Novotel New York Rating: 3.0 Pearls

Midtown West, Manhattan, New York City

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Bright lights of Times Square

Much of the hotel staff speaks both English and French, which attracts the majority of the guests -- well-dressed European couples, ladies in from Paris, young families, and airline crews. Signs throughout the hotel are also in English and French, and the concierge, Yves, speaks with a heavy accent. It adds a bit of charm to the typical chain hotel experience, though Yelp reviews have also noted some culture clashes between European and American guests. I didn't encounter any, but guests do typically keep to themselves and aren't up for chatting in the elevator.

The hotel's lobby is on the Seventh floor, so guests enter at street level and then take one of two elevators up to the lobby. Once inside, guests are introduced to a startling purple, blue, terra-cotta, and peach color scheme, busy patterns, and dramatic architectural flourishes. The hotel's décor is both heavily stylized and out-of-style, reminiscent of late-'80s/early-'90s south Florida. There are also odd pop-art touches in primary colors throughout the lobby, like a red leather couch and pieces of art involving taxi cabs painted on large puzzle pieces. But there are also classy, if expected, touches like vases of lemons and fresh flowers. The lobby's best attribute, however, are the floor-to-ceiling windows all along the east side that present startling views of Broadway and Times Square.

The hotel's restaurant and bar, Café Nicole, spills out into the lobby, with no clear separation between the two. It's typically pretty empty. When I visited on a Thursday night, I saw only a handful of patrons eating and drinking there. It gets slightly more popular at breakfast time when an average but convenient breakfast buffet is served for $22. The floor-to-ceiling windows are more of a draw than the food. In the warm months, there's a huge balcony spanning one full side of the hotel. It's great for hotel guests who want to eat and drink outside with a view, but it's not very lively and not so hip a scene as to draw in locals.

Friendly service at the front desk

Both in the way the staff interacts with guests and each other, there's an underlying sense of good management at the Novotel -- that comforting ease one feels when in the hands of a chain hotel done right. From check-in to check-out, everyone I dealt with was kind and professional. Many, but not all, hotel employees speak French, a major plus for native French speakers visiting New York. Whenever I called the front desk, all my questions, even the annoying ones, were answered with kindness and patience. For special requests, like when I asked room service to deliver an item that was only listed on the bar menu, they came through.

A French-accented concierge gave me a thoughtful dinner recommendation and offered to make me a reservation. When I told him that I wasn't sure what my dinner plans would be, he said that I could just show up at the restaurant, give the host his card, and that they'd take care of me. Classy.

Due to the hotel's location near busy Times Square, staff takes an interest in guest safety. A 24-hour security guard is stationed by the elevator on the ground floor and queries any suspicious-looking characters. Guests of the hotel must call up before being allowed up to the rooms.

View on a Larger Map

While it bills itself as the Novotel New York Times Square, the hotel is actually 10 blocks from the famed square. Still, it's quite close, and guests can clearly see its bright lights from the lobby, and possibly their room.

The bright lights closer to the hotel belong to Broadway theaters. During my stay, Jersey Boys was playing at the August Wilson Theatre across the street, while Mamma Mia and Wicked were playing at the Winter Garden Theatre and Gershwin Theatre, respectively, just around the corner.

A steak place and multiple Russian piano bars share the hotel's block on 52nd Street. On the Broadway side of the hotel, there's a McDonald's, and the 24-hour pharmacy Duane Reade Express is on building's ground level, as well a discount luggage and electronics shop. Despite the hectic nature of Times Square and the surrounding area, there's a relative sense of calm around the hotel's entrance on 52nd Street. Just around the corner, Broadway bustles all night with pedestrian and automobile traffic.

New York City has three nearby airports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Flying into JFK or LaGuardia is typically easiest and the least time-consuming. From JFK, it's a (one-hour) $45 flat-rate taxi ride to anywhere in Manhattan. From LaGuardia, it's about a (30-minute) $40 metered cab ride to Midtown Manhattan. Rides from Newark cost at least $40 (plus tolls), and can take more than 90 minutes. Don't forget to tip your driver 15-25 percent.

To save some cash, try the group shuttles that are available at all three airports for about $14/person. For more information on the shuttles, go to Super Shuttle or New York Airport Service. You can also take public transit from any of the airports for as little as $7 per person, but travel can take up to two hours and involve a lot of lugging bags up and down stairs. For mass-transit directions right to the hotel, check out HopStop.com.

The City View Room

The Times Square view rooms (I stayed in one on the 31st floor) have a six-foot window stretching across the wall, giving an impressive view of New York's famous, brightly lit square. Rooms facing Broadway or the Hudson River are also likely to have an interesting view, given the bright city lights that surround the hotel on all four sides. The costly upgrades are hardly worth it.

