New York City post-cruise in June

[ahoys]

I need some advice for a two-night post-cruise hotel in midtown Manhattan in June. My husband has never been to New York and we only have two days after a Triumph cruise in June. Any ideas on a good hotel to see the typical touristy sites?

[cruiseguy2]

The Hyatt is right in central Midtown Manhattan right by Grand Central Station. I stayed there last winter on a business trip. Pretty decent rooms and everything was very clean.

 

Whatever you do, DO NOT stay at the Alex. We had a really bad experience there. The room wasn't cleaned up until 6pm (2 hours past check-in), the flower glass ws broken, the TV in the bathroom didn't work, they said they have a laptop computer cart available so I didn't bring my laptop with and it wasn't there like it was promised to be. Their website said a TV in every bedroom, bathroom, and living room. Was there a TV in the second bathroom or second bedroom? NOPE!

 

-Chris

[ahoys]

Wow! I'll definitely stay away from that hotel. I hope you were able to get some compensation from them. The Hyatt sounds good, though. We need to stay in a centrally located hotel if we want to see as much as we can in two days.

[TheWog]

Stayed at the Hotel Edison 47th and Broadway - Times Square. Nice place.

[gracecarmo]

The Wog: thanks for the info re the Edison. I booked it for our 1 night pre stay prior to the QM2 in October.

 

Grace

[dcdiva]

Some Times Square area options include the Hilton Times Square, the Westin Times Square and the Novotel New York. You can't beat the location of the Marriot Marquis, but I find it overpriced even for an NYC hotel. I haven't stayed there but I've heard good things about two new hotels, the Bryant Park Hotel and the Doubletree Manhattan. You might want to check those out.

[TheWog]

The Wog: thanks for the info re the Edison. I booked it for our 1 night pre stay prior to the QM2 in October.

 

Grace

 

You are welcome. It is a great little place tucked away. We stayed there for a New Year's Eve weekend one year. We got to do the whole experience.

 

As an aside it is the hotel front shown in the Seinfeld episode when George meets the woman on the subway and she then handcuffs him to the bed to rob him. :eek: :D

[gracecarmo]

Hi The Wog: another question: do you know anything about the Shuttle from the hotel from the airport? I think we may want to take it, but do not have our air arrangments yet from KC. The last time we were in NY, our cab driver got lost and we passed Shea statium 3 times.

 

Grace

[cruiseguy2]

The Hilton near Times Square is really nice too. Yeah, and I paid $500 per night for that Alex Hotel. Such a bad hotel. I enclosed two pictures-one of the peeling wallpaper and then another of the "nicely-made" bed. :D

 

And no, I didn't receive ANY compensation for my bad experience. Oh, and their lobby is sooooooooooooooooo :eek: small!

 

-Chris

[Jane110]

Ahoys,

 

We have hundreds to hotels here that would be acceptable for you. Whether they are available and in your price range is another issue.

I'd be happy to help you decidel, but I think that perhaps the best way to go about it, is to find some choices on a website with prices that are in your range and then post them here. Though I usually can't comment from personal experience, I can certainly comment in relation to location, reputation and perhaps what the lobby is like.

 

The things you're going to want to see are very spread out, so there's no location that's better than another.

The Edison is a good choice as it's a popular tourist hotel. Nothing fancy but perfectly acceptable.

 

You might look into the Murray Hill section of town - the East 30's. It's a nice area and there are some good hotels in the area - The Shelbourne, Dumont Plaza, The W, and some others who's names I don't recall.

 

Jane

[gracecarmo]

Jane: I booked the Edison, as my choice, however, now our flight comes in a day earlier. To my dissappointment they are all filled for that day.

Now I have booked the Helmsly Middletowne. Do you know how that hotel is?

Seems like it is a good location and the price was right.

 

Grace

[signman]

You can't do much better than the Four Seasons. Great location in the heart of midtown, but bring your credit cards.

