Budget-Conscious
There are plenty of hostel-style accommodations on the Upper West Side where you can share a pad with a few student travelers, but if you're looking for a discount rate on a single or double bed, try either Hotel 99 or Marrakech. Both are on Broadway within a block or two of the subway, and come with standard amenities including cable television, Wi-Fi and private bathrooms for low rates. The rooms at Hotel 99 are on the small side, with enough room for a bed, a dresser, and a corner to stack your open suitcases, but the exposed brick walls add some character to a relatively basic place.
The Hotel Marrakech, however, has a Mediterranean style, giving it a bit more personality. The lobby floor has been decorated with Moroccan tiles and wicker furniture, while the candlelit lounge is furnished with mosaic tables and thick-cushioned couches. Be warned, however, there is no elevator and most of the rooms are lacking a view. However, if you're just looking for an inexpensive, clean room and aren't planning on staying indoors for too long, these would be your best bets. For the rate you'll be paying, don't expect five-star service, but the location is good--near Central Park, Riverside Park, several great restaurants, and numerous places to shop along Broadway, Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.
Hotel 99
244 West 99th Street
New York, NY 10025
(212) 222-3799
hotel99.com
Hotel Marrakech
2688 Broadway
New York, NY 10025
(212) 222-2954
marrakechhotelnyc.com
Moderate
If you're looking for a modern hotel at an affordable price, try On The Avenue Hotel. If the weather is nice, sprawl out on the roof deck for a tan, or get a bottle of wine and relax on one of their balcony lounges on the upper floors. Rooms have a contemporary elegance, furnished with queen-size beds that are dwarfed by a giant suede headboard.
The rooms have a warm feel accentuated by the earth tones incorporated in the furniture, walls, and carpets. The Hudson River can be seen from the west wing; however, upgrading to a Panoramic Deluxe room provides a terraced view of the River, Central Park, and much of the Upper West Side from 15 stories above. Right around the corner from The West Branch Restaurant and Bar, and a few steps away from the subway, the location is excellent.
If you prefer a more traditional look, Park 79 features classic wood and leather furnishings, accented by cream-colored walls and has the feel of a bed and breakfast. The Standard rooms can be a bit small and have double beds, however if you want a queen, upgrade to a Deluxe room. There is also free Wi-Fi. Located a block away from Central Park and within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History and two subway lines, you'll enjoy your stay in New York in a prime location away from the tourist trap that is known as Times Square.
On The Ave
2178 Broadway
222 West 77th Street
New York, NY 10024
ontheave-nyc.com
(212) 362-1100
Park 79
117 West 79th Street
New York, NY 10024
(212) 787-3300
park79.com
High Roller
When you're looking for sheer elegance, the Mandarin Oriental is one of the best hotels not only on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but the entire city. Next door to Columbus Circle, Central Park and the Time Warner Center, you'll be a quick step away from a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the city and the Fifth Avenue shopping district.
The rooms are first-rate, with marble tabletops, leather seating, floor to ceiling windows and hints of Asian influence (particularly in the lamps and pillows). The beds are probably the most comfortable you will ever sleep on, and each room's stylish window seats are perfect places to watch the city go by. With a 75-foot indoor pool, a VIP spa with a working fireplace, personalized yoga sessions, a 6,000-square-foot fitness center, and an upscale Asian fusion restaurant with a skyline view located just off the 35th-floor lobby, the Mandarin Oriental is the definition of contemporary New York elegance.
Mandarin Oriental
80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 805-8800
mandarinoriental.com/newyork
