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Traditional Guest Room
310 sq. ft with a King bed or 2 Doubles.
Westin WORKOUT Room
310 sq. ft with a King bed.
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Oyster Review Summary
Photos and review by Janine Y., Oyster Expert Hotel Investigator.
Updated: June 10, 2010
Pros
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Cons
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Bottom Line
This bustling, convention-focused, 863-room Westin comes with a prime Times Square location, a high-quality gym, a business center, a spa, a steakhouse, 24-hour room service, and enormous rooms with famously comfortable beds. But there are price gouges -- $10 for the gym and $15 for Internet.
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The Westin New York At Times Square - Times Square, New York City
The Westin New York At Times Square - Times Square, New York City
Rooms at The Westin New York At Times Square
Best Price Guarantee
Learn More »
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Traditional Guest Room
310 sq. ft with a King bed or 2 Doubles. |
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Westin WORKOUT Room
310 sq. ft with a King bed. |
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Executive Club Room
450 sq. ft with a King bed or 2 Doubles. A City view. |
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Junior Suite
440 sq. ft with a King bed. A New York City view. |
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One Bedroom Suite
700-800 sq. ft with a King bed. A City view. |
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Spa Inspired Guest Room
310 sq. ft with a King bed. |
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Deluxe Guest Room
310 sq. ft with a King bed or 2 Doubles. A New York Skyline view. |
Oyster Hotel Review
Contents
Scene
Business travelers, families, and large groups provide a constantly bustling atmosphere.
Lobby lounge area
With 863 guest rooms spread across 40 floors, the Westin is big, but not nearly as big as other Times Square convention-focused hotels like the nearby Marriott Marquis (1,949 rooms) or the Sheraton Hotel & Towers (1,750 rooms). Still, it's located just a block away from the heart of Times Square, and the lobby can feel as busy during the day as 42nd Street, right outside the hotel.
Overall, this hotel isn't a bad option, but it's not a great one either. Extra fees -- like $10 access to the gym or a $15 fee for the Internet -- are ample, which isn't the case at many New York hotels. And while you can count on Westin to deliver its signature "Heavenly Bed," you can still get a comfortable night's sleep at a number of competing hotels in the area, and often at a lower price.
Service
Though often prompt, the service is inconsistent, and porters are not always available.
Theatre and tours agent
It seemed as though the Westin was understaffed. Only two receptionists manned the front desk, despite there being seven stations and 15 guests in line. When I arrived, the bellmen were nowhere to be seen -- there aren't enough of them to assist every guest upon arrival. My wake-up call was an automated message saying "Test ... Test ... Test ..." -- a strange way to start the day (and five minutes late, at that).
- 24-hour room service
- Concierge desk separate from a theater and tours desk
- Valet parking is available for $48 per day.
Location
One block away from the heart of Times Square and diagonally across from the Port Authority, the entryway for many bus passengers.
The hotel stretches from 42nd to 43rd streets along Eighth Avenue, just one short block from the heart of Times Square and at the same intersection as the Port Authority, the city's main bus depot. The back side of the hotel opens up to 42nd Street, which is chock-full of franchise restaurants like Chevy's (Mexican) and plenty of tourist-focused shops. The hotel is connected to a large shopping and theater complex called E-Walk, which has a 13-plex movie theater and various shops.
Though once seedy, Times Square was reborn in the mid-'90s as a commercialized tourist haven, lit by 24-hour flashing billboards and theme restaurants like ESPN Zone and Bubba Gump Shrimp. Today, visitors walking the streets are more likely to be accosted by a comedy-club promoter, a rickshaw bicycle operator, or a caricature artist than a mugger. It's crowded, but there's something unquestionably exhilarating -- and convenient -- about staying in the neon-lit heart of the city. Plus, the mayor recently decided to close off much of Broadway to traffic, making it more pedestrian-friendly.
- About one block from the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S, W subway lines; two blocks from the A, C, E, B, D, F, and V subway lines
- 15-minute subway ride to Central Park
- Two-minute walk to Times Square
- 15-minute walk to the Empire State Building
- 30-minute subway ride to the ferry terminal to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- 20-minute subway ride or walk to Rockefeller Center
- 20-minute subway ride to the American Museum of Natural History
- 30-minute subway ride to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the "Met") and 15-minute subway ride or walk to the Museum of Modern Art (the "MoMA")
Rooms
All rooms are relatively large and come with the famous "Heavenly Bed," flat-screen TVs, and double-head showers.
The Traditional Guest Room
The Traditional Room -- the most basic room -- comes with either a king bed or two doubles; at 350 square feet, it's larger than many New York boutique hotel rooms and bigger still than the Hilton Times Square, which boasts the "biggest standard size rooms in Manhattan" (for some reason).
There's a wide variety of alternative room options, ranging from a brand-new Spa Room to a Westin Workout Room (which comes with complimentary use of the fitness center) to a Renewal Suite, which has a Kohler whirlpool tub, exercise area, and spa shower. The Westin Executive Club is another section of the hotel, with rooms that come with an iPod dock, a 17-inch Mac desktop, and access to the Club Lounge, which serves a free continental breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres. While the extra features are desirable, the Club rooms overlook an atrium that is used as an event space, meaning these rooms often come with significant noise.
All rooms include:
- 32-inch flat-screen TV with basic cable and HBO.
- Hardwired Internet is available for $15 per 24 hours, but there is no Wi-Fi in the room.
- Minibar stocked with basic snacks and liquor
- Free Starbucks coffee packets and a coffeemaker
- The Westin's "Heavenly Bed": seven layers of bedding, a down comforter, down and hypoallergenic pillows, and a Simmons Starwood pillow-top mattress
- Relatively large bathroom with a double-head shower (strong water pressure)
Features
High-quality fitness center, a spa, and business features that include a massive conference space and a small business center.