In rooms with just one king-size bed, the bed takes up only about half of the room. Other rooms have two double beds that take up a bit more space. All rooms also feature a little sitting area with a pull-out sofa, chair, and coffee table, as well as a decent-size work desk.

While the size of the room is nice, the bed is isn't on par with similarly priced hotels like the Crowne Plaza Hotel Times Square Manhattan. Beds are covered with a dated, crazy patterned nylon bedspread. There are only two pillows, and they are stuffed with polyester filling, not down. Sheets aren't very soft, and there's only a scratchy blanket, not a fluffy duvet, to curl up with.

The dated décor extends throughout the room via both the electronics and a bold blue-purple-peach-terra-cotta color scheme. The TVs are old, boxy, 27-inch Philips-brand tube set TVs that sit atop a minibar cabinet.

The minibar charges you automatically when items are removed, something that has been a problem for multiple TripAdvisor reviewers. Still, hotel staff members warn guests of this at check-in, as do clear signs in the minibar itself. Like mom said, look but don't touch.

Bathrooms feel more modern than the rest of the guest rooms. They're decently sized, clean, and bright. Walls are covered in gleaming white and peach tiles while floors are wood veneer -- an odd choice for a bathroom, but at least it looks new and clean. Though the bath products are the hotel's own, they're presented in a pleasing manner that classes them up. Tub/shower combos have a curved shower rod that gives an added illusion of spaciousness.

In-room Wi-Fi is provided via T-Mobile. This requires guests to create their own account with T-Mobile, and the Internet can't simply be billed to the room. Still, it's relatively cheap -- just $5.99 per day for some of the fastest connections anywhere in the city.

The Fitness Center

The business center consists of just two computers and a printer, but it's open 24 hours and is totally free, whether you're printing or just using the computers to check your email.

With just one treadmill, one elliptical machine, and two bicycles, the fitness center is a bit small for a hotel of its size. But hey, the French have never been known for their interest in cardio machines. They are, however, known for their food. As such, the gym features a lovely selection of complimentary fruit and nutrition bars. There are also small free-weights and a weight machine. Cardio machines do not have individual televisions, but there is a large flat-screen with remote for the gym as a whole.

The hotel also features a gift shop, an ATM, and currency exchange--all nice touches. The currency exchange does charge 5% commission on transactions, though that's not uncommon.

Family-friendly shows on Broadway

With spacious rooms, good security, and free breakfast for those 16 and under, the Novotel is quite family friendly, provided families don't mind the lobby being on the 7th floor.

If parents are eating the breakfast buffet at Café Nicole, kids 16 and under get to eat free. There is no charge for cribs and roll-aways, and the rooms are spacious enough to handle them. Connecting rooms are available but only for Times Square View rooms, which cost $30-$60 more than rooms with other views. However, connecting rooms can be guaranteed when guests make reservations at the Novotel, while at many other hotels guests can only request them when making reservations and there's no guarantee until check-in.

Though the hotel is quite close to the hustle and bustle of Times Square, the area immediately surrounding the hotel's entrance is relatively calm. A 24-hour security guard is stationed on the ground floor, watching over guests as they board the elevator to the seventh floor lobby. The lobby being on the seventh floor provides an extra layer of safety and insulation from the chaos of Times Square, but it could be inconvenient for families not wanting the hassle of taking not one, but two, elevators to their room.

There's no extra charge for bringing a pet to the hotel, but guests must sign a waiver at check-in saying they'll take responsibility for any damage caused by the pet. Guests who plan to bring their pets should alert the hotel prior to arrival.

Bathrooms are especially pleasant and clean with gleaming white tiles on the walls and their newish wood veneer floor. Caulking around the tub and grout between the tiles also appears fresh and clean. The rooms themselves are well-cleaned throughout.

Hallways aren't without the occasional scrape on the wall or carpet, or the occasional stain, but for the most part, the hotel feels well-maintained.

Cafe Nicole

Room service is provided from 6 a.m. until midnight daily. I ordered a continental breakfast for $15.95. It arrived promptly, and with three croissants, one baguette, yogurt, coffee, and juice. It's a decent value, but the pastries tasted like they'd come pre-packaged from Costco, not a French patisserie.

The $21.95 breakfast buffet at Café Nicole is pretty standard American fare -- scrambled eggs, cereal, yogurt -- though I did spot some slices of Brie on the buffet line. Kids less than 16 years old can enjoy the breakfast for free.

For dinner, Café Nicole offers a limited menu of $15 sandwiches, $15-$16 pizzas, and a handful of entrées averaging about $26. The food here is more like a boring American chain hotel restaurant than quaint French bistro. I almost ordered a cheese plate one night, until I learned that the cheese selection was limited to cheddar, Swiss and blue cheese -- not very fancy or French. Most guests venture out of the hotel for dinner. When I was there on a Thursday night, Café Nicole was nearly empty.