Broadway trip - Times Square/midtown hotels with no resort fees

[scampsweep]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 7:45am

Please can anyone suggest good hotels in midtown/ Times Square sort of area that do not charge resort/ amenity fees? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 7:53am

I've stayed at all of these and have never been charged a resort/amenity fee:

Four Points by Sheraton Midtown - Times Square

Element New York Times Square West

TownePlace Suites New York Manhattan/Times Square

WiFi is complimentary for Starwood/Marriott rewards members.

Updated On: 10/22/19 at 07:53 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 9:30am

Well, those are pricey....which is why they don't charge a resort fee, I suppose.

 

To the OP....it's becoming less and less rare - its a cheap shot for hotels that SEEM more affordable to actually up their profit.  

[Joe Mayo]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 9:42am

I've always had good louck with either the Hilton Garden Inn or Courtyard on 54th street in Central Park South.

Far enough away from the disaster that is times square, but plenty close to TKTS booth, the northern theaters, restaurants in Hells Kitchen and the park.

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 9:44am

dramamama611 said: "Well, those are pricey....which is why they don't charge a resort fee, I suppose.

To the OP....it's becoming less and less rare - its a cheap shot for hotels that SEEM more affordable to actually up their profit."

Actually, that's not true at all. Of course, "pricey" is subjective, but it has been my experience that the more expensive the hotel (e.g., Westin, W, InterContinental), the more likely they are to charge a resort/amenity fee, while the inverse is true of less expensive accommodations. If you consider the above-mentioned properties to be "pricey" for the Times Square area, I'm curious as to what hotels you think are "cheap".

[Will3700]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 10:03am

We stay at Hotel Edison. Reasonable prices and the best location with entrances form 47th and 46th .

[Susanswerphone]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 11:10am

Holiday Inn on 8th&38. No fee $50 incidentals deposit.
Salisbury Hotel on 57 between 6&7. No fee. $50 deposit.
Farther uptown: Days Hotel on 94@Bway. No fee. $25 deposit. Best rate are business class (no smoking) rooms. Spotty wifi. Discount on meals at Manhattan Diner on Bway. Entrance to 123 trains at end of the block.

[BIG BALONEY]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 12:23pm

Resort Fees are Highway Robbery period. I checked out a recent deal on hotwire and after seeing the cost there was a $20. daily resort fee attached to be paid directly to the hotel. I lost interest in the trip immediately.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 3:33pm

I can't stand resort fees either.  I have found the worst offenders for resort fees in Times Sq are The Row and  the Paramount. Each one seems cheap and fairly good when you look at the pictures, reviews, etc. but the resort fees for both are outrageous and make a budget hotel into a total ripoff. 

To avoid resort fees, I usually go for either The Mayfair on 49th between 8th and Broadway. The decor is horrible and the rooms are beyond tiny (no room to put your suitcase on anything except the bed). But you do get a private bathroom and a private room..........and no resort fee. 

When I can spend a little more money, I go for the Hilton Garden Inn on 8th Av between 49/48. Super spacious, with a fridge and a fabulous bathroom and most of what you'd expect from a "fancy" hotel...........with no resort fee.  

And by the way, I'm talking about booking through hotels.com.  Not sure if they'd add a resort fee on other sites. 

[A0326T]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 3:42pm

Hampton Inn 8th and 51st.

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 3:52pm

Actually, that's not true at all. Of course, "pricey" is subjective, but it has been my experience that the more expensive the hotel (e.g., Westin, W, InterContinental), the more likely they are to charge a resort/amenity fee, while the inverse is true of less expensive accommodations. If you consider the above-mentioned properties to be "pricey" for the Times Square area, I'm curious as to what hotels you think are"cheap".

Right? None of those hotels are pricey since, you know, you are in MIDTOWN Manhattan. If Lot666 said The Four Seasons or the Baccarat Hotel, I'd be inclined to agree. 

 

Updated On: 10/22/19 at 03:52 PM

[Justin D]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 4:21pm

Phantom4ever said: "To avoid resort fees, I usually go for either The Mayfair on 49th between 8th and Broadway. The decor is horrible and the rooms are beyond tiny (no room to put your suitcase on anything except the bed). But you do get a private bathroom and a private room..........and no resort fee."
 

 

Yea that will be me again in January, the decor is dreadful but its cheap and i only need someplace private to sleep with my own bathroom. Plus its RIGHT THERE.

I stayed at the ROW once next to phantom before these resort fees started up (or maybe they had and I didnt realize)

[cryan71]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 4:39pm

I think all the Marriott brand hotels in Manhattan have resort fees now.  Some try to make it up with a free hop on hop off bus tour and some free laundry.  I did stay last time at the new Townplace Suites in Queens near the Queensborough bridge without a resort fee. There were a ton of hotels being constructed nearby, so noise was an issue. 

However, this hotel is literally right next door to largest low-income housing project in the United States.  While I had no problem walking from the hotel to the nearest subway stop, you might not like the area.  The Subway was 3 stops to Bryant Park with E and F trains being available.

[theater245]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 6:00pm

None of the Hilton hotels have resort fees and a lot of them have free breakfast, making Hilton a great value choice.

I recently stayed at Embassy Suites on 37th and 6th. No resort fee and free breakfast! Other Hilton hotels that may not be so obviously Hilton to check out include Garden Inn, Hampton and Doubletree. Updated On: 10/22/19 at 06:00 PM

[BentleyB]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 6:26pm

Marriott is actually being sued over resort fees.  I am the highest level of Marriott customer Platinum for Life, Ambassador, and when I check in I remind them of the lawsuit and tell them I will not pay resort fees. It is a way to show a lower price but charge more.  I have complained numerous times. 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 7:11pm

BentleyB said: "Marriott is actually being sued over resort fees. I am the highest level of Marriott customer Platinum for Life, Ambassador, and when I check in I remind them of the lawsuit and tell them I will not pay resort fees. It is a way toshow a lower price but charge more. I have complained numerous times."

