This hotel is a good place to use as a home base while seeing New York City. It costs a fraction of what a similarly appointed place would cost in Manhattan. The subway (actually an elevated train here) can have you at Grand Central Terminal in a few minutes and Times Square is another couple of quick stops. Our room was not all that quiet, facing the subway and picking up a lot of street noise on Queen's Boulevard, but after a couple of nights we barely noticed it and as the bed was comfortable, we slept well. Breakfast was pretty basic but we supplemented it with extra fruit and Turkish snacks we bought up the street near the 40th Street subway stop. The coffee machine was available all the time, so we had something to wash down the baklava we bought on the way back to our room at the end of the day. Housekeeping was a bit weird. Every day they left only one washcloth and every day we had to go to the desk and ask for a second one. The bed was made when we arrived but every day after that they just left the blanket and bedspread folded at the foot of the bed. The TV was also left on most days when we got back. The front desk staff was pretty friendly and helpful in getting tickets and airline boarding passes printed. WiFi was slow at times but usually worked well. A couple of subway hints: The hotel is pretty much equidistant between the 33rd Street and 40th Street stations. Both involve a lot of stairs so you need good legs. During morning rush hour a lot of people get on at 40th so the train is crowded. A lot of people get off at 33rd, so it was easier to get on there. There are more restaurants and markets near the 40th Street station. That Turkish market is called "Old Castle Fresh Farm". Another subway hint: Hauling luggage through Penn Station, Times Square or Grand Central is a major hassle. If you come from Newark Liberty Airport you can take the PATH train to World Trade Center and get on the E train. It is the start of the E line, so getting on should be easy. Transfer to the 7 line at Court Square. This involves a fairly long walk through the station but very few stairs and a moving sidewalk for part of it with an elevator to get you to the platform for the 7 line. reverse it to leave. However, there is weekend construction being done on the 7 line and connections don't always work, so check the MTA website! I would definitely stay here again the next time I visit New York City.  
 
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Easy walk a couple of blocks from the 40th Street / Lowery Station on the number 7 line of the subway (this line also goes to Grand Central Station and Times Square). If you are travelling from Manhattan, you can see the hotel (and the MacDonalds next door) on the right hand side just before the station. Chose to stay here as when I stayed in Manhattan I had a tiny room, no window, and a shared bathroom down the Hallway. Here, the bed was enormous and the room perfectly comfortable. Had own bathroom and window! Free wi-fi in the room and free continental breakfast (cereal, toast, hot and cold drinks, colourful doughnuts), self service in a room adjacent to reception. Receptionists friendly. When I asked how to get the water to come out of the shower instead of the bath tap (not as obvious as usual) the receptionist took a bath tap out of a drawer to demonstrate so was glad to know I was not the first one! If you stay here and are using the subway, note that there will either be a circle or a diamond in lights on the outside of each car of the train. If there is a circle, this is a local stopping service. If there is a diamond (happens when travelling during peak-time), this is an express service and the train will not stop at 40th Street / Lowery Station (although you just need to get off at the next station stopped at and cross over to the opposite platform to get where you want to go).  
 
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Although not in Manhattan this hotel was the perfect place for us for our trip to New York. Just 15 minutes from Times Square by subway. Good neighbourhood, friendly staff, clean rooms with free internet for everyone, breakfast a little bit sober but ok and otherwise Pete's Grill (or McDonalds) is just around the corner. In Manhattan a hotel like this would cost you double the money so I can recommend this hotel to everyone !  
 
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If you are really in a budget stay there. Not recommended for senior citizens. No internet on fifth floor. Had to go to the lobby to check emails. Very inconvenient. Few blocks from subway station. Bank of America 6 blocks away. Mcdonalds across the street. Subway takes you quite fast to Manhattan. $2.5 per person, one way trip. The guy on the front desk suggested that I should remove my GPS from the minivan I rented. So you can expect a non friendly neighboorhood. I did walked at night with my kids with no problem.  
 
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The hotel gets 4 stars (well I guess technically 4 circles) for its location and value for the money. The subway, which will take you to grand central, bryant park, and times square in 15-20 minutes, is 2 blocks from the hotel. You can see the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building when you're walking back to the hotel from the subway. There are also a bunch of restaurants nearby, a CVS, and the area is very safe. I felt confident and secure as a petite woman walking back from the subway at night. Even though the hotel is by the elevated subway tracks, I didn't notice much train noise or street noise. For a price that's lower than anything you'll find in Manhattan, you get a clean room with a refrigerator, that's a decent size in a quiet location. The negatives: the wifi was a little slow, especially at night. There was a mediocre selection at breakfast. Both of these amenities were free, and they definitely sufficed, so I can't really complain too much. There was also an awkward setup in the lobby. You will have to drag your luggage up some stairs to get to the elevator. The A/C unit in the room was pretty loud. Luckily I didn't have to use it too often during my trip. The positives definitely outweighed the negatives. This hotel is good for people who are looking for a no frills hotel that will provide you with a clean and safe place to stay while you're exploring New York, and it won't completely empty out your wallet.  
 
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