Millennium Premier New York Times Square

The 125-room Premier is supposed to be the luxe, boutique annex of the huge and generic Millennium Broadway, which is next door. But not enough sets it apart from its sibling to justify the luxury price tag. At 425 square feet, the rooms are unusually large, with floor-to-ceiling windows and clean, minimalist design. They're also quiet -- a rarity in densely packed Times Square. The hotel offers free breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres, but it falls short of true luxury standards.

Located on relatively quiet 44th Street, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, the Premier is half a block away from the heart of Times Square. It's close, but not so close that guests can't get a decent night's rest. There are a handful of hotels on this block, including Hotel Mela, a boutique property.The block actually feels like transitional corridor between tourist-focused Times Square and business-oriented Midtown West. At the Broadway end of the block, you'll find the flashing lights of the multilevel Virgil's BBQ; at the opposite end, on Sixth Avenue, are the sedate offices of the Wall Street Journal.More subway lines converge in this area than anywhere else in the city, all of them no more than two blocks away from the hotel. The B, D, F, and M lines are at 42nd Street-Bryant Park, while the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, and R lines are at Times Square-42nd Street.Valet parking is available, and a public garage is directly across the street. For discounted parking rates, guests must park two long blocks west, on 8th Avenue, at the hotel's partner lot.

At 425 square feet, the standard rooms at this hotel are very large for New York City, especially for Times Square. They also have floor-to-ceiling windows, so are especially bright during the day. A subdued color scheme of off-white and pale gray is lightened with blonde-wood furnishings (bed frames, wall panels, side tables, work desks). Dark blue velvet sectional couches with red and printed throw pillows stray from the otherwise predominately beige-based theme.Rooms have flat-screen TVs with premium cable, safes, iHome docks, and Cuisinart coffeemakers.Bathrooms are impressively sized, and come with ample counter space, robes, and separate tubs and showers.Cribs and rollaways are available for a fee, but there are no adjoining rooms.

The hotel doesn't have its own fitness center, so Premier guests have to use the gym at the Millennium Broadway next door. At least that 24-hour fitness center is big and clean, with a respectable amount of modern equipment, including nearly a dozen cardio machines with TV screens and views of midtown skyscrapers, a variety of strength machines, and a full set of shiny free weights. In-room spa services can be arranged through the concierge.The Premier doesn't have its own restaurant, but it does offer a free continental breakfast buffet with bagels, pastries, hard-boiled eggs, cold cereal and granola, yogurt, fruit, gluten-free bread, juice, and coffee in the morning. (Many guests point out that the breakfast area has extremely limited seating.) Guests can also upgrade to breakfast at Restaurant Charlotte next door for a fee. Restaurant Charlotte is only open for breakfast, but there is also Charlotte Bar and Lounge, which serves a lighter menu during the day, as well as cocktails.In the evenings, a two-hour-long manager's reception offers free wine, beer, soft drinks, tea, and coffee, and light snacks like crackers, cheese, olives, and sliced meats.The 24-hour business center is free to use, and includes two computers and a printer.