My husband and I are planning a trip to NYC for our 5th anniversary! I'm so excited! I'd be so grateful for some help in making some of our decisions! First, we're trying to decide which neighborhood to stay in. To tell you a little about us, we're pretty laid back people. We're going for 5 nights in mid-September. I imagine our days starting with a late breakfast somewhere casual...reading the paper, etc. Then lots of exploring and hanging out during the day. We're not big party people, so I envision our nights being a late dinner, maybe a show a couple of nights if we can get tickets, and back to the hotel. So, we don't need to be near lots of bars or clubs. I think we'd like to be near enough to some casual, easy restaurants/cafes for breakfasts that we can walk to breakfast. Being super close to the subway lines that will get us to museums, central park, shopping, etc., would also be great....
So, our obvious next decision is a hotel. It doesn't have to be fancy because we don't expect to be spending much time there, so convenience and a great neighborhood are most important. Somewhere relatively quiet would be a bonus...though I don't expect actual quiet being in the city. Obviously, a cool place with great service would be terrific, too. :) Our budget is between $200-300/night (after taxes). I searched quikbook and found some possibilities that I can post here for specific feedback...just wanted to see if there were hotels that popped into people's heads as our best bets!
Thanks - we're excited, too! My husband's never been to NY and I've only been once (and another time for business), so we're pretty excited.
OK - I'll post some possibilities...let me know if you have any experience with any of these places. People's opinions vary so dramatically on each of these places (on the travel websites) so it's so hard to make a decision. Some feedback from stylish stylethread gals would make it much easier...
Washington Square Hotel - as it's name states, on the corner of Washington Square (don't remember the street names, but the map showed it right on the NW corner of the square).
Union Square Inn - 14th street between 2nd and 3rd avenues
Second Home on Second Avenue - 2nd avenue between 13th and 14 streets
Inn on 23rd Street - 23rd street between 6th and 7th avenues
Carlton on Madison Avenue - Madison avenue between 29th and 30th streets
Park South Hotel - 28th street between park and lexington
From the hotels you've listed, i have just stayed at 2. Union Sq. Inn I just wasn't into. Just too no frills for me... felt like a hospital and the savings weren't enough to justify that.
Park South is one of my favorites and I stay there often. I am staying there for at least the 6th time this September as well. I like the location because it's easy to scoot updown or down - emphasis on the downtown, which I prefer. They have the breakfast included, the decor is good for the $, and it's usually a good deal. It's pretty quiet and cozy. Also I like the little Nails Noble (nail salon) around the corner... lol (actually, pretty good prices, plus I liek the little mini massage they give you while you're sitting there drying your nails).
Anyway, hope that helps as far as feedback on what you posted. The NYC girls are probably better at other to-dos about town than I am...
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~ dc
"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination" - Oscar Wilde
Thanks dc! It's so hard to tell anything from the hotels' sites and the travel websites all vary so dramatically on feedback...it can get kind of frusterating.
Park South sounded like a good option from the start...good location, reasonable prices, etc. Thanks again for your feedback!
OK - I've narrowed it down to two hotels and would love any input on the streets these two are on...
One's on 28th street between park and lexington. The other's on 23rd street between 6th and 7th avenues. Pros and cons for these locations? We'd love a pretty, tree lined street with some atmosphere and cute nearby breakfast spots...do either of these streets fit that bill? Thanks!!!
I keep forgetting to respond to this! I don't know anything about these hotels but I can try to describe the locations. The Inn on 23rd is definitely not on a tree-lined street. 23rd is one of the major two-way streets and is pretty much entirely commercial between 6th and 7th avenues. I can't remember what 28th between Park and Lex is like but that area is fairly commercial as well (unlike further north where Park Avenue is entirely residential). Some of those blocks are blah, others are nice. Of your original list the one in the most attractive location with tree-lined streets is the Washington Square hotel. HTH!
Thanks for the feedback, cc. Unfortunately, the washington square hotel is full. That one was at the top of my list for location, for sure. A couple others have filled up as well. Based on what I've read on various websites, plus dc's experiences at Park South, I've got it down to either Park South or the Inn on 23rd. I just called the inn and they only have one room available when we'll be there. It's in the back of the building and overlooks a church. Both places are about the same price, so I'm just trying to choose between them. Between this decision and those silly pants I posted about, I'm having quite a time today! :)