Best NYC hotel

[ash.1111]

Hi everyone

Does anyone have any suggestions for HH-branded hotels in Manhattan? I looking for two hotels:

Lux hotel - For 2-3 nights that's quite nice/upmarket and gives great upgrades for Gold (hopefully)... We'll be staying here to really enjoy NYC and this will be our "special" hotel. We won't be staying here for the entire trip due to cost.

Mid-to-high (cheaper) hotel - The other 4-5 nights will be somewhere comfortable but not overly expensive. Somewhere central but not too busy etc. Happy to pay mid-highish for this, but obviously if there was somewhere that presents good value I'd seriously consider that.

Thank you!

 

[Princess Fiona]

If you don't mind my asking :
What's the budget per night for each of these hotels?
What areas of Manhattan are you interested in staying in and do you have any specific areas you would like to avoid staying in?

A word of caution regarding HH Gold and upgrades.
In the US status Hilton members are a dime a dozen and consequently getting anything beyond the published benefits is pretty rare IME.

 

[ash.1111]

For the nice hotel, I'd be happy to be something in the $400s. For the cheaper hotel, high $200/low-mid $300s pn.

Don't mind where we stay, but somewhere that's close to the subway/some sights. For the more expensive hotel, I'd like somewhere with a nice view of the city. Also somewhere safe that we can go out at night and walk around/go to a nice restaurant. I'd rather somewhere not super busy (Times Square). So basically: safety, closeish to sights, subway etc.

Last time I was in the US with Gold I was pretty happy with my room upgrade and lateish checkout. Don't need much more than that. I also know that in NYC I'll be one of many...

Thank you!

If you don't mind my asking :
What's the budget per night for each of these hotels?
What areas of Manhattan are you interested in staying in and do you have any specific areas you would like to avoid staying in?

A word of caution regarding HH Gold and upgrades.
In the US status Hilton members are a dime a dozen and consequently getting anything beyond the published benefits is pretty rare IME.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ok,
Have you looked at Conrad?
It's price fluctuates quite a bit but I've managed to get it ~$200-$250.
It fits the bill for location, especially if you can get a Hudson view. The suites are very spacious and beautifully decorated. It's location in Battery Park City is hard to beat. Many restaurants within walking distance. Several surrounding the hotel complex. As a Gold you will get breakfast vouchers for the restaurant. It's a short a la carte menu for HH. The internet is fast and doesn't require multiple daily log ins.

Two negatives I can think of:
No pool
10 minute walk to the subway (World Trade Centre/Chalmers St /Fulton St/ Cortland St.

Depending on price/ time of year you might get to stay here for the entire time

 

[drron]

Depends a lot on the time you want to go.As a general rule you need to book early as really there is no low season for NYC.
we stopped at many NYC HH hotels in NYC between 2002-2008 when I was HH diamond.So to some of our experiences.
Waldorf.Forget it.We stayed there 3 times and our experience did not improve.As a diamond you get a broom closet with a view.As a gold it will be a broom closet without a view.better rooms if you book their towers but rarely would be less than $500.We did this once and still underwhelmed even though a larger room.
Hilton on 6th Ave.A huge hotel but can be an absolute zoo.again rarely upgrades.however the Hilton club on the 37th and 38th floors of this hotel are a reasonable bet.A studio suite there can sometimes be had at less than $400.In reality just a large hotel room but you check in on the 37th floor and there is a lounge for your use.Get in early for happy hour though as limited seating.
Double tree suites at Time square.Quite often reasonable rates and a true suite but old fashioned.Good tourist location though.
Hilton Times square a newer hotel.Shunned by elites as no lounge but often very reasonable prices.And a decent location.
Doubletree Metropolitan.Here actually got an upgrade and probably the best room outside the Hilton club.But opposite is a police precinct and Firehouse.Incredibly noisy and difficult to sleep.
Although there are now a bevy of Hamptons and garden inns there bigger brothers are often virtually the same price.
lots of newer hotels and the 2 I wouldn't mind trying if I went back to HH are the Conrad-but its position in Battery Park is not ideal unless you have been to NYC a lot and want a new experience.The other is the Hilton fashion district.price usually OK and position really isn't too bad.
You certainly can get around NYC very easily by bus,subway and taxi but it is a great walking city and there is a little book called City Walks New York.Worth getting IMHO.

 

[DaleS]

For the nice hotel, I'd be happy to be something in the $400s. For the cheaper hotel, high $200/low-mid $300s pn.

