NYC Hotel Help

[diva0045]

We’re traveling to NYC this summer for 4 days and I’m on the fence about a hotel. We’ll be doing all the touristy things. My kids are 15 and 11. I was thinking the Marriott Marquis Time Square but I can’t really stomach the price. I’ll do it if that’s the best for our needs.

Does anyone have a NYC hotel they love? I was thinking in the Broadway district area since we’ll be doing a couple of shows and I don’t want a super long walk after they get out. TIA!

[fernweh]

We stayed at Yotel New York when we went. It was budget friendly (as far a NYC) goes anyway. We found it walkable to Broadway and not far from the subway.

Their whole model is minimalist though, rooms were tiny. The bed was motorized and folded away (into a sitting space) during the day and a bed at night as there wasn’t really much room to walk around it. It was just H and I so it was fine. I’m not sure if they have bigger rooms that could accommodate a family of 4 but when we went in 2019 it was the cheapest accommodation we could find that was clean.

[sunshineandpinot]

I adore the Marriott Marquis Time Square. Great location if you're seeing shows and such a massive NYC hotel with a great big city feel, if that makes sense.
A smaller hotel but still good location is Hyatt Centric Time Square. Those are the only two I've stayed in in Time Square but I know there are a lot more.
Have fun!

[acr]

I love the Luma Hotel. Easy to get to Broadway shows, but not smack dab in the middle of the Times Square mayhem.

[jinkies]

We've stayed at both the Intercontinental Times Square, and the Crowne Plaza Times Square. Both were good (I think we liked the Intercontinental a little better, but it's been a while). Location was great.

We stayed on credit card points though, so I can't really speak to costs.

[sent]

The Marriott Marquis is very grand and in a great location but really any of the hotels a few blocks north or south of it would be fine. I recall there being a Hilton Garden Inn a few blocks north and some cheaper Marriott properties in that vicinity. The more east you go, the closer you will be to Times Square. The more west you go means you will have to walk just a little further but it may be worth it to save hundreds if there is something cheaper. But I don't know about finding hotels that will fit 4 or 3. We've been running into this problem trying to book hotels in Europe.

[formerlyak]

We were there two weeks ago, and stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Manhattan/Times Square. It was way less than Marriott Marquis, a block and a half from Times Square, half a block from Bryant Park, easy access to all Subways. Our kids are 10 and 17. I would highly recommend it.

[wanderingback]

I like the Freehand.
Anything near Bryant Park is a good location as well.

[livinitup]

I have stayed in the Marriott Marquis Time Square twice when work was paying for the room for a conference at that location. It’s massive with lots of bells and whistles.

It’s probably more than you need. A lot more.

Last summer, I did a fun cousins meet-up and we booked a Marriott express place off of 8the ave between Penn Station and Broadway. It’s absolutely the way to go for a family looking to explore NYC and the Broadway area.

I’ll check to see if I can get you a better name for the hotel. But you can literally compare Marriott or Hilton hotels in that area and land on several great options. Pick the best price. Literally. Ours had clean, comfortable rooms + breakfast. It was easily walkable to broadway, subways, and restaurants.


ETA: It was the Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn New York Times Square South
326 West 37th Street, New York City, New York, 10018, USA

It has outside seating in the back which was nice for breakfast and just sitting around between activities. I remember a lot of families and international languages being spoken when I got breakfast, so it had a busy international vacation feel. I think I tried to book it again in January but it was sold out, so we just picked another similarly priced hotel nearby. You definitely have options.

The one off-beat thing I can add about the Marriott Marquis is that it takes a long time to walk into the building/hotel and up/around the many floors and escalators to your room. It’s a weird thing to remark, but it really does take time to navigate around for just a place you may only be using to sleep. If you want to stay inside a hotel and have lots of levels for views and multiple restaurants for a couple of days, it’s a great place. If you want to have a jumping off place to see everything else in NYC, the smaller hotels actually feel (and are) easier to get in and out.


Broadway Shows: We love shows, too! If price is no barrier, book and get tickets for your favorites. If you are interested in a bit of a “deal” and an adventure, check out options for Rush Tickets. When my DD was around 12 and we stayed overnight in NYC, got up early and waited at the box office in front of the theatre for School of Rock. Most theaters will release day-of seats to folks who show up early for Rush tickets $30 (max 2 tickets per person). It’s a gamble to get there early enough to get tickets but we got lucky & it was fun. Another way for discounts - you can also put your name in a lottery and get notified via text if your name gets picked. The TKTS booth at Times Square is my father’s favorite discount for broadway. We just saw Back to the Future at the Winter Garden for 40% off ($92/each - 3rd row center). We got in line at TKTS at 9:45 AM for a 11 AM open and were in the first wave of folks (lots of people behind us). We do that a lot for Wednesday matinee shows. You can buy for any show on the board for that day (matinee or evening).

I also booked on Open Table for a reservation at Carmines (44th St). It’s family style, so it’s fun for a group. The 4 of us did salad, penne a la vodka, and baked shrimp. All of the shrimp went with most of the pasta and most of the salad. Big portions, prices about what you’d expect for NYC.

[sproctopus]

I just stayed at the AC Marriott in Tomes Square last weekend and liked it. I also like the Arlo Midtown.

[janegold]

My husband travels to NY weekly, sometimes multiple times a week. His favorite place to stay is the Renaissance right next to MSG. I've stayed there too, and liked it a lot. It's just outside of Times Square, which is a good thing IMO.

I also really like staying in the Flatiron District, which is still an easy walk to Times Square but a much smaller, quieter, nicer feel, and is a bit closer to the downtown neighborhoods. I think both of the hotels I've stayed at in Flatiron are $$$, but there may be more affordable options.

[sometimesrunner]

We stayed at the Hard Rock hotel last time we were there, and we decided to make it our home base every time we go to NYC, which is at least annually. It's super close to time square, close to the subway, and it was BEAUTIFUL. It is on the small side, so when we take our kids we get 2 rooms.

[CloudBee]

We've really enjoyed the Hyatt opposite Grand Central. Elevated patio, spacious and updated rooms, and within walking distance to TS, etc.

[meanie]

LOL all I can say is NOT the W, we shared a room with friends and the bathroom walls are frosted

[Bad Dingo]

I love The Times Square Edition. Not necessarily budget friendly unless you have Marriott points.

[sent]

May 3, 2024 17:05:07 GMT -5 meanie said:

LOL all I can say is NOT the W, we shared a room with friends and the bathroom walls are frosted

My brother stayed here one night and our female cousin who did not grow up in the US stayed with him. He said she was so freaked out by this!

[jennistarr1]

I'm no expert but we recently stayed at the casablanca library hotel...and seriously adored it. Our room was a petite queen so we knew it would be small. They have a breakfast and snacks 24/7. Super close to time Square, I was nervous we couldn't sleep but it was so quiet

[livinitup]

jennistarr1 I booked my parents at the Casablanca Hotel (5+ yrs ago) as a special treat for after a show. I booked 2 nights and they absolutely adored it !