New York City Times Square Hotels

Times Square, which sits between 42nd and 47th Streets, is lined with shops, hotels, restaurants, bars, comedy clubs, and it's the gateway to Broadway. Most everything you do in this part of town will cost money, and lots of it. Times Square Hotels are expensive and Las-Vegas-like hotel specials exisit "almost never". Even the old stand-by chain restaurants, including TGI Friday's and Wendy’s have jacked up their prices to get their fair share of your wallet out of this neck of the tourist woods.

Times Square, which sits between 42nd and 47th Streets, is lined with shops, hotels, restaurants, bars, comedy clubs, and it's the gateway to Broadway. Most everything you do in this part of town will cost money, and lots of it. Times Square Hotels are expensive and Las-Vegas-like hotel specials exisit "almost never". Even the old stand-by chain restaurants, including TGI Friday's and Wendy’s have jacked up their prices to get their fair share of your wallet out of this neck of the tourist woods.

If your hotel offers continental breakfast and you're trying to stick to a budget, indulge. You can splurge on a meal in Times Square -or more economically -outside the Times Square area, later. Once fueled (with breakfast in your Times Square Hotel, of course, don't dare drive your car around here), it's time to hit the pavement. Keep in mind that comfortable shoes make the difference between a great day and a horrible one. You're not out to impress anyone, and besides, it's usually the tourists who're wearing the inappropriate footwear. 

If you're not staying at a Times Square Hotel, you'll want to grab a train (a.k.a. subway) to Times Square, also known as Midtown Manhattan. This is the part of New York City that every novice wants to see; therefore, it's the most heavily populated area of the city. But be prepared as you'll more than likely be sideswiped a few times before it's all said and done - and take it from us, New York City drivers won't apologize for bumping into you. It'll always be your fault.

After you've spent all your allotted money on an early lunch, consider a free walking tour of Times Square. The tour kicks off at noon on Fridays. Following the tour, make sure you hit the famous TKTS booth, where you can score discount tickets to major Broadway shows at up to half off the box-office price. Some tickets can even be purchased for as little as $15 if you're lucky –and patient. You might have to wait a while. The booth usually opens for matinees at 10 a.m., but if you don't want to wait and don't mind a later show, head over around 4 or 5 pm to get your ticket for an 8 pm showing. The line is usually much shorter.

After standing in line for a while, you'll probably be ready to kick your feet up, or you may be ready to get out of Times Square altogether. That's the affect that Times Square has on folks. It's tiring. It's expensive. It's loud. It's touristy. It's crowded. But, then again, it's Times Square. While almost everyone agrees New York City Times Square is a huge tourist trap, everyone also agrees that you have to see it at least once.

If you're determined to forge ahead, walk on over to the Virgin Record Store in Times Square. It's one of the largest in the world. If you've been looking for a particular CD, you're sure to find it here, along with a bookstore, movie theater, and a café. If the record store isn't your cup of tea, why not grab one at Starbucks, just across the street from the TKTS booth.

You've probably expended most of your energy by this point. Take the train back to your Times Square Hotel and rest up for dinner and the show. Before the show, consider having dinner at Cara Mia in Hell's Kitchen, a prime spot for Italian food. Once a run-down and dangerous part of New York City, Hell's Kitchen's Ninth Avenue is now known as Restaurant Row by Manhattan locals. Dinner entrees range from $5.95 to $14.95. At nights the lights in Times Square are absolutely amazing and many of the stores are truly unique shopping experience, even for New York City.

So where do you stay in New York City to be close to Times Square?

Stay Directly at Times Square Hotels

Staying directly at New York City Times Square is the ideal way in which to completely experience it its ambiance and energy. Easily go wherever you want by foot, just stroll out from the lobby and you're in the middle of it all. This is an especially attractive option if your room has a view of Times Square. You can soak in and enjoy the fabulous lights from the comfort of your room without having to go through the crowd on the sidewalks.

In you stay in Times Square; however, you can find this getting old pretty fast. There are always a lot of people on Times Square, day and night. Sightseers are in no hurry to leave so they look around and admire the Times Square shops and atmosphere. This is fine if you‘re doing the same, but if you stay in Times Square, you’ll want to get out to visit the rest of New York City as well. Working your way out of the crowded Times Square area can add some extra time to your daily excursions so keep this in mind if your goal is to see as much of New York City as possible and not just Times Square. In addition, unless you alright with paying too much in proportion to the quality of your meal, you'll always have to leave Times Square to find a meal at an more economical value.

Hotels that offer this Experience

• Marriott Marquis Times Square
• W New York Times Square
• Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan
• Renaissance New York Hotel Times Square
• Look at those hotels on a map by clicking here

Stay Just Around the Corner of Times Square

Staying on a side street and being able to get to Times Square by walking just a couple of minutes is an economical alternative to staying right in Times Square. You probably won't get a room with a view of Times Square, but you'll get the feeling of being on Times Square whenever you want to take a short stroll. On most of the streets near Times Square, you'll probably also find quite a few pedestrians, so you'll fully bath in the crowd experience of the Theater district. One of the benefits of not being in a Hotel on Times Square is that you'll be able to leave a bit faster. Going everywhere else in New York City will usually be quicker just by walking to 8th Avenue or the 6th Avenue, depending on where you stay near Times Square. Unfortunately, you’ll still pay a premium in most of the restaurants close by to Times Square.

Hotels that offer this Experience

• Westin New York Times Square Hotel
• DoubleTree Suites Times Square
• Millennium Broadway Hotel
• Best Western President Hotel
• The Mayfair New York Hotel
• Many other hotels to discover on a map

Stay Near Times Square

Getting a hotel that is about a 15 minute walk from Times Square is a good way to get to walk to it as often as you wish during your stay. Walking to Times Square is probably the most convenient way to get there. It is also a safe distance from the huge crowds. You'll still be in a very central and desired place, so there will be plenty of people and tourists. It can be North, South or East of Times Square and you will still be very centrally located with easy access to the entire city. If you choose to stay West of Times Square, then you don't have to go quite as far.

Hotels that offer this Experience

• JW Marriott Essex House on Central Park
• Wellington Hotel
• City Club Hotel
• Algonquin Hotel
• Hotel Pennsylvania
• Wingate by Wyndham Manhattan Midtown
• The 414 Hotel
• The Skyline Hotel
• And Many, many other hotels to book directly from a map