Originally Posted by
aztimm
Does anyone have an idea for a HHonors property that would be somewhat convenient to the finish (Central Park)? I'd prefer walking distance. And this may be asking too much, but also one that would be somewhat easy to get to the start from (the Verrazano bridge, via public transit)? I'd be flying to either JFK (more likely) or EWR, so an added plus would be somewhat easy to get to from either of those.
Good luck on getting your lottery number to come up! If you compete I will be cheering you on from in front of my TV set, drinking beer and eating chicken wings.
It's basically impossible to isolate a property that is convenient to both the start point on Staten Island, the finish point in Central Park, and EWR/JFK.
The finish line is around 66th and CPW. I would nominate what I think is the closest HH property to that point, the Hampton Inn at 52th and 8th, known optimistically as the "Times Square North" HI, although it is firmly in Hells Kitchen. That would be about a 15-minute walk from the finish line. (There is also an HGI a further five minutes south, at 49th and 8th.)
To get to this area from EWR, it's easy to take the Coach USA bus to the Port Authority (42nd and 8th) and walk north about ten minutes. From JFK, take the AirTrain to Howard Beach, then the A train to the 50th Street station in Manhattan -- dead easy.
To get to the marathon starting point from this HI (or HGI), you walk east to the subway station at 50th and Broadway, and take the 1 train to the end of the line at South Ferry. Take the ferry over to Staten Island, then the S51 / Grant City bus down to the staging area.
Staten Island bus system map here (PDF warning):
http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/bussi.pdf
Marathon course map here:
http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/course...ctive_map.shtm
Hampton Inn hotel detail here:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html
I think it would probably be better to have a short walk to the hotel after the marathon than a long one!
Cheers.