I'm pretty sure your status and the fact that you stay at Marriott properties 100+ nights a year has more to do with any willingness to waive the fees than your reminding them of the lawsuit. Not sure it would work for the rest of us unless you think telling them we know you might help. FYI, other brands like my brand of choice Hyatt, automatically wave resort fees for their highest loyalty plan customers so you don't have to fight with them about it.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 7:43pm

I shall continue to recommend the Pod hotels.  Book direct and you'll see what you pay.  Tiny rooms, but great locations and very clean.  Pod Times Square is my go-to hotel every visit.

https://www.thepodhotel.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0brtBRDOARIsANMDykZ0SPb6vvhmkEmMQltiokB5qsXFXiUDae-b_o-8cxzV31od0YFBi0gaAhImEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Wick3]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 7:49pm

Justin D said: "I stayed at the ROW once next to phantom before these resort fees started up (or maybe they had and I didnt realize)"

I believe hotels in nyc started these resort/destination fees around 2018. The trend seems to be more and more hotels doing them so whichever hotel you decide to stay in, make sure to heck the small print that there is no mandatory resort/destination fees that you have to pay in person at the hotel.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 7:55pm

theater245 said: "None of the Hilton hotels have resort fees and a lot of them have free breakfast, making Hilton a great value choice.

I recently stayed at Embassy Suites on 37th and 6th. No resort fee and free breakfast! Other Hilton hotels that may not be so obviously Hilton to check out include Garden Inn, Hampton and Doubletree. "

On my recent trip, I stayed at the Hilton in Brooklyn (the primary purpose of trip was to see Madonna at BAM). I ended up extending my trip beforehand to see Madonna again and to see more Broadway shows. To secure the same (points) rate, I ended up just making a second reservation. When I checked in, I was told nothing about resort fees, but wax told I would need to check-in again the morning of my second reservation. So on that Wednesday morning I checked in again and then I was told that they had just started instituting resort fees presumably the day before which was October 1. It was $25 per day and I tactfully and kindly complained and they did take that off my reservation with the manager’s approval. They told me I could use it for food or drinks at the hotel or for a spin class and I explained that I tended not to eat or drink in the hotel that much (especially as a Diamond member, I had access to the executive lounge for free morning breakfast and free light meals in evenings) because I wanted to experience the city and I wasn’t inclined to take a spin class on vacation. They did explain to me that Hilton is starting to do this across-the-board. So I’m not sure if they mean that that’s going to be at every brand in the Hilton portfolio or only the higher end brands. Or if they meant maybe every Hilton in the bigger cities like New York City. It certainly will give me pause when booking hotels in the future with Hilton although I always will use Hilton since I have lots of points and even if I am charged $25 per day, that’s still cheaper than paying up to $300 or more a night. Until it was mentioned on here, I had never considered the reason they waived the resort fee for me was because of my diamond status. I assumed it had been because it was a new policy that they had instituted in the middle of my stay. I guess I’ll never know. But just be aware that Hiltons may start using that resort fee as well. 

[ImAProphet]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 8:10pm

Regarding the Hilton discussion, I stayed at the Times Square Doubletree last month and paid a $40 (I think? It was high) resort fee for my one night stay. So maybe they're just now rolling it out, or it's only at certain properties.

[herewegoabc]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 8:18pm

The Row has had resort fees for years. They used to be my automatic go-to because even with the fee, they were still a great bargain. Not so much anymore. Their prices have gone up, and the resort fee itself has also gone up this year. Depending on the time of travel, the total might still be a bargain, but it's getting rare.

Sign up for their emails, though. Occasionally, they will send out great discounts, some of which will waive the resort fee. These usually have date restrictions, but if you're someone like me who lives out of state but makes weekend trips pretty regularly for shows, you might luck up on a great deal. You definitely can't beat the location.

[sppunk]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 9:10pm

Bryant Park Hotel, 40th btwn 6th and 5th.

Only place we stay now, and we’ve probably tried 25 different Manhattan hotels.

[swanjewel]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 10:18pm

Best Western Premiere in Herald Square, Hyatt Place Herald Square, and Holiday Inn Express in Herald Square. All one stop on the train away from Times Square (you can even walk).

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 10:27pm

Miles2Go2 said: "Itcertainly will give me pause when bookinghotels in the future with Hilton although I always will use Hilton since I have lots of points and even if I am charged $25 per day, that’s still cheaper than paying up to $300 or more a night.."

I would think the incredible and continuing devaluation of the program that has taken place the last 2-3 years should give more pause than anything else. They got rid of the double dip as well as the 500 point bonus I got for booking with my Hilton Amex and now that their redemption rates are "dynamic", hotel award nights are consistently priced 40-60% more points than they were just a few years ago. If you can get more than $0.004 value per point you're doing well, when $0.006 used to be a no brainer. I was Gold for many years and bid them goodbye last year when I moved most of my business over to Hyatt. Their fixed redemption rates combined with the World of Hyatt credit card provides a helluva value. Their only drawback is a smaller footprint than Hilton or Marriott but I can live with that.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/22/19 at 10:42pm

I get your point. I do love Hyatt (although I don’t love these new tiers), but my company tends to book exclusively with Hilton; although I am free to book with any hotel chain, it’s easier if I’m staying at same hotel as my co-workers. But the real drawback is the one you mention. I mainly work in smaller towns that don’t have Hyatts. And I prefer Hiltons over Marriotts. I actually like the Hilton rewards program overall.