Location: Millenium Hilton

I am a frequent visitor to Manhattan and will be making my annual Christmas season trip there Thanksgiving weekend. Normally, I book my hotel a year in advance but was unable to do so this year.

As anyone familiar with the city knows, it is a VERY expensive time of year for hotels. I am really not interested in paying $400/nt just for a king bedded room in a 3 or 4 star hotel in a safe area.

The Hilton has what look to be very nice rooms and the rates are a bargain. I know there is a subway stop close by and really just want some feedback on how out of the way it really is. I spend a lot of time in Murray Hill (my friends live there and one of my favorite restaurants). It seems to be close to the Village as well.

Any opinions? The W Court for $125/nt more is my second best option.

Thanks!

Location: Millenium Hilton

If you%26#39;re talking about the Millenium Hilton on Church Street (bwn Dey and Cortlandt streets) next to Century 21 and across from Ground Zero: this is a lovely hotel. Book it.

We stayed there on our wedding night in May! Our wedding guests from Mass. also stayed there, and they loved it! Ask for a view facing NORTH or EAST. If you%26#39;re on a high floor, you%26#39;ll have GREAT views of Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, etc. Or you may end up overlooking Ground Zero - which is not necessarily bad. It depends how you feel about the site. It didn%26#39;t bother me as much as I thought it would.

It is really convenient to many subways (except that the closest subway, Rector Street - R,W lines - will be closed for renovation until next year.). You%26#39;re also close to shopping, tourism sites, Wall Street, South Street Seaport, ferries to Ellis Island and SOL, pubs, dining, etc.

http://www.downtownny.com/default.aspx?sid=3

If you found a good rate, I%26#39;d go for the Millenium Hilton, no question!

Here is a post about eating in the area:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k271184-鈥?/a>

Location: Millenium Hilton

Agree the Millenium Hilton is fine if you got a deal. It%26#39;s actually right next to the WTC site so you can find it on a map. A lot depends on what your plans are. It%26#39;s not convenient for typical midtown tourist stuff and on weekends, the immediate area can be pretty dead. But you%26#39;re right, it%26#39;s closer to the village, Soho, Tribeca etc.

The biggest inconvenience for you will be that it connects to subways that service the westside rather than the east where your friends in Murray Hill are located.

Even though the Fulton Street station is a big maze, you can catch the Lexington Avenue 4 and 5 trains there, and it is right behind the hotel.

And the Lexington Ave trains will take me to midtown?

I love to walk and we will do that if weather permits. I know the West Village pretty well and like to wander around there.

We are only there three nights and have tickets for Radio City and I am working on theater tickets. We will likely get to the Met as well.

I normally stay in Midtown or in Murray Hill but really wanted a nice room this time and those hotels are out of my budget. Beekman Towers had a great advance purchase rate and I have been there for drinks and liked it. But, a king size bed and a nice bathroom have a lot of appeal. This is a romantic getaway so a nice room is a higher priority than location!

I am a runner and usually just head out to 5th and the Park for an early morning run every day. Is this going to be a problem here? I know the hotel has a fitness center but I love to be outside for my runs whenever possible.

There is a wonderful place to jog, bike, etc near the Milenium Hotel - Hudson River Park. I love biking here.

It is part of the Hudson River Greenway - you can walk almost around the entire island of Manhattan!

This is the downtown segment:

www.hudsonriverpark.org/parkmap/tribeca.htm

Here%26#39;s a description of biking and running in the park:

hudsonriverpark.org/facilities/bicycling.htm

This site has nice pictures

www.batteryparkcity.org/Visiting/parks.htm

The 4,5,6 goes up the east side (Murray Hill)

Getting to midtown from Milenium requires one transfer, since the 6th Avenue lines don%26#39;t go there. Take the A,C or E at Chambers Street/World Trade Center uptown to West 4th Street. Go downstairs and transfer for the uptown B,D,F or V to 47th-50th Rockefeller Center, etc.

queensboulevard: thanks a bunch!

Any nice jazz clubs or piano bars in the general vicinity you can recommend?

I remember the Garage having an interesting ambiance, but I think its been 4-5 years since I have been in that area at night.

There%26#39;s a restaurant near City Hall called 2 Rivers that has recently had signs in their window advertising live music. Even if they don%26#39;t, it%26#39;s a pretty good place for wings and a sandwich.

From Menupages:

2 Rivers

American (Traditional), Bar Food, Sandwiches

10 Murray St, New York 10007

Btwn Bway %26amp; Church St

Phone: 212-566-6915

http://www.2riversnyc.com/

(pretty lame website)

Actually Mudville 9 on Chambers is better for wings, now that I think about it.

I am more of a tofu girl than a wing girl, but thanks for the thoughts.

I am really excited about a new place to run and feel much better about this hotel after your input.

Why didn%26#39;t ya say so!

Bell Bates is the place for you!

http://bellbates.com/

It%26#39;s about 10 blocks from Milenium, and worth it. Good prices.

Maybe you can pass by during your morning jog?

Here is a map.

http://bellbates.com/page/nzx6/Map.html

There%26#39;s also a coffee shop with healthy food items on menu called Naturally Delicious on Barclay, off of Broadway (next to Woolworth Building.) Haven%26#39;t been in a while, but it used to be pretty good.

There is a green market in front of the World Trade Center site on Tues and Thurs.

There%26#39;s also a greenmarket on Greenwich and Chambers (next to Washington Market Park) on Wed. and Sats.

See this site for schedule

http://www.cenyc.org/HTMLGM/maingm.htm

HTH (happy to help)

Caviargal,

My wife and I stayed at the Millenium last weekend. Wonderful property, friendly and accomodating staff, and super convenient for subway travel anywhere in the city. We booked a room through Hotwire for $175.00 a night USD. What a score given current NYC prices.

We arrived at 9AM to check our bags. The hotel staff took our cell phone number and called about 2 hours later to say that our room was waiting. The entire property was rehabbed following 9/11. Everything is clean, modern and comfortable. Half of the rooms overlook the World Trade Center site and we did find ourselves drawn to that view while contemplating the loss on that awful day. A visit next door to St. Paul%26#39;s Chapel found a very moving memorial to the rescue efforts.

The city itself was outstanding. We walked from Battery Park to Central Park and enjoyed every moment.

Have a great time.