Midtown Manhattan is the heart of New York City, and the area bustles with activity, in part thanks to its proximity to international tourist attractions like the Empire State Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Central Park. Visitors who want to be in the center of it all, will find a hotel for every taste and budget in Midtown, including modern boutique hotels, four-star luxury establishments and wallet-friendly chains.
According to Forbes Travel Guide, the Paramount Hotel New York lobby has unique architectural features such as the "floating" staircase and cutting-edge design elements like the silkscreen-covered chair with a growling canine motif. These elements were added during the hotel's 2009 renovation, which included all 597 guest rooms.
The 19-story hotel is located in Midtown Manhattan's Times Square, near the Broadway theater district and Fifth Avenue shops and boutiques. Amenities at the Paramount Hotel New York include the Dean & Deluca Gourmet Speciality Shop, with "mouthwatering" takeout items (according to Forbes), as well as two bars and a restaurant. The hotel has an on-site fitness center, with personal trainers and in-room massage available upon request. All rooms are nonsmoking and for a fee, pets are welcome.
Paramount Hotel New York
235 W. 46th St.
New York, NY 10036
212-764-5500
nycparamount.com
The St. Regis New York hotel is housed in a 1904 Beaux Arts building, which was renovated for $100 million in 2006. Forbes Travel Guide writes the hotel is a tribute to "old-school New York elegance" with lobby features like Italian marble, gilded cornices and a trompe l'oeil ceiling painted to look like the sky.
Guests will certainly feel elegant with the assistance of 24-hour butlers, who are located on each of the hotel's floors. The St. Regis New York's 165 guest rooms and 65 suites offer such luxuries as down comforters and pillows, Pratesi-brand linens, terry cloth bathrobes and mini-bars. Design elements include 12-foot ceilings, chandeliers, and Italian marble bathrooms equipped with double sinks, separate showers and European-style bathtubs.
The hotel is home to the King Cole Bar and Alain Ducasse's Adour restaurant. It also has a spa and a fitness center on-site.
The St. Regis New York
Two E. 55th St.
New York, New York 10022
(212) 753-4500
starwoodhotels.com
New York magazine selected the midtown Comfort Inn Times Square as one of its "critics' picks" thanks to its location, affordable prices, and perks like free Internet service and telephone calls, as well as a complimentary daily breakfast. The magazine suggests the hotel is ideal for tourists visiting the city for the first time, since it's within walking distance of some of New York's most popular attractions, such as Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art.
This smoke-free hotel also has an exercise room and a 24-hour business center. Other room amenities include flat screen TVs, MP3 docking stations, hairdryers and safes. Parking is available, for a fee, near the Comfort Inn Times Square.
One travel tip: New York magazine points out that the Times Square area is always noisy, and suggests guests request a room in the back of the hotel.
Comfort Inn Times Square
129 West 46th St.
New York, NY 10036
212-221-2600
comfortinn.com
