Where to stay near Madison Square Garden

Hi everyone--I%26#39;m coming to NYC for a show at Madison Square Garden on Dec 7. I haven%26#39;t been to NYC in years, and that was just for a quick business trip. What is Madison Square Garden close to? Does it make sense to stay close to there or is it easily (and safely) accessible via subway? We%26#39;d like to see The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and I%26#39;m sure do some general city walking while there, so any recommendations on where to stay would be helpful. Also, are the subways safe to ride late in the evening? I%26#39;m guessing the concert would let out around 10 or 11. Thanks!

Where to stay near Madison Square Garden

Try the Hotel Pennsylvania, directly across the street from the Garden!!

Where to stay near Madison Square Garden

The Affinia Manhattan (formerly the Southgate Tower Hotel) is very close to Madison Square Garden.

I stayed there recently and loved it.

I would caution against the Hotel Pennsylvania. It%26#39;s a dump.

If you should happen to be coming via train, it would make sense to stay near there since Madison Square Garden is above Penn Station. But there%26#39;s also a subway stop so it%26#39;s not really necessary to stay right near there. It%26#39;s easily accessible from almost anywhere. It%26#39;s a fairly commercial area, near the Empire State. I agree the Affinia Manhattan formerly known as the Southgate Towers is the best option nearby. The Affinia Dumont is a bit further but still walkable and another good option. The other decent place nearby is the Hotel Metro. I also agree not to use the Pennsylvania.

The ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are all the way downtown at the southern tip. You can find some good value on hotels down there b/c it%26#39;s not as central. The Embassy Suites, the Ritz Carlton Battery Park and the Millenium Hilton are all down in that area. Yes it%26#39;s safe to ride the subways at night but if you%26#39;re a woman alone, you might feel more comfortable on a bus or taxi, esp. going all the way downtown.

The Times Square area which is probably the most popular neighborhood for tourists to stay is just about 10 blocks north of MSG and provides a good compromise imo. There are hotels there in every price range (which you don%26#39;t provide).

Thanks so much for all of your replies. It sounds like staying down near Times Square might be a better, more central option. I expect we%26#39;ll be paying at least $200 a night for a hotel, so I am not *too* concerned with hotel bargains--more concerned with good location. Of course Trump Tower would be out of the question, but some of the other suggestions you%26#39;ve given seem reasonable. I%26#39;m also interested in ice skating at Rockefeller Center (I know, touristy!) but it looks very fun. :) Thanks again...oh, and I%26#39;ll be traveling with my husband so it seems like the subway will be a great way to get around.

I hope you can find a room for $200. Prices have been very high this fall. I think the TS area is a good bet. You might also look at the Radio City apartments (radiocityapartments.com), right near Rock Ctr., within a walk of TS etc.

I vehemently disagree about the Hotel Pennsylvania being a dump. Over the last 20 years I have stayed them MANY times and found it quite adequate, clean, convenient, helpful staff.

That%26#39;s my opinion - so there!

I agree that Hotel Pennsylvania is great. I stayed there last year and im staying there again next month when i go...excellent location and helpful staff.

Hi, I agree the Pennsylvania Hotel is fine. I have stayed there twice and staying there again this December. If you are unlucky enough to get a bad room just demand a better one or a renovated one and you will be moved. Its a great location.

I can%26#39;t comment on the rooms but if you do stay there----IMHO, part of the charm of our fair city is the lore. So take note of the phone number you dial and the hold music [if you call/book directly]. from Newday: ';...Early city telephone numbers included ';exchange names,'; words used to represent the first two letters of the 7-digit number... Examples included PLaza, ALgonquin, CAnal, UNiversity, and PEnnsylvania. The famous Pennsylvania exchange was immortalized in the Glenn Miller hit ';Pennsylvania 6-5000,'; which was inspired by the phone number of the Hotel Pennsylvania... with 2,200 rooms it was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in 1919. Miller and his Orchestra recorded the song shortly after an extended booking at the hotel鈥檚 Caf茅 Rouge in early 1940. Live audiences who gathered to hear Glenn Miller perform would respond by calling out ';Pennsylvania 6-5000!'; when they heard a telephone ring. '; And if you stay, take a stroll down nearby 32nd street b/w 5th and 6th - it%26#39;s Little Korea-fabulous street teaming with Korean restaurants.