[Jane110]

Jane: I booked the Edison, as my choice, however, now our flight comes in a day earlier. To my dissappointment they are all filled for that day.

Now I have booked the Helmsly Middletowne. Do you know how that hotel is?

Seems like it is a good location and the price was right.

 

Grace

 

Grace,

 

We have a few Helmsley hotels in NYC but I've never heard of one called the Middletowne. I think Middletowne is the name of a town that's in New Jersey, so please double check. You don't want to stay in New Jersey! There's no area in Manhattan called Middletowne.

 

You didn't tell me the location, so I can't comment. If you supply all the info I'd be happy to give you some feedback.

 

Jane

[ahoys]

Thanks for all of the advice. I'm looking at the Murray Hill area on the hotel review sites to see which ones might fit within our budget.

[gracecarmo]

Jane: the Helmsley Middletowne hotel is at 49th and Lexington.

http://www.helmsleymiddletowne.com. Let me know what you think?

 

Grace

[Jane110]

Jane: the Helmsley Middletowne hotel is at 49th and Lexington.

http://www.helmsleymiddletowne.com. Let me know what you think?

 

Grace

 

I honestly can't comment on the hotel itself as I've never been in it nor know anyone that has. Looks good from the website.

 

Perhaps go to http://www.tripadvisor.com and see if many give it negative reviews.

 

I can comment on location. Excellent location for a variety of reasons. It's right in midtown and you'll be able to walk or easily bus to many places.

Within easy walking distance is: Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Central Park, Grand Central Station, The Empire State Building, The theatre district/Times Square, Sak's 5th Ave as well as other great stores like Tiffany, Cartiers, on 5th Ave and Bloomingdales on 59th & 3rd.

One of my favorite restaurants is right near there, "Pampano" for upscale Mexican/SW food. Great bar for drinks too.

 

If you like to take buses (and I do) buses run regularly south on Lexington Ave and north on 3rd Ave. There are crosstown buses (east/west) on 49th Street (west) and 50th street (east). And of course, you can always take taxi's or the subway.

 

If you like the looks of it from the website and the price is right, I'd book it, unless there were many negative comments from trip advisor.

 

Hope this helps.

Jane

[gracecarmo]

Thanks Jane, for the link to tripadvisor. I had heard about his site, but never visited. Reviews of the hotel are mixed, and there were more good/medium/fair reports than poor, so for now I guess I will stay. Now, if only the Edison would open up for the 6th...they said to keep trying.

 

Grace

[pacruisers7]

Jane110,

 

Do you know anything about the Holiday Inn Midtown? We are considering booking that hotel because we have been told it is close to the pier. Is it? If so, how close? We are cruising out of New York the end of May and it will be here before we know it! We appreciate any comments you may have.

 

Thanks :)

[signman]

A hotel in NYC that is close to the pier is only beneficial if you plan to walk to the pier which is approximately at 12th Ave and 49th St. The distance from avenue to avenue is equal to at least 2 or 3 city blocks. The difference if you a taking a cab is most likely less than 5 bucks.

[TheWog]

Hi The Wog: another question: do you know anything about the Shuttle from the hotel from the airport? I think we may want to take it, but do not have our air arrangments yet from KC. The last time we were in NY, our cab driver got lost and we passed Shea statium 3 times.

 

Grace

 

Hi Grace - Sorry no info on the shuttle. We drove down from NH... so we had a car. They did park it for us no problems. Sorry. That's bad about the Shea stadium thing since it is definitely not in Manhattan. Good luck.

[stan1]

Hello Jane,

Just discovered your thread. Wife and I just booked Celebrity Constellation E.Coast/Canada cruise 9/22-10/5/05, departing Bayonne, NJ.We plan to fly to JFK from West Coast 5-6 days prior to cruise and visit NYC for first time in 45 years (has it changed any?). Celebrity provides a shuttle from Penn.Station to pier(OK) and we can take airport shuttle van to some(??)Manhattan hotel, and cab to Penn Station on departure day. But where to stay? NYC rates (and 18% tax)are higher than I planned.Currently booked (desperation)at Super 8 @$160/night (W. 46th St), , but there may be many other better choices in this price range. You seem extremely knowledgable. We plan to visit Museums, galleries, etc., using Subway or buses whenever possible.. All advice appreciated. Thanks.

