135. Hilton Garden Midtown £991.

There are some more that are less well reviewed.

I tend to find ones highly rated by travellers are worth my attention and personally I would pay a premium for a newer hotel or one that has been refitted. I would also pay for location. I would not expect breakfast included and if it is, it’s a bonus.

You should be able to get very close to your budget. I think these prices are for you to stay in one room but the beds are pretty big in NY and I expect these rooms will have two double or two king beds. Check room sizes and how 4 will be accommodated.

The Nyma is about £260 for your dates. 2 x 2 double beds per room inc breakfast. Great location, roof top bar ($$$$$$) with excellent view of ESB.

Thanks all. I'm going to plough through these tonight so might come back with a shortlist.

Right, sorted, I've booked the Cambria Times Square. Thanks all for your help!