Don't mind where we stay, but somewhere that's close to the subway/some sights. For the more expensive hotel, I'd like somewhere with a nice view of the city. Also somewhere safe that we can go out at night and walk around/go to a nice restaurant. I'd rather somewhere not super busy (Times Square). So basically: safety, closeish to sights, subway etc.

Last time I was in the US with Gold I was pretty happy with my room upgrade and lateish checkout. Don't need much more than that. I also know that in NYC I'll be one of many...

Thank you!

Hi ash.111
That's one of the funniest paragraphs I have read in a long time. I'm guessing that you haven't been to NYC before? If that's so it is the worlds most amazing city and I really think you will love it. But -
There is almost nowhere not close to the subway.
Everything in Manhattan is a sight. Each neighbourhood has it's own special places.
Nice views often include looking directly at another taller building or the roofs of lower buildings and their water towers and lift motors.
Almost everywhere south of 125th St is very safe.
There are thousands of nice restaurants - of every cuisine imaginable.
There is nowhere that is not super busy - that's what makes it so amazing.

I'm there again in July. If I'm lucky I'm going to see a Yankees / Red Sox game - still planning that one.
I will be staying at the James in Soho. Expensive but I signed up for their emails and got a free night deal. Great modern hotel - a bit up itself but you can ignore that and enjoy watching the DYKWIA's and the whole area of Soho / Tribeca is just great.

Enjoy and would love to hear where you end up.

 

[xt_20]

Stayed at the Hilton NY Fashion District (~$330 per night). Seems to fit your bill for a mid range hotel. Near a subway line (though not the best one), not the best location but not bad either. We made the mistake of booking through a travel agent, so no upgrades as gold, although since the hotel has just 1 room type, golds/diamonds get a higher floor. Hotel rooms are a little small even for NY.

Also stayed at the Hilton Times Square (~$500 per night). Excellent location, near Times Square, Broadway, and a big subway station. Got an upgrade to a higher floor and better room as Gold which we are very happy with. Hotel is a little old but very comfortable.

 

[ash.1111]

Thanks guys and gals - all amazing feedback!

No, never been to NYC. Is it that obvious?

FYI I am staying around the 9-17th September. I have to talk to the other half and see how it all fits in with the pricing.

Once again, thank you! I'll keep you all posted.

 

[dajop]

For location, in the mid-high range, I've found Hilton Garden Inn West 35th hard to beat, stayed there about 4-5 times. It is more or less on Herald Square, diagonally opposite Macy's. Rooms are small, but this is Manhattan. One thing to note is that most of the Hilton Garden Inns, Hamptons & Doubletrees (and even Hilton Fashion District) are what I call "cookie cutter" hotels, more or less the same layout (HGI Times Square, an older property an exception) - for these location and not the specific hotel amenities is important. I really didn't like Hilton on 6th, just too big for my liking, and quite a zoo.

One thing I've noted is prices can be highly variable, regularly fluctuating even for same dates. But I have stayed in HGI W35 for as low as $89++. Have noticed that mid-winter (eg January) prices are low, as well as during the height of summer, when business travel drops off. If you have an auto association membership (eg RACV, NRMA etc), look at booking using that (unless significantly cheaper for a non-changeable sale rate), and you can monitor prices and cancel/rebook if the price comes down. Closer to arrival, I've seen rates at HH properties go both ways - either increasing a lot or plummeting.

Whatever the case ... enjoy!

 

[bryanjones]

My advice would be to use your hilton gold to status match across to kimpton hotels, and then stay at one of them. They are a us only chain but have a great vibe and little things like free wine for everyone for an hour an evening. If you are in their inner circle the benefits are even more

 

[QF029]

I've stayed at the Conrad, the Hilton FD and HGI W 35th St (a reasonable place but the worst pillows EVER). The Conrad would be my pick as the room (suite) is miles ahead of the others and the price is usually quite consistent (~$350 per night, cheaper on weekends). As PF says, it's 10 minutes to the Subway but there's also a bus that goes past the hotel to midtown etc and while slower, I like looking out the window if I'm not in a rush. And if you get the hang of the express trains you can get uptown pretty quickly on the 2 or 3 trains. You're also on the edge of Tribeca and a comfortable walk to Soho, the West Village and even Union Square (~40 minutes). I much prefer this area to Midtown.

I also like the Hilton FD. Probably more central overall but pretty standard (but modern) rooms. Easy walk up to Times Square and also Union Square in the other direction which for my interests is the centre of New York.

Keep in mind that New York can have some excellent last minute rates (particularly the Fashion District) if you're flexible with your plans but you should definitely book a cancellable rate now (I'd recommend AAA or MVP for discounts) and keep checking because rates can fluctuate a lot (up and down).