jrtjingles

We (mid-50's couple) prefer smaller complexes. We are coming to NYC the weekend prior to the Christmas weekend to see The Nutcracker. Can someone recommend a $400-$500 range per night place that would be safe and in a good environment. We won't be in the room all that much but would like something quaint and clean and safe and near the touristy places.

nytraveler

Don;t know what you mean by a high rise. If you're asking for something that looks like a motel by the side of the road with a parking lot - we don;t have anything like that. The price of real estate is so high that most buildings are many stories.

If you have safety concerns you can ask for a room on a lower floor. Othewise you would be limited to a small number of B&B or pension type places.

Or are you just asking for a smaller hotel in number of rooms versus the Hilton with 1,000 or whatever. There are many smaller hotels - but they're still usually more than a few stories.

And all of the tourist areas of NYC are safe - so that's not really an issue.

If you can clarify what you mean people can make recos.

Also - the tourist area of NYC is about 8 miles long and a couple of miles wide. So no hotel is near all the touristy stuff. You need to plan on doing a lot of walking/subwaying to see most of the major sites.

I would go for someplace on the upper west side - perhaps the Lucerne would have something in that price range. Much quieter than the Times Square area and good subway access to the rest of the city. And you can walk to Lincoln Center for the Nutcracker in about 10 minutes.

jrtjingles

I guess we are looking for something you would call a boutique hotel, not a complex with a parking lot, something 50 - 100 rooms and quaint. Hope this is more definitive than what I originally penned.

samschack

Try the Hotel Plaza Athenee. It is a wonderful boutique hotel on the upper east side. I think that it might be possible to get a room within the price range you indicated. We stayed there last spring and loved it! Nice rooms, great location and excellent service.

nytraveler

I don;t think the Plaza Athenee will be in that range - I checked the Lucerne - which is 3* and the least expesnive room they had left for that weekend was about $800.

(Just checked and the PA seems to be fully booked for at least part of the stay - and rooms available are all over $900.)

doug_stallings

The Hotel Elysees is on the Upper East Side and might be somewhat inconvenient for you.

Hotel Giraffe (same owners as the Elysees) might also be an option. It's further downtown on Park Avenue (below 42nd Street), but it's a convenient location and there are restaurants nearby. The Hotel Casablanca, which is a non-high-rise small hotel right off Times Square is also nice, but I think it's booked. The Algonquin and Iroquois are also not horrible large and quaintly old-fashioned, though the Iroquois has small rooms and small bathrooms, but it's a nice little hotel.

I do think you are being realistic about what you'll have to pay.

jlm_mi

I think you mean that you'll be in town the weekend of December 15-17 (though you don't say exactly which dates). I wonder if nytraveler was searching the weekend after that to get those high prices? I see the Lucerne for those two dates, two people, for $345/night plus tax, total $789.29 for two nights including tax, for their basic room. The Giraffe is similarly priced.

jrtjingles

Yes, we are looking at 12/15 - 12/17. We like to do B&Bs but I know they are rate in NYC. Thanks to those who offered their suggestions.

nytraveler

The Elysees - actually on east 54th st - not the upper east side - might not be a bad choice. It is a boutique hotel in the european style - and many of the rooms are small - but they have a deluxe available for under $500. You might want to look at the web site and ask them about room size.

(Have never used the hotel but used to eat at the restauanrt and frequent the Monkey Bar all the time - and it was a class act.)

mclaurie

Wymanhouse.com is a lovely b & b on the upper west side. It's more a residential area so NOT "near the touristy places" but would be a good place to be for going to Lincoln Center. They say a 3 night minimum is required, but you could check.

This is another b & b on the upper west side.
http://countryinnthecity.com/

1871house.com is also a b & b but more in the midtown area (close to Bloomingdales)

I agree the Elysee is a lovely smaller hotel. The Warwick is another one to check out. It's a bit closer to Lincoln Center and the typical tourist venues. Like the Elysee, it also has an interesting history.
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7144729