Ameritania Hotel New York

The Ameritania Hotel is a three-star beauty with a swanky vibe and superb proximity to Broadway and Central Park.

A 2012 renovation introduced modern facilities and, alas, higher rates. Still, given its location and style, we think the Ameritania is worthy of a splurge—and sometimes a downright good deal.

Quick read

Pros: Great location near Times Square and Central Park. Sometimes cheap. Cool boutique style. Swanky lounge and bar.

Cons: Rooms are smallish. Street noise. Extra charge for Wi-Fi.

Rooms

The Ameritania Hotel’s 223 guest rooms are not the largest we’ve seen, but they’re not the smallest either. And what they lack in space they make up for in style.

Rooms have a mostly black-and-white color scheme, with tan walls and houndstooth carpeting. The overall effect is sassy and modern, with a fashionista’s flair. We’re talking oversized mirrors, funky clocks and splashy modern artwork hanging above the padded headboards. Spunky throw pillows (some of them studded) complete the look.

Each room is equipped with air conditioning, a telephone, safe, flat-screen TV and minibar. Guests can also request a mini-fridge for an additional charge.

Rooms tend to pick up noise from the hallways and the busy street outside, so light sleepers are advised to request a room away from the elevators and on a higher floor. Rooms facing Broadway also offer some pretty views (request ahead).

Bathrooms

The private bathrooms are small, streamlined and chic, with slate gray accent walls, glassed-in showers and back-lit mirrors. Toiletries and a hair dryer are provided.

Hotel

From the cool “floating” light fixtures in the lobby to the modern art and funky mirrors everywhere, the Ameritania is hyper-stylized—and to glorious effect.

The expansive lobby is bright and welcoming with a far-out lounge and bar that feels like an appropriate rendering of Judy Jetson’s living room: a mixture of space-age benches, red velvet couches, artistic lamps and animal-print pillows. Even the breakfast room sports bright red chairs, funky lighting and an enormous clock.

The hotel’s continental breakfast costs $9.95. Wi-Fi costs $9.95 per day or $25 for three days (charge is per device). Guests can access the Internet for free on an iPad in the lobby (ask at reception).

Value

Rates at the Ameritania are reasonable, if not exactly "Cheapo." However, the hotel's location, minutes from either Times Square of Central Park, is a definite draw. And, given that the Ameritania's rates are almost always cheaper than its neighboring hotels, we consider it a good value.

Location

The Ameritania Hotel has the pleasant distinction of being close enough to Times Square and the Broadway theaters without being in the center of the fray. Better yet, it’s just four blocks south of Central Park and offers easy accessibility to a number of other Midtown attractions, including the MoMA, Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall and Fifth Avenue shopping. It also shares a block with the Ed Sullivan Theater, home to the David Letterman show.

Just down the street, Iguana (240 West 54th Street) is a lively club/restaurant for the nightlife set—try their tasty (and curiously strong) margaritas. Also nearby are the Carnegie (854 7th Avenue) and Stage (834 7th Avenue) delis and their legendarily large sandwiches, as well as the Burger Joint (119 West 56th Street), a tiny dive hidden in the swank Le Parker Meridien Hotel.

Transportation

Subway: The Ameritania Hotel provides easy access to a number of subway lines. The 57th Street/7th Avenue stop (serviced by the N/Q/R lines) has an entrance just a block away on 55th Street, while the B/D and E lines pick up a block south on 7th Avenue and 53rd Street. The C/E (50th Street-8th Avenue) and 1 (50th Street-Broadway) are nearby as well.

JFK: To get to the Ameritania from JFK, take the Air Train to the Sutphin/Jamaica Station, and transfer to a Downtown/World Trade Center-bound E train. Get off at 7th Avenue and walk to the hotel.

LaGuardia: From LaGuardia, we'd recommend taking the New York Airport Service bus to Port Authority Bus Terminal, and then taking an Uptown E train to 7th Avenue.

Newark: From Newark, take the Air Train to the NJ Transit station, and then any NJ Transit train into Pennsylvania Station. From there, take the Uptown E train to 7th Avenue.