Boutique hotels - which is better...

Night or Husdon? I am planning a trip to New York in October as a surprise for my boyfriend%26#39;s 30th birthday. It is his first time and my second. We both like boutique/trendy hotels and as it is a special occassion I don%26#39;t mind splashing out a bit. Both hotels look good but get very mixed reviews on Expedia. Can someone recommend which is better (we will be in NY for 4 days) or a different hotel entirely. Last time I came I stayed in Midtown which was good for a first timer but thinking somewhere in soho/greenwich village might be a bit more interesting this time. Any advice will be much appreciated!

Charlie

Boutique hotels - which is better...

One of the problems with boutique hotels (at least in NYC) is their standard rooms tend to be very small. Between these 2 hotels, the Night is in the Times Square area while the Hudson is closer to Central Park. If you want a boutique hotel to have a trendy bar and restaurant in it, I think the Hudson is more of a happening place.

It might be more fun to stay in a trendier area though. In the village, the W Union Square is as close to a boutique hotel as you%26#39;ll get. It can be pricey though. In Soho, the Soho Grand, the Mercer and 60 Thompson are the choices.

What about considering the Gansevoort in the meatpacking district or possibly the Maritime in Chelsea? Check quikbook.com for prices as they%26#39;re sometimes cheaper. If all these prove to be too expensive, I%26#39;d go with the Hudson perhaps book a double double or a deluxe studio since the standard queen is really small.

hudsonhotel.com/hudson_hotel_rooms_plans.html

If you look on hipguide.com you%26#39;ll get a list of other trendy hotels.

Boutique hotels - which is better...

Thanks nywhiz for your advice - extremely helpful.

Will check out the hotels you recommended. Quite like walking places as much as possible and was worried that staying out of midtown area would mean having to get cabs/undergroud everywhere. Is that the case?

Thanks again

As you know from London, you can%26#39;t be within walking distance of everything so you have to pick what you want to be near. Many would say avoid midtown unless you%26#39;re coming for theater or dept. store shopping since there%26#39;s better nightlife and dining in other neighborhoods.

Has anyone else got any advice? Or stayed at the Hudson or Dream?

I have been to both Night and Hudson. Although I like both very much, I would choose Hudson over Night if you are looking for something very trendy with a ';party like'; atmosphere. Hudson is much larger than Night with 3 different bars, the outdoor terrace, the Library (nice quiet spot with a pool table and the Hudson Bar, very trendy! Night only has a small bar/lounge that closes quite early. Both have small rooms, but really, how much time will you stay in the hotel? Hudson has really weird bathrooms where there is a glass wall between the shower stall and the living area.(there is a curtian for privacy.) Going up the escalator to the Hudson is a more like a ';transport'; to another world! Both Hotels are in very short walks to the subway, the Hudson being closer, just a half block to the Columbus Circle subway.

I haven%26#39;t been to Dream.

Thanks for that - think I am leaning towards the Hudson, its only the range of scores from reviewers on here that puts me off a little - some people give it 5/5 and other 1/5 - strange. Guess it is the kind of hotel you will either love or hate!

Hi monkey, have you considered The Muse, it is trendy and stylish like the Hudson, but the rooms are much larger, the only downside is that it does cost more.

I think it also depends on the price you%26#39;ve paid for it and what expectations that price creates. You should know the Hudson is a Priceline hotel and is regularly won as a 3* bid for upper midtown on Priceline for $99-150/night. (look on biddingfortravel.com on the nyc page for more info) At that price, it%26#39;s a bargain. I repeat the standard rooms are REALLY REALLY small.

Another hotel worth checking is 6 Columbus right near it. It%26#39;s much newer, very trendy and sometimes has bargain rates on quikbook. Be careful though of booking the ';pod'; room which redefines the definition of small room to space capsule size (erego pod ;)

I have to agree with the recommendations that NYWHIZ gave you.

Please consider the Maritime (nautical theme and OUTSTANDING staff and steps away from the meatpacking district and Village areas), The SOHO Grand (very GRAND, beautiful rooms and a lobby bar that is a must see even if you are not staying there) and the W Union Square (for the hip and trendy crowd and staff plus the awesome bars located in the hotel). A big plus for the W Union Square is location...right across the street from a big subway station, and it is in the middle of a very unique shopping/browsing area.

Each is very unique and are all very impressive in their own way. I have had the the pleasure of staying at all three and love them all.

Although I have not stayed in either the Hudson or the Dream (did go to the hot club there)I feel your best bet is one of the three mentioned here.

Thanks KeenanChicago - will checkout those hotels. My first time on this forum and so glad I took the plunge!