InterContinental New York Times Square

On an unassuming corner one long block from Times Square, the lovely (if somewhat predictable) InterContinental Times Square is a chain hotel that’s a notch above your typical chain hotel. The interiors by Jeffrey Beers are fresh and clean without being ostentatious, and there are several thoughtful design touches, like different Asian-inspired art in each elevator, and different wall textures everywhere you turn. All guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, many with impressive city views. And downstairs there’s a French brasserie by celebrity chef Todd English.But for better or worse, the hotel is still part of a world-wide chain, and guests can come here knowing what to expect. The rooms are attractive enough, yet unexciting. There’s a 24-hour business center but there's a fee for all services. The basement is home to several meeting and event spaces.That said, the hotel went to great lengths to distinguish itself, and in some ways succeeded. The hotel is LEED certified, the highest honor in the eco-friendly development world, and special measures were taken to achieve this eco-conscious goal: low-flush toilets, moss-covered roofs to absorb heat, a rooftop beehive, and the use of specific, sustainable building materials. And the fact that celeb chef Todd English has his version of a French brasserie, Ca Va, in the hotel is nothing to sneeze at -- it's one of the Theater District's hottest dining spots. Even little touches, like the enclosed garden behind the front desk, go a long way to elevating the hotel above other big-name chains.In the end, it's still a large chain hotel, but one that's fairly luxurious. Its great location and fresh design make it a good option in its neighborhood, especially when prices aren't exhorbitant (which they sometimes are).

• Concierge is available daily, but weekend and weekday times differ.
• Room service is available 24 hours a day (though the food is not from Ca Va's kitchen)
• Same-day laundry service available
• Daily housekeeping service; nightly turndowns available upon request
• Free newspapers available by hotel elevators (Priorty Club Members receive free delivery each morning)
• Guest services desk handles special requests (birthdays, honeymoons) and also assists Priority Club Members. The desk is open seven days a week.
• Free shoeshine service available

The hotel sits on West 44th Street, just off of Eighth Avenue in the heart of the Theater District. Walk one long block down 44th Street, past old Broadway theaters, and you're in the heart of Times Square, with its flashing lights and oversized billboards. The hotel's immediate neighborhood is a busy area dotted with (fairly unattractive) souvenir shops, electronics stores, bars, and take-out food places. One of New York's best burger-and-shake joints, Shake Shack, has an outpost right next to the hotel.- One long block away from Times Square

• Right next to an entry for the A,C, and E subway lines; three blocks from an entry to the 1,2,3,S,N,R, and Q subway lines.
• One long block from the restaurants and bars of Hell's Kitchen
• 15 short blocks from the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle and the bottom of Central Park (15 minutes by foot or 10 minutes by subway)
• 18-minute walk to the Museum of Modern Art; 10 minutes by subway
• 25 minutes by subway and bus to the Metropolitan Museum of Art; 10 minutes by taxi
• 12 blocks to the Empire State Building (20 minutes on foot; 14 minutes by subway)
• 20- to 25-minute subway ride to Wall Street and the Financial District
• 20- to 25-minute subway ride to the ferry for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Rooms are well-appointed, with dark wooden furniture, neutral-tone linens, and framed prints throughout. All rooms have large flat-screen TVs, iHome docking stations, Keurig coffeemakers, and stocked minibars. Bathrooms are large with big rainfall showerheads, marble countertops, gorgeous blue tiling in the showers, hairdryers, scales, and Agraria toiletries. Bathrobes, in-room safes, and irons and ironing boards are also provided.Room types:- Superior Rooms (which are the standard rooms) are 350 square feet and come with either a king or two double beds. They're located on floors three through seven.

• Deluxe Rooms are the same as Superior Rooms but are on floors 10 and higher.
• Sky View Rooms are only a tiny bit bigger than Deluxe Rooms, but they're on even higher floors and therefore have better views.
• Skyview Avenue Studios (also known as Panoramic Suites) are 550 square feet and have king beds. They are all corner rooms that have floor-to-ceiling windows looking over Eighth Avenue and the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. 
• The three Manhattan Suites are 950-square-foot corner rooms on the 34th floor of the hotel. They have one bedroom with a king bed and a separate living room, which has a dining area. They have views of the Hudson River and Hell's Kitchen.
• The Presidential Suite is 2,700 square feet and is spread out over two floors. Details like a fireplace in the bedroom and mother-of-pearl insets in the living room -- plus gorgeous views out of soaring windows -- make the space extra special. By connecting to regular guest rooms, the Presidential Suite can have up to four bedrooms.

• French brasserie Ca Va with attached lounge
• 24-hour business center. Internet usage, copying, and printing are available for a fee.
• 24-hour fitness center with cardio and strength-training machines and free weights. 
• 24-hour room service
• 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space
• Wired and wireless Internet available for a fee; free for IHG Rewards members, which is free to join.

Todd English's Ca Va is the chef's take on a French brasserie, and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner entrees like salmon roulade and rabbit wellington run at a reasonable charge, while appetizers are on the more expensive side. The restaurant also offers a three-course PreTheatre dinner.- A lounge just off the lobby connects the restaurant to the rest of the hotel, and serves drinks and light fare.

• Room service is available 24 hours a day, though not from the Ca Va kitchen