dwcatty

There are two different Doubletree Times Square threads here in the Hilton forum; I still don't know why they haven't been merged.

Waiting outside for hours and hours is for the young or insane or something, but was not for me. Here is our tale of staying in the room on NYE and how much we enjoyed that. Also some room number information that might be helpful at check in.

jerry a. laska

One is for trip reports and reviews:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...t=times+square
And the other (this one) is for general questions/comments about the hotel.

bacook

Actually if you're prepared to pay 50k points per night it seems to be available for 2 nights from 12/30. I considered staying there but the 90 day cancellation policy is too inflexible for me.

I'm also not convinced about staying in TS for NYE because I wouldn't queue up for the pens, it seems extremely unlikely to end up with a view of the festivities and from the reports I've read you can't just wander around the hotel close to midnight to see the action.

jamesteroh

Thanks for the heads up. When I checked last they wanted a lot of points to stay there that weekend and last year I booked in February and it was not cancelable at all. I don't mind a 90 day cancel policy for 50K a night points. I just like how large the suites are for times square.

The first time I went to NYC for the 2009/10 NY and stayed at the HGI they started closing the streets off at 50th street around 3. This december I went to Chelsea for a message around 12:30 and they were already closing off the 50th avenue subway stop then at broadway and I decided to just walk back since it wasn't bad outside and they already had 46th closed off and I had to show my hotel card and only was able to walk to the hotel. I tried going to the McDonalds late that afternoon and they wouldn't even let me go over there but an hour later I found another cop that gave me the go ahead to go.

mmo

So that's it once you are in the hotel at a certain point you can't leave? Do the surrounding pubs that are not doing private party's just close down or do you need to wait till after Midnight to go to them? I like DT also for the space. I do not expect to get a upgrade but hoping to attend some paid private club that we might have some access for ball drop view or peek. I heard that Central Park has nice fireworks display also.

mmo

Wow thank for the detailed report and room number info. Sounds like you had a good time and enjoyed it. We did the same thing at Thankgiving as my daughter had a fever and there was no way we could go outside, we watched parade from inside our cozy room

jamesteroh

You can leave the hotel, you just have to leave broadway. and go to 8th or 6th avenues. If you decide to get something to eat at 7 p.m. they won't let you walk down broadway you will to walk up 45th street to 8th or to 6th and then when you return you will have to show your room key card and they will escort a group of people to the various hotels.

I know with the restaraunts, you have to walk down eighth or sixth ave to that block and they have a list of the people with reservation. I am not sure how it works with the bars on the streets that are between 6th and 8th. It is possible the police just escort people there and when you leave you won't be able to get on broadway anyway.

For the 2010/2011 NYE we ate at McCormick & Schmick's and were able to get in with no problem. We had to walk down sixth avenue and there was a restaraunt employee standing on 7th and 52nd and was escorting people there. He was complaining about how bad the police were about blocking off the areas in recent years and hates it because it should be there busiest night of the year and that isn't the case anymore.

EsherFlyer

Added my views here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19158427-post41.html

Preacher7

As a Gold, what can I expect for complimentary breakfast at this property? Is the Full Doubletree Breakfast Buffet included?

swdke

When I was there two years ago for NYE, it was the full Doubletree Breakfast Buffet that was included.

ILovetheReds

Mrs Reds and I stayed there this summer with our two kids. I am a diamond and she is gold, and we booked a suite for us and a suite for the kids. One room was booked in my name and one under hers so we could get four breakfast. I was told me and one guest would get the full buffet and as a gold her and one of the other kids would get the continential but we could upgrade to a full buffet for around $22 (I can't remember if that was for 2 people or 1). My wife and 1 of the kids that don't eat much for breakfast took the continental while my other kid and I took the full buffet. The contintial buffet has quite a few items on it as well.

There have been other reports on here with golds having the same experience and there was another recent report of a gold receiving the full buffet, so YMMV. Even if you don't get the full buffet the continential is substantial.

If you are staying there for new years eve as a gold, I would recomend booking whatever suite type you want. As a diamond I have never been upgraded there on New Years eve nor have any other diamonds I know. The hotel is usually sold out.

bacook

I've considered an award stay at this property for NYE partly because the award redemption value v the cash rate and partly because everyone raves about how good it is.

Given the following, would previous guests still encourage me to stay there for new year (I'm currently booked at the HGI on West 35th).

- I will be by myself so the extra space is of limited value
- It seems staying there makes me no more likely to see the ball drop / festivities unless I peak out a window on a high level
- I have no particular attraction to Times Square and don't plan on seeing any shows.

Given the above I am still considering it!

jamesteroh

If you are going to go to NYC anyway for NYE, I would recomend staying there just to say you experienced times square on NYE once in your life. Unless you arrive in Times Square before 1 p.m. and have no problem staying out there till after midnight, you won't be able to get into times square unless you have a hotel key card and then you can only get escorted to the hotel and be out in the street in front of the hotel.

If you want to go to times square on NYE you other alternative is to pay a LOT of money for one of the restaraunt parties where you have a view. Even chain places in times square like olive garden and Bubba Gumps on broaddway charge an arm and a leg for their parties that night.

mmo

I am gold and stayed there Thanksgiving 2011 and September 2012 both times received full breakfast buffet for two

elitefreak

We go there every year around Christmastime, and Golds get the full buffet for member and 1 guest. Smoked salmon, made to order eggs, the works.