The Fitness Center
Even more disappointing than the $15 fee for in-room Internet is the $10 fee to use the fitness center. Located on the 23rd floor, the modern gym comes with some excellent views of the Hudson River. Uniquely, the gym also includes a Wii video game system -- limited to adults -- that includes Wii Fit and Wii Sports.
A full-service spa offers deep-tissue massages and body wraps. The average price for a one-hour treatment is about $150 -- not bad, for a hotel.
Conventions are regularly held at the Westin's 32 meeting and breakout rooms spread out over 34,000 square feet. The business center has three computers, but it's only open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The front desk, however, can assist guests with after-hours requests.
Family
Large rooms and a fun, family-focused Times Sqare location make the Westin an excellent family hotel.
The traditional rooms are among the biggest standard rooms in the city at about 350 square feet, and they can easily fit a rollaway bed for an extra $35 per night. Cribs are complimentary.
As a treat for families, children 12 and under get a knapsack with items that give tips on where to go and what to do in New York. The ideas aren't especially original -- the American Museum of Natural History, the Statue of Liberty -- but it's a good intro. For nearby distractions, there's E-Walk, a shopping and theater complex that has curio stalls, 13 cinemas, and fast-food establishments. Other kid-friendly food options include Auntie Anne's pretzels (for a snack) and Chevy's Mexican restaurant.
Within walking distance, family attractions in Times Square include Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum on 42nd Street across the street. M&M World and Toys 'R Us -- the biggest toy store in the world -- are a few blocks away.
Pets
Pets less than 40 pounds are allowed without a charge.
Unlike at the nearby Hilton Times Square or W Times Square, pets are allowed in the hotel at no extra charge, as long as they weigh less than 40 pounds. Owners just have to sign a waiver when checking into the hotel, and pets left alone in the room need to be kept in a carrier case.
Food
A quality steakhouse and cocktails at a mellow lobby lounge, plus 24-hour room service. There are plenty of fast-food and chain restaurants right outside the hotel, but you'll find better options within walking distance.
Fried Calamari at Bar 10
The hotel restaurant, Shula's Steakhouse, has steaks and seafood that cost upward of $30 per entree -- not a terrible price for a New York hotel restaurant, especially for Angus beef and Maine lobsters.
For lighter fare -- like fried calamari -- there's the hotel lounge, Bar 10. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows bring in a lot of late-afternoon light and, later on, street light that bounces off the velveteen couches and faux marble paneling. It's a subdued atmosphere, one that matches the mood of its clientele, usually businessmen who've come out of daylong conferences held at the hotel. The signature cocktails aren't anything special, although the espresso martini ($15) could be just the right jolt before a night on the town.
Room service is available 24 hours, and it includes a wide variety of international fare like a 16-ounce New York strip steak, pot stickers, and omelets. The continental breakfast costs $22 and includes a choice of fruit juice (orange, grapefruit, cranberry, or apple) with a pastry basket and Starbucks coffee or tea.
For more affordable dining, step out of the hotel and sample the fast-food eateries and franchise restaurants at E-Walk, the shopping and theater complex connected to the Westin. There's Yoshinoya (Japanese rice bowls), Chevy's (Mexican), and Dave & Buster's (American bar food) a few steps away. But for a good meal without the hotel prices, do as the locals do and walk two blocks west to 10th Avenue.
Eco-Initiatives
Awarded a Silver Leaf Certification from the Green Seal Organization in 2008.
Considerable recycling and energy-conservation practices are implemented throughout the hotel -- saving the hotel a bundle, and saving the earth in the process -- including biodegradable, 100 percent recycled room keys; minimum 30 percent post-consumer printer and copier paper; energy-efficient lighting; and enviornmentially safe cleaning products.
Airport Transportation
30 to 90 minutes from three airports.
New York City has three nearby airports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Getting into town from JFK or LaGuardia is usually more convenient than from Newark, but travel times are heavily dependent on the time of day and traffic conditions. From JFK, a taxi to anywhere in Manhattan costs a flat rate of $45 and takes around an hour in average conditions. From LaGuardia, a metered cab ride to midtown Manhattan costs about $40 and can take 30 minutes if traffic is light, three times that if it's bad. Rides from Newark cost at least $40 plus tolls and can take more than 90 minutes. It's customary to tip your driver 15 to 25 percent.
Those looking to save some cash can use the privately run shuttle buses that are available at all three airports for about $14 per person. For more information on the shuttles, go to New York Airport Service. Public transit is also available 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 stairways.
For mass-transit directions right to the hotel, check out HopStop.com.
Bottom Line
This bustling, convention-focused, 863-room Westin comes with a prime Times Square location, a high-quality gym, a business center, a spa, a steakhouse, 24-hour room service, and enormous rooms with famously comfortable beds. But there are price gouges -- $10 for the gym and $15 for Internet.
Hotel Features
| Number of Rooms: | 863 |
| Pool: | No |
| Fitness Center: | Yes |
| Spa: | Yes |
| Internet Access: | Yes |
| Pets Allowed: | Yes |
| Cribs: | Yes |
| Kids Club: | No |
| Jacuzzi (in room): | Some |
| Casino: | No |
Hotel Information
| Location: | Times Square, New York City |
| Toll Free Bookings: | 1-888-776-9783 |
| Address: | 270 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 (See Map) |
Travel Guide
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Address
- 270 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036
Hotel Is Also Known As...
- The Westin New York at Times Square
- Westin Times Square
- Westin New York City
- Westin New York
- Westin New York Times Square
- Westin Hotel New York
- New York City Westin
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