Holiday Inn - Midtown - 57th Street

The three-star Holiday Inn Midtown is pretty much just like walking a Holiday Inn anywhere in the world: You know what to expect. Rooms are reliably comfortable, service is predictably professional and the price is usually just right.

Quick read

Pros: Spacious, clean and comfortable rooms. Easy location. Good value.

Cons: Slow, busy elevators. Street noise.

Rooms

This “inn” has a whopping 602 rooms, all of which are your standard hotel chain experience. Floors are carpeted, walls are a neutral beige color and hung with large, equally neutral, framed prints, and furnishings are standard (bed, night table, desk and large armoire/TV hutch).

The rooms at the Holiday Inn Midtown are surprisingly spacious by New York hotel standards, and they offer all the usual amenities, including air conditioning, a satellite TV, phone and coffeemaker

The private bathrooms are simple but adequate and equipped with a hair dryer and toiletries. Bathtubs are available (ask ahead).

Hotel

No, the Holiday Inn Midtown won’t be winning any points for style, but if you're after comfortable and convenient, this is a solid pick.

A rooftop swimming pool is an unexpected perk–and a particularly refreshing amenity during sweaty New York summers. Also on-site are a health and fitness center, bar lounge and restaurant.

Wi-Fi is free throughout. Thankfully, this massive hotel had an elevator (less thankfully, guests complain that it tends to be quite slow).

Location

The Holiday Inn Midtown is located on 57th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, a bit west of Midtown proper, but still walk-ably close to just about all the Midtown sights, including Central Park (three blocks) and Lincoln Center (six blocks).

Even closer are upscale shops and restaurants at the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle. (In the basement of the Time Warner Center is a Whole Foods Market with an outstanding selection of gourmet groceries and hot/cold food bars.) And just to the south is the area known as “Hell’s Kitchen,” where you’ll find a wealth of tasty and affordable ethnic eats.

Transportation

Subways: Columbus Circle, located about a five-minute walk from the hotel, is a convenient transportation hub, offering access to the 1, A/C, and B/D lines. A couple of blocks farther away, you can pick up the N/Q/R lines at 57th Street-7th Avenue.

JFK: Take the Air Train to Howard Beach Station, then the A express train toward Manhattan to 59th Street-Columbus Circle.

LaGuardia: To reach the Holiday Inn Midtown from LaGuardia, take an airport bus service to Penn Station and then transfer to an uptown A or C subway train to 59th Street-Columbus Circle.

Newark: Take the Air Train to the NJ Transit station, and any NJ Transit train into New York Penn Station. Transfer to an uptown A or C subway train at 34th Street-Penn Station and get out at 59th Street-Columbus Circle.