Doubletree Times Square (Hilton)

You may be asking where to use your Hilton points in New York City. I am currently staying at the Doubletree Times Square and decided to share my thoughts on the place and other options in NYC.

Summary: Best all around New York hotel in the Hilton family for most visitors.

Pros:

– Real 1 bedroom suites of significant size. I am Hilton Diamond so they gave me a King Bed Suite on the 26th Floor. It has a substantial size living room with a fold out couch, a wet bar, dorm fridge, nice size bathroom accessible from both room, two ~37″ flat panel TV’s, separate bedroom with a King bed, seating, etc. and a view of times square.

– Times Square. Great place to be if you like the theater. Also close to many subway lines. And great reasonably priced food on 9th Ave in Hell’s Kitchen or right around the corner if you like Japanese.  Oh and you can’t be more in the middle of Times Square than in this hotel.  TKTS is 50 feet from the front door.

– Gym: very good for a hotel, though I used my Boston membership at the New York Sports Club in the nearby Crown Plaza

– Breakfast: Diamonds get a free buffet breakfast. Very good from a hotel perspective. Made to order omelets, pancakes, french toast and waffles along with about 6 options on the hot buffet, bagels, toaster, chopped fruit, smoked salmon, and fresh squeezed orange juice. Not sure the deal for non-Diamonds, but seems like retails is over $20 a person (personally I would just get a breakfast sandwich at Starbucks if I had to pay cash, but if you are a big eater, this is for you.

– Free cookies

Cons

– Times Square. If you aren’t using the theaters or showing a friend the glitz of New York, Times Square can be a hassle. You need to navigate around large throngs of people to get in the front door of the hotel.

– Two Elevators. Like very many New York hotels, you need to take an elevator from the ground level to the lobby and another to your room. Adds a minute to every time you want to leave the hotel. No big deal, just not ideal.

– Not trendy or youthful like a W, Soho grand or the like.

– Free cookies – if you are on a diet

Other Hilton family properties in NYC at 50k points:

– Doubletree Metropolitan – this one is on the east side not far from Grand Central and other East side hotels. I stayed here a couple of months ago. Personally, this location is very convenient for me. The rooms are very small and older, however. They upgraded me to a handicap “Suite” based on my status (gold at the time). It was a nice size room, but certainly just one room. Very nice staff. Bar can make a good drink. Would still take the DT Times Square over it unless I had a strong reason to be on the East Side.

– Millennium Hilton – this is right across from the World Trade site. Brand New hotel. Took a stroll down here and seems very nice, though in a very inconvenient location for most visitors to the city.

– Waldorf Astoria – I haven’t stayed here so can just report what I have read. People are generally not impressed relative to its name. I generally don’t enjoy the older hotels with the classic fancy names, so may be prejudiced against this one as well. Though if you are taking someone who is impressed by names or a big Coming to America fan, this is a bargain at 50k points.

There are also plenty of options for 40k Hilton Points.  Generally, Hilton Garden Inns and Hampton Inns.  I’ve toured the Hilton Garden Times Square and it looks very new, clean and has everything you would need.  I’m sure the Hampton Inns would be fine choices as well, though they seem to get more mixed reviews.

1568 Broadway
New York, NY USA
+1 212-719-1600