Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

New York hotel Recommendations please

33 replies

dizzydixies · 02/08/2009 23:24

needing some recommendations as have been wading through trip advisor and Time Out with little success - its a trip for DH and I so would like it to be a 'nice' hotel without having to sell our kidneys to pay for it

am I asking the impossible here!? its for Nov if that helps and we'll be staying for 4nights

OP posts:
notcitrus · 02/08/2009 23:37

For character, can't beat the Harlem Flophouse (google it), only 4 rooms plus lounge, and record player and jazz collection in each room. Fab diner for breakfast nearby, and 125th St subway.

Not en-suite, though.

Original poster
dizzydixies · 02/08/2009 23:43

sounds great although ensuite is a dealbreaker we were looking at the Ace which sounds similar but too pricey

thank you though

OP posts:
Original poster
dizzydixies · 02/08/2009 23:44

god it gets great reviews on Trip advisor too

OP posts:
Qally · 02/08/2009 23:48

If you don't mid it being a bit dated (plus noisy, as so central) the Roger Smith can be great with a special deal. One of you needs to call up and negotiate - they offered us a great price when we called and asked what their best was. Big rooms (astonishingly so in NYC), en suite, bang next door to the Empire State, along from Central Station & NY Public Library... it's basically a hotel that was very swish in the 80s and not touched since, but was clean, safe and central when we went in 2007. If you get a good deal it's well worth it, but rack rates aren't.

Original poster
dizzydixies · 02/08/2009 23:49

clean and safe is fine will give it a look thanks

OP posts:
Qally · 02/08/2009 23:50

Tripadvisor for the hotel (has another couple for the restaurant, which we didn't use at all).

Qally · 03/08/2009 00:11

Just checked the rates shown on the booking sites - we paid less than £100 a night for 3 of us, in a suite with large living room and a kitchen... we called them first. Really, really worth negotiating. £179 a night for a bog standard double?! Blimey.

The other option is www.betterbidding.com? They can coach you on what hotels Priceline and Hotwire are offering anonymously, by matching the facility symbols. That can be very cheap on the big chains.

MissSunny · 03/08/2009 00:51

Message withdrawn

Feelingforty · 03/08/2009 00:54

we stayed here Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea in May this year & it was great. I think it's quite new. We had breakfast at the diner on the corner & were close to Bleecker street/greenwich village.

Have fun !

Original poster
dizzydixies · 03/08/2009 08:40

MissSunny thank you - we're going on Nov 5th for 4 nights and would prefer somewhere central with ensuite although not adverse to being further out if means a nicer hotel for same price!

feelingforty will give it a look thank you

OP posts:
missmelly · 03/08/2009 13:35

we stayed at the Radisson Martinique.. great location for sightseeing and shopping ( round the corner from Macys)
Think we paid about £400 for 4 nights, but that was last year

Bar23 · 03/08/2009 13:48

We stayed at the mansfield Hotel a couple of years ago. The price included breakfast and unlimited tea and coffee during the day. it was close to Time Square but on a quiet street.

Original poster
dizzydixies · 03/08/2009 15:20

the mansfield looks lovely!

missmelly - have had a look at the raddison website but its just confusing me at the minute

OP posts:
SkaterGrrrrl · 03/08/2009 18:20

We stayed at The Benjamin in midtown, it was gorgeous.. they have a pillow menu! [spoilt emotecon]

We got a really good deal online too.

www.thebenjamin.com

Original poster
dizzydixies · 03/08/2009 19:22

it looks lovely too - did you book direct through their website or somewhere else?

OP posts:
MamaVoo · 03/08/2009 22:22

The Westin Time Square is very nice - big rooms and huge beds. We went a few years ago and got a good deal on Expedia.

CDMforever · 03/08/2009 22:37

We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria which was a once in a lifetime thing. It had always been my dream to go to NY so I was going to do it in style if I did it at all. That said, our actual room was disappointing but the public areas and location were utterly fabulous. Plus we get to see loads on various films and TV shows.

Original poster
dizzydixies · 04/08/2009 10:46

MamaVoo the Westin looks lovely but no special deals on expedia yet

CDMforever - would LOVE to stay at the Waldorf but out of our price range unless there are some dramatic reductions

am wondering should I hold off booking and try to get a special offer nearer the time?

OP posts:
MamaVoo · 04/08/2009 19:15

I'd book now for November as I've only ever found things get more expensive the nearer you get. I normally put in my dates and then see what expedia has in my price range, then check out any I like the look of on tripadvisor.

Be aware the NY marathon is on 1st November so check in will be extra busy that weekend with crazy running types.

Original poster
dizzydixies · 04/08/2009 19:18

I've been before on the marathon weekend and the shiteyhovel hotel we stayed in was mobbed even though it was a hole and should have been condemned!

I think I might just book somewhere - I'm not very good at the whole last minute thing I like to know where we're going lol

OP posts:
cocolepew · 04/08/2009 19:21

We stayed in The Beacon, it's a leetle bit out of the way (upper west side, 5 min from central p). We stayed in a suite, it was lovely.

Original poster
dizzydixies · 04/08/2009 19:23

don't mind out of the way, we walk a lot when we're somewhere so we can see more - shall give it a look thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
dizzydixies · 04/08/2009 23:31

I think am swaying towards the beacon as we can get a suite for £800 where are the benjamin and the westin are both approx £1200

shall have a better look tomorrow at the discounted sites before definate decision made

cocolepew - did you find it bothered you not being right in the thick of it? I don't think it will bother me as last time I stayed just off times square but DH has never been before so not sure if he would prefer somewhere further down

OP posts:
cocolepew · 05/08/2009 08:12

No I liked it, it made me feel like a New Yorker There are plenty of shops nearby, 20 minutes walk gets you to Columbus Circle. We walked everywhere, including the DDs who are 11 and 7. The Beacon had been refurbished since we booked it and it really was very nice. We found the suite handy for breakfast, means we didn't have to drag the DDs out too early. this was directly opposite.

Original poster
dizzydixies · 05/08/2009 09:00

it all looks fab and we certainly don't mind walking - DH was late shift last night and early today so will show him when he gets home later - thank you

OP posts: