Midtown 45

[puppymommo]

Never been there but I am planning a trip for the spring. I would like to know if anyone has any information/experience with the hotel units. Are they full, queen or what size beds. Is the double hotel just a slightly larger room with two beds instead of one? Unfortunately there are no floor plans for this property on the website. I know the hotel units don't have a fridge or microwave; what about a coffee maker? I've been reading about cooking oatmeal on a coffee maker. Might save a few bucks in the Big Apple.

I'd also be open to any comments or tips about Midtown 45. Thank you!

 

[schoolmarm]

There is a coffee maker in the hotel units. There is no floor plan because the units are very different depending on where they are on the floor. The beds are a King (or Queen) in the regular hotel and I'm not sure about what is in the double...but I'll find out in January. There is a table that pulls out from the under the desk and a desk chair. I can't remember if there is another "puffy" chair or not in the regular units.

There is a little deli next to the resort on the corner. He makes great breakfast sandwiches for a couple of bucks. They have a "per pound" hot and cold buffet and grocery items. There is also a fruit cart (maybe not in the winter) across the street. Diagonally across the street is Dunkin' Donuts, Burger King and Subway (and Hofbrau). There are New York pizza by the slice places (cheap pizza) nearby. The diner across the street gives you a discount for showing your Wyndham room key. There are groceries available at the Amish Market (towards the UN) and at Grand Central Station.

DON'T bring a vehicle. Parking is over $50 per day. I suggest getting a transit pass (7 days unlimited is $32) good for all buses and subways. I take public transportation from the airports. Express Bus and then Subway from LaGuardia. Train and then Subway from Newark. I don't fly into JFK usually, but there is the AirTrain (Subway) and then Subway.

When walking, the east-west blocks are really long...some are 1/4 mile. The north south blocks are "regular" and short. The resort is on 3rd. The Theatre district is on 6th-9th...mostly on 7th. It is over a mile...plan on at least 20 minutes at a good clip. OH! If you are taking the 7 train, get in the front car and take the exit by the front car. Up a short flight of stairs and then a HUGE escalator. You come out on 42nd street across from Capitol Grille. Go to the right 1/2 block to 3rd and then turn left and walk up 3rd Avenue to the resort. You will pass a CVS and Duane Reeds and lots of places to eat. Reverse the route to get to the 7 train. This is SO MUCH easier than wandering around the maze that is Grand Central Station....and is a shorter walk than the way the resort tells you.

There is a bike rental just outside the resort, as well. Enjoy!

 

[vacationhopeful]

Stayed there twice within the first 6 months it opened. Again .. DO NOT BRING A CAR! I did my 2nd time due to I had my 89-90yo aunt with me. My small Ford Focus cost $60 (plus tax) per night with NO IN/OUT (that option cost even more) ... but the cost is based on size of car & if you want 'in& out' usage. We took a cab down to Rockefeller Center ..she had her walker with her (to protect her from being walked into plus she was 6 months out from hip replacement surgery).. we were immediately put into the TODAY show handicap area where all the Today Show hosts all stopped to greet & do pictures with us (actually, we were there alone 50% of the time ... Al Rooker, Matt Lauder, plus the weather gals ... did the meet & greet with Auntie (& I got the pictures).

Then went to a FREE taping at Radio City Music Center ... learned Auntie saw Frank Sinatra MC'ed the acts before movie star fame in 1946-47 era... as did the manager who sent a page to get us the tickets (remember, walker?) for the free tour(?). And the manager waited for us as we left the Ellen DeGenerous (my spelling is crap) .... I think he went and pulled RC history .. as he waited for the theater to exit (remember, walker) to ask Auntie if she enjoyed the show ... but to politely ask me only "How OLD is she?" "89yo" ... and the look on his face was priceless. He NEVER knew about Frank MC'ing or working the audience at Radio City (was it a radio show? .. most likely... with the live audience that Auntie was in several times with her girlfriends).

Enjoy your trip. I had a great time with my aunt .... got some great pictures .... but my memories are priceless with her.

PS Auntie is now 92, still living alone in her apartment with an aide dropping in M-F for 45 minutes in AM and 45 minutes in PM. Has church people picking her up each Sunday for services. We usually do some activity (plus a meal) on Saturday each week. She does NOT like staying overnight from her apartment anymore .. but still reads several books at a time from the local library which her aide takes her there to pick out new books with the librarian.

 

[Roger830]

We stayed there 3 times, a studio, king bed hotel room, and two single bed hotel room.

The 2-bed room is larger than the king room, but most of the extra space is between the two beds. Both types are on the small size but ok for us because we just go there to sleep.

We're going there again at the end of November in a 1-bed hotel room to see the Rockettes.​

 

[Cyrus24]

There is a coffee maker in the hotel units. There is no floor plan because the units are very different depending on where they are on the floor. The beds are a King (or Queen) in the regular hotel and I'm not sure about what is in the double...but I'll find out in January. There is a table that pulls out from the under the desk and a desk chair. I can't remember if there is another "puffy" chair or not in the regular units.

There is a little deli next to the resort on the corner. He makes great breakfast sandwiches for a couple of bucks. They have a "per pound" hot and cold buffet and grocery items. There is also a fruit cart (maybe not in the winter) across the street. Diagonally across the street is Dunkin' Donuts, Burger King and Subway (and Hofbrau). There are New York pizza by the slice places (cheap pizza) nearby. The diner across the street gives you a discount for showing your Wyndham room key. There are groceries available at the Amish Market (towards the UN) and at Grand Central Station.

DON'T bring a vehicle. Parking is over $50 per day. I suggest getting a transit pass (7 days unlimited is $32) good for all buses and subways. I take public transportation from the airports. Express Bus and then Subway from LaGuardia. Train and then Subway from Newark. I don't fly into JFK usually, but there is the AirTrain (Subway) and then Subway.

When walking, the east-west blocks are really long...some are 1/4 mile. The north south blocks are "regular" and short. The resort is on 3rd. The Theatre district is on 6th-9th...mostly on 7th. It is over a mile...plan on at least 20 minutes at a good clip. OH! If you are taking the 7 train, get in the front car and take the exit by the front car. Up a short flight of stairs and then a HUGE escalator. You come out on 42nd street across from Capitol Grille. Go to the right 1/2 block to 3rd and then turn left and walk up 3rd Avenue to the resort. You will pass a CVS and Duane Reeds and lots of places to eat. Reverse the route to get to the 7 train. This is SO MUCH easier than wandering around the maze that is Grand Central Station....and is a shorter walk than the way the resort tells you.

There is a bike rental just outside the resort, as well. Enjoy!

DON'T bring a vehicle. Parking is over $50 per day. I suggest getting a transit pass (7 days unlimited is $32) good for all buses and subways.

If you are driving up toward NYC from the South or in from the West, use the Hamilton NJ Transit Station. Parking is always available and the fare into Penn Station is only $16.25 each way. Get your transit pass when you get to the city. Public transportation is the only way to get around, there are bus stops/subways stations everywhere. And you save a bundle versus driving. http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TrainStationLookupFrom&selStation=32905
I can't wait to try out Midtown 45.....at some point in the future and appreciate the tips.

 

[vacationhopeful]

I take the TNJ train from Princeton Junction into Grand Central station. About a 1 mile walk to Midtown, I believe.

If you are bringing luggage, take a cab. The underground concourse is under the street .. but trains/subways are another level (or 2) down lower. Elevators are very limited; moving stairs are general 1 per track level and you generally have to lift luggage over the turnstiles or roll thru the gates.

If parking at TNJ lots ... I hope your checkin is Sat or Sun ... else the parking lots tend to be full with commuter cars during daylight hours weekdays. Use your smaller & older car.

Once parked, learn which side of the tracks YOUR lot is on, the pole number for where the car is parked. I usually take a cell phone picture...with text msg to my other phone.

 

[Conan]

When walking, the east-west blocks are really long...some are 1/4 mile. The north south blocks are "regular" and short. The resort is on 3rd. The Theatre district is on 6th-9th...mostly on 7th. It is over a mile...plan on at least 20 minutes at a good clip.

FYI Avenue blocks, e.g. 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to Lexington, Lexington to Park, Park to Madison, Madison to 5th, 5th to 6th, and so on average seven to the mile (1/7th mile each).

Streets, e.g. 44th to 45th and so on are always 20 to the mile (1/20th mile each).

Walking is surprisingly easy in the City. For example 45th and 3rd to 46th and 7th in the Theater District is 6/7ths + 1/20th = about a mile.

 

[puppymommo]

Thanks, everyone, for the tips. I definitