The above is confirmed, with a small correction that the lounge opens at 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Upon checkin, I was informed I was upgraded to a corner king junior suite on the 17th floor, Northwest Corner (facing the World Financial Center). Room is very large for NYC standards and has a sofa with a hideaway bed. PM lounge offerings included tossed salad, shrimp cocktail, bread and cheese, brie and grapes, macaroni and cheese (with bacon to sprinkle) and mini pigs in blankets.

Very impressed by how friendly the lounge staff have been, as well as the quality of offerings.

Part 1: Advice on stay - work @ Lincoln Center

Will be in town in May for a multi-day work event at Lincoln Center with my wife. Rates are even higher than the usual extortion so our choices within budget are limited.

She very much wants to stay somewhere "hip, trendy" - not a cookie-cutter property, which is making this even more difficult. And an upgrade of any sort would seem to be unlikely as I've dropped to Silver.

Based on that, the only Manhattan properties that are within budget are the FS Marriott Downtown or East Side. From this thread, it sounds like both are decent enough but neither is especially "hip". Both look like they aren't well located for either Lincoln Center or any sort of night life, though I don't really know NY very well. (Also looking at Hyatt but with them, only the Andaz Wall Street will work for $.)

Are any of those properties a good fit? Or should I just priceline something around the Times Square area and hope for the best? Thanks for any advice...

Part 2: Stay report at Fairfield Chelsea

Was there about a month ago. Overall a good stay. Location was good to walk to an event near Penn Station, was quiet enough, and everything in good condition. Ended up staying in an accessible room so I could check in (very) early and I'm not sure how someone in a wheelchair would actually be able to use the bathroom. But otherwise it was fine. Somehow, I stayed on a Monday night and the rate was only $116. It's well worth that rate, though I'm not so enthusiastic at the $459 (!!!) they're asking this time. (That has to be a record-setting rate for a FI.)

HI GUYS ,

I am looking to stay in new york for 6 nights with wife and 18month old baby (visiting from OZ) have decided that we would like an apartment with kitchen etc- make it easier to manage little one. I have looked at both of these :

Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Times Square
1033 Avenue of the Americas � New York, New York 10018 USA
&
Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Midtown East
148 East 48th Street � New York, New York 10017 USA

Both are Cat 7 according to Marriot website (am currently plat member). Any suggestions as to which one would suit best would be much appreciated.

thank you

Mistado

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...d-threads.html

Both hotels are good hotels - the Midtown East is newer than the other one. The Times Square one is actually across the street from Bryant Park and near the NY Public Library (none of which are interesting for an 18th month old probably - maybe Bryant Park?).

Both are good properties - the Times Square hotel is more subway accessible and on a busier area. The Midtown East is more modern as it's newer.

Has anyone stayed in a double room at the jw Marriott Essex NYC? There seem to be very few of them. Going for a long weekend and meeting my brother there who's never been to NYC! He saw this property on-line and suggested it. I would love a nice property and central pk view. I usually stay in Meridien but can't be sure I'll get a view, though I may have a better chance with my status. But if no view, I would rather stay at jw for this trip...

No status anymore at Marriott and this property won't let me use points (i still have enough from 5-10 yrs ago) for a double room; only queen/king. It's expensive ($2300+ for 4 nts in a double), so I just want to make sure it's worth it...

Would love to hear your thoughts/recommendations, especially if anyone has stayed in a double room at JW and also with no status (I've applied for their visa so I can at least have silver again while there)

Spending one night in NYC before a TATL flight. Flight leaves at 7:15 PM, so would like to get a late check-out, if possible. Right now we're looking at Ren Times Square and the Marquis. Anyone ever get a late c-o from a midtown Marriott property?

My only stay in NYC was in 2006 as a gold member at the NYC Marriott Marquis. I checked out on a Saturday and got a 2 pm late checkout. It'll really depend on what day you checkout in terms of occupancy for the upcoming night.

I got one extra hour for check-out at the Renaissance Times Square, even as a Platinum on a low season day.

I got late check out at the Marriott Marquis but don't remember exactly one time. It want to say about 2 hours or so extra.

I've never had a problem other than when there's some major event or some huge group arriving.

If you want to be sure, do the NY thing and ask a FD clerk if you could show your appreciation in some way to the clerk for his good service.

Got a 2pm check out at the Marriott Marquis on New Year's Day. I guess they had a ton of rooms to clean. They didn't mind waiting until 2 to clean mine.

If you're willing to pay, you can get a late check out no problem

With a 7:15 TATL flight, I'd probably want to leave Manhattan around 3:30 (but I like being there early, relaxing in the lounge, etc) if flying ex-JFK. If flying ex-EWR, maybe 4pm if taking the train (although given DL in your profile, I'm assuming JFK)

Worse case scenario, you can always leave your bags at the bell desk & enjoy the city and pick them up later.

"Good location" in Manhattan is often determined by which subway line you need to get somewhere..... perhaps look at NYC subway map (mta.info) to see which lines stop at Lincoln Center or nearby, then follow those subway lines back to your hotel choices..... a "downtown" or "Wall St" area hotel may be nicely close to the west-side subway lines going up to Lincoln Center.

.....can't think of a Marriott that's "hip" in Manhattan, other than maybe the Ren57, but there are some distinctive/historic properties, such as Algonquin and Carleton....more info in past year on this thread

....glad you liked the un-fussy Fairfield in Chelsea.....we make it "hip" with lots of fresh flowers from the wholesale places on that block, and a trip to the Whole Foods a few blocks away (or any store on 23rd St)! For us, that Fairfield's location provides easy access to both east-side or west-side subway lines which nearly converge at 28th or 23rd Sts.

In relation to JW Essex, is gold getting good treatments over there like upgrades and brekkie? As someone who has not stayed in this area, I am a bit hesistant if I will be better off staying here given the price is quite high...

Also thinking of the Marquis or the Ren at TS. Among the three, which one is better for a gold and a family member?

Many thanks for your insights