 

Stan

[signman]

You are visiting at the height of the fall tourist season. Weather is usually perfect. New shows open. City comes back to life after Labor Day. You may have more luck by checking a few different arrival dates. Try a Sunday check-in instead of Saturday. Sometimes these things make a difference.

[Jane110]

Thanks Jane, for the link to tripadvisor. I had heard about his site, but never visited. Reviews of the hotel are mixed, and there were more good/medium/fair reports than poor, so for now I guess I will stay. Now, if only the Edison would open up for the 6th...they said to keep trying.

 

Grace

 

Grace,

 

Book a room at the Middletowne with a no cancel penalty and then keep trying for the Edison. If the Edison opens up then cancel the Middletowne.

 

That's what I would do.

 

Jane

[Jane110]

Jane110,

 

Do you know anything about the Holiday Inn Midtown? We are considering booking that hotel because we have been told it is close to the pier. Is it? If so, how close? We are cruising out of New York the end of May and it will be here before we know it! We appreciate any comments you may have.

 

Thanks :)

 

Trust me, you don't want to be close to the pier! There's nothing there to see or do, there are no restaurants and it's not an area you'd want to walk around in at night.

 

I have no idea where the Holiday Inn is, however, if they tell you it's close to the pier, then stay away.

 

Besides, it's not like you'd want to walk from your hotel to the pier with all your luggage, even it was 3 blocks, would you want to schlep your luggage through the streets?

 

Forget that place, IMHO.

 

Jane

[Jane110]

Hello Jane,

Just discovered your thread. Wife and I just booked Celebrity Constellation E.Coast/Canada cruise 9/22-10/5/05, departing Bayonne, NJ.We plan to fly to JFK from West Coast 5-6 days prior to cruise and visit NYC for first time in 45 years (has it changed any?). Celebrity provides a shuttle from Penn.Station to pier(OK) and we can take airport shuttle van to some(??)Manhattan hotel, and cab to Penn Station on departure day. But where to stay? NYC rates (and 18% tax)are higher than I planned.Currently booked (desperation)at Super 8 @$160/night (W. 46th St), , but there may be many other better choices in this price range. You seem extremely knowledgable. We plan to visit Museums, galleries, etc., using Subway or buses whenever possible.. All advice appreciated. Thanks.

 

Stan

 

Hi Stan,

 

I'd be happy to help you in any way that I can. However, as I've said in some of the other posts, since I live here, I don't stay in the hotels, and can really only comment on location. Yes, of course I know the reputation of some of the hotels here, but really only a handful. Also, I unfortunately, don't know the hotel rates here. You need to call TA's, Amex, look at websites, etc.

I was not aware that we had a Super 8 hotel here in NYC and you haven't given me enough info on the location. West 46th Street is not specific enough - I need to know which ave's it's between or at least the address #. I'm guessing that it's in the theatre district, which would be somewhere between 6th and 8th Ave's. That's an ok location - not my personal choice, but nothing wrong with it.

Again, I would look for reviews of it on tripadvisor.com and get some comments.

 

Penn Station is quite centrally located, so a cab there from anywhere won't cost you more than about $7.00, so don't let it's location influence your decision on hotel choices.

 

Any hotel in midtown would be a good starting point to see the city. There are some great new boutique hotels that recently opened, however, if you're looking at a Super 8, I guess you want to keep the price down.

 

Note to everyone staying in a NYC hotel............

 

Unless if's included in your room rate, skip eating breakfast at your hotel. It's often about $20. - $30 per person and we have great coffee shops practically on every block where a full breakfast is under $5.00 before 11:00AM. SAve the money and use towards great dinner! :)

 

Jane