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This post is written as part of a partnership with Residence Inn. As a member of Resident Mom Club I received a gift card for use at Residence Inn. Please note that, as always, any personal opinions reflected in this post are my own and have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.
Recently I had to go into New York City on a Thursday night. My oldest, who had never spent any time in New York City, decided that he’d come into the city to meet me on Friday night. We planned to stay in the city and just spend some time together over the weekend. When he got off the train from New Jersey he was famished and wanted a meal. (Which is nothing new.) We saw a familiar chain restaurant right there in Penn Station. Not having a ton of money to spend we figured we’d be safe going there since we knew the menu and what type of food to expect. Boy was that a mistake! The prices were insane! We wound up spending $98 on a meal that would have cost literally $30 at home. Full and rather broke, we headed off to check into our hotel.
We were staying at the Residence Inn Manhattan/Times Square. That’s a photo of the outside of the hotel right above, courtesy of the Residence Inn site. The hotel is situated right near Times Square, within walking distance of Bryant Park, the Empire State Building, Broadway theaters and much more.This particular site has 350 smartly designed smoke free studio suites, each of which includes a deluxe kitchenette. I was there to spend time with my son so I wasn’t planning on working but it was really nice to learn that the property offers complimentary high speed Internet. I hate paying for internet at a hotel. We even learned that the property allows pets!!!!
So what did we think of our room?
When you enter the suite you are in the kitchenette, which has a nice counter area where you can eat or work. There’s a freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and coffee maker.
The suite then opens up to the sitting area and sleeping area. The sitting area was very comfortable and included a fold-out couch. There was a large flat screen TV that could be seen from either the couch or the bed, or even both if positioned correctly. This area was large enough that if my youngest had been with me he could have played with his cars on the floor, something he loves.
The huge bed was so comfortable! I loved that the room had an iPod ready alarm clock, they are so convenient.
The bathroom had sink, toilet and tub with shower. A hair dryer was available. The bathroom was clean and functional, but nothing crazy extravagant.
On this trip I found that one of the biggest highlights for me was the way having the suite saved our budget when it came to food. The kitchenette meant no need to repeat the $98 dinner fiasco. We were able to make an affordable meal right in the room for under $10. We were also able to stock up on some beverages, which is a lot less expensive then buying them at a nearby convenience store. And as a treat we picked up some ice cream. Because you know that ice cream makes the best late night snack at times. (You did know that, right?) We also got microwave popcorn, so we had something to pick on while watching movies until 4am. We didn’t pick up any breakfast food. Why not? That’s easy. Guests can have a free hot breakfast every day, from like 7-11 am. That’s a big money saver! If you aren’t out and about and able to pick up some food, no worries – free grocery delivery is available!
We got the groceries I mentioned while we were exploring the area. What fun it was walking around Times Square with my son, just popping into stores and people watching. We checked out some area shops, with my oldest delighting in a small music shop that we stumbled across. We spent a while in Bryant Park, browsing through all of the different shops. When we weren’t sure what else we might want to consider doing we checked with the Residence Inn concierge. He was super helpful, and showed us lots of other things in the area to see.
We had a great time in our suite and thought it was perfect. It gave us time to spend together without being completely on top of one another. We’ll definitely be returning to the Residence Inn again. In the very near future I’m going to be sharing some tips on family travel so I hope you’ll check back.
What features are important to you in a family-friendly hotel?
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22 comments
We have stayed at a Resident Inn and we LOVED IT! Thanks for the recommendation, plus I would love to head back to New York!
Residence Inn is the perfect name for this place. It looks like much more than just a bland hotel room. Love it.
I have never been to Manhattan! Always wanted to visit though! I know where I will be staying when and if we do.
I have stayed at one of their hotels before and I agree it is very nice.
We just got back from a vacation and stayed at a Residence Inn. We too had a great experience. Great rooms and affordable prices!
I love Residence Inns! My family used it when we got married and it made everything so easy- right on hand. Like we were at home!
Oh what a great place to stay. We have stayed at one before, though not that particular one, and had a blast. Thanks so much for sharing…
This looks like an amazing room. I love the decor. It is important to me that there is a great quality bed.
I love visiting New york. I should check this out before I head up there next time!
I love staying at any of the Residence Inns and your location in Manhattan was ideal. What’s so nice about having a dinette is that when you do go out to eat, you can reheat your doggy bag leftovers the next day for breakfast or lunch. Plus, I love getting takeout from the Hillal carts (guilty pleasure) and taking it back to my room. It’s usually too much food, so you have a place to refrigerate and reheat it, too!
We love staying at this hotel chain. Always nice and clean!
What a great location for a hotel! You are right there in the thick of things! I always look for a nice clean room, I don’t need all the bells and whistles!
I love New York, this hotel looks really nice!
Looks like a beautiful place to stay. I have never heard of the Resident Inn’s but I will have to see if I live near any!
A great pool is a must for our family. That is usually a deal breaker for us.
that looks like a really nice room. I will have to keep it In mind when I’m in NYC next. very cool
I’d be up for staying there, the location is fantastic! Looks like a great place, yet can you get a decently priced room for families of 5? That is my issue – always!
Wish more were pet friendly but mainly a big comfy bed, wifi, ref rig, micro and enough space to relax without bumping into everything and everyone.
Wow! It is crazy how much you can spend on food, but finding a good hotel you can make meals in the rooms, is a huge boon.
Wow! It is crazy how much you can spend on food, but finding a good hotel you can make meals in the rooms, is a huge boon.
Wow! It is crazy how much you can spend on food, but finding a good hotel you can make meals in the rooms, is a huge boon.
I love hotels that have big, comfortable beds! Affordable price is always something every mother hunts for. The Residence Inn seems like a place that has both of this lovely things.