Hotel Views in NYC

[wizard]

Can anyone reccommend a hotel that offers spectacular views of New York City from your room? Better still a website that shows you the view from your hotel window??

[becks]

I've been to new york a couple of times and stayed in the radisson lexington and the new york palace. Quite honestly i can barely remember the views from my hotel as i was in it so little but it depends what you want views of. New york is quite spread out so say you want views of central park you'd want to stay somehwere like the waldorf astoria as that is up that way, or if you want to stay in times square i think W is there and the Marriott Marquis. Then say if you wanted views over the harbour and statue of liberty you'd need to stay somewhere near battery park and the twin towers site. You don't reall say why the view is so important or if you've been before but trust me, you'll spend so little time in your room that you won't care about the view. Also cos so many of the buildings are so high you'll often find that your view is either obstructed by another tall building or looks directly at it. Am very very jealous!! as for websites google throuws up about a million on hotels in new york, the best being hotels.com, i booked mine on last-minute.com, might also be worth checking out epinions.com to see if anyone mentions your chosen hotel and its views. have fun x

[wizard]

Thanks very much becks, im not quite sure myself what sort of view id like, something really nice! Ive always had this dream since I was a child of viewing the New York cityscape at night, not sure why! Ill definately have a look at them sites you listed, thanks again for your help!

[AllYourBase]

Many hotels in NY are proud of their views BUT you will nearly always have to pay a premium for the view. I endorse all said above as you really won't spend much time in the room. Use a consolidator site like laterooms.com, expdeia, octopus or cheaprooms.com to get an idea of prices, then visit the hotels own website. Email the hotel direct if needs be. Last time I went, we stayed in a hotel called "on the avenue". The view from our room was simply another building very close up, but they had some bigger rooms which we had a nose into whilst the cleaners were in at the top which had spectacular views. I don't know how much extra they were. Many of the buildings at times square have restaurants and bars towards the top of them, where many a good evening can be had admiring the views. http://www.ontheave-nyc.com/rooms.htm

[kalise25]

As Becks says, you'll spend so little time in your room it really won't matter to you! I was lucky enough to stay in the Waldorf Astoria, but to be fair although it's a spectacular hotel, the views aren't great. All the buildings around it are huge (which someone else pointed out). Best places for views are visiting the top of the Empire State, or having dinner in the Rainbow Room. Have to say though, the trip in in the yellow cab from JFK takes some beating! It's like being in a movie! Also taking one of the river cruises - either the Circle Line cruise, the water taxi or the Staten Island ferry (the last is free , if you're on a budget) give you spectacular all round views of the whole of Manhattan, and also parts of Queens and Brooklyn. Very jealous - hope you have a ball!

[becks]

Hi wizard, just another point, you mentioned the night view of new york which i agree is absolutely fantastic, however most of the pictures you see like are taken from across the bridge heading into new york from JFK, so you will never get that view staying new york. Plus you'll not really be able to find something like it cos it's the harbour side, i agree with kalise, take the ferry - it's well worth it, but not worth getting the one that stops at staten island as you're not allowed to climb up the statue of liberty anymore, so you get off the boat and um, look at it from the bottom, not so fab. ugh writing all this is making me remember how wicked new york is!! wish i was going... and if you bump into the editor of new york galmour, tell them there's an english girl here desperate for ajob...willing to relocate!! have fun x

[becks]

just read that back...apologies for all the typos! can we have an edit button please...

[rja211077]

I stayed at the Hotel Pennsylvania which is brilliantly located right next to Madison sq Garden and Penn Station and for a long time was one of NY's highest buildings. It cost me about �60/night - v reasonable for the location though the room was basic. I guess for a room near the top with a good view you'd be charged extra. As others have said, don't worry about your hotel view, just go up the Empire State Building for the best view of all. Go up both day and night. Lastly, I think becks meant there's no point getting the ferry that stops at Liberty (not Staten) island. I would agree. The Staten island is worth the (free) trip as it offers great views of lower Manhatten and the Statue. Don't get off though, there's nothing on the Island - just come straight back!

[becks]

yes rja that would be the one i meant!!