Quick Hotel Poll

I%26#39;m ready to book my room for September. I found a few good rates. I%26#39;ve just about decided on either the Doubletree Metropolitan or the Affinia Manhattan. The Affinia hotel is a little more expensive about $50 per night. So, what do you guys think? Any opinions about the two hotels? Basically, it%26#39;s just a weekend trip. We are seeing two Broadway Shows and probably going to dinner at Peter Lugers one night in Brooklyn. I just wanted to see which hotel you guys think is nicer???

Quick Hotel Poll

Neither are favorites but the Affinia Manhattan is more convenient for your plans. What happened to Desmond Tutu? I think that was an interesting option. What are your dates? Do you have to prepay for either of these? For a weekend trip, would you not consider bidding on Priceline?

Quick Hotel Poll

Good memory.....Well...the Desmond Tutu seemed out of the way. We%26#39;re coming on Sept 6 and checking out on Sept 8. The budget is under $300 per night. Do you have other suggestions?

Just 2 people? Any specific bed requirements?

Yeah just 2 people. A Queen bed is good. Needs to have a private bath. Hotels.com is showing a bunch of hotels for under $300. I%26#39;m just not sure which would be best......... Of course the less money the better, but I do want it to be a nice hotel. I know nice is vague, but by nice I mean clean with fluffy pillows, down comforter, things of that nature....... You know nice........ Location is key too since we%26#39;ll be seeing two shows. One on Saturday night and one for a mantinee on Sunday.

At the quikbook price I would happily stay at Desmond Tutu. You can afford to take a taxi wherever you want to go. There are buses too. ;) But if you%26#39;re not that familiar with NYC, I can understand if you might not want to stay there. It%26#39;s in Chelsea though near the meatpacking district and looks nice and new.

I searched on kayak.com and found a number of things that I%26#39;d like but the locations may not thrill you. The Embassy Suites (all 1 bedroom suites, full b/f included) is $279/night or $259 is you prepay, but it%26#39;s in the financial district. I think it will be beautiful there beg. Sept. and you can use the NY Water Taxi on a weekend to get around, but you might prefer being in midtown.

Another waterside option is the Hampton Inn South STreet Seaport for $239/night but that%26#39;s really inconvenient for theater.

Courtyard Midtown East is $279/night. That will be over $300 with tax.

How much was the Aff. Manhattan and does it require prepay?

Aff Man $273 on hotels.com. I%26#39;m pretty familiar with NYC. We%26#39;ve been a few times now, and pretty much traveled all over the island. The thing I was worrying about is because we only have the weekend. How close is the nearest subway to the Desmond Tutu? Do you know?

Whiz...talked to other half, and we decided to be adventurous and try the Desmond Tutu. You%26#39;re right we can always take a cab with the money we%26#39;ll be saving if need be. Plus we haven%26#39;t spent a lot of time in that area so it will be nice to explore with what little free time we will have. :o) Thanks so much for all your help!

Well I%26#39;ve been busy writing and researching while you%26#39;ve been talking. Here%26#39;s what I%26#39;d already written.

Desmond Tutu is on 10th ave. b/w 21-22 st. The nearest subway stop is on 23 st. %26amp; 8th ave. (C, E) There%26#39;s a bus that goes up 10th ave. which is probably what I%26#39;d use if I couldn%26#39;t find a taxi. Getting back down, there%26#39;s a bus on 9th ave.

I%26#39;ve taken the liberty of copying ONLY the negatives of one review on TA to give you the downsides.

';Downsides: it%26#39;s a bit of a hike to the subway, and certainly much more of one than you typically see in a NYC hotel. The Center is the only hotel in this area of town, aside from a sleazy by-the-hour place a few blocks south, and it%26#39;s great if you%26#39;re visiting to check out the galleries in West Chelsea or the shopping in the Meatpacking District, but the closest subway stop is at 23rd %26amp; 8th, a good ten-minute walk (admittedly through one of the city%26#39;s most pleasant residential neighborhoods, with stately Federal townhouses and the like), and although there%26#39;s a bus stop nearby, I wouldn%26#39;t expect many non-natives to learn how to navigate the routes. The hotel has great soundproofing, but it%26#39;s nonetheless right on 10th Ave., a route that gets a decent amount of bus and 18-wheeler traffic, so definitely request a room facing the back if you%26#39;re sensitive to noise. (My room faced the avenue, and since they were sold out that night I couldn%26#39;t change it.)';

If you are not folks who like to be a bit off the beaten path, maybe this is not for you. But some of the best/most popular restaurants in the city are within a block or 5 and this is a hot area.

Red Cat

Cookshop

Tia Pol

Empire Diner

Bette

Del Posto

Bombay Talkie

Morimoto

Izakayk Ten

Buddakan

Omai

If you want something ';safer,'; I think I%26#39;d prefer the Courtyard Midtown East for around the same price as the Affinia Manhattan. Just a cheerier place in a cheerier area. ;)

Whiz....thanks for all the suggestions of places to eat in the area! That was awesome! Also, thanks for all your ';writing and researching'; while I was talking! This happens to me alot. LOL I appreciate ALL of your help. I think the Desmond Tutu will be good. When I contacted them yesterday to find out about the bathroom situation, the lady was extremely nice. I look forward to staying in a new part of town. I%26#39;m not sure what you mean by ';safer'; area though??? I%26#39;ve never felt unsafe in NYC even walking around the residential areas at night. Is there a part of this area that should be avoided? Please let me know if you have any concerns. Again, thanks so much for your help; I really do appreciate it!!! :o)