Trip Advisor has it rated 118 of 413 as opposed to Candlewood's 200. They both get good reviews though, and both have a rating of four out of five. The HI Express is two blocks south of Madison Square Garden, while the Candlewood is six blocks north of it and one block west. I expect that the rooms are smaller at the HI, and there's a kitchen in the Candlewood rooms, but then there's free breakfast at the HI. The Candlewood area is a little sketchier and the street darker, going by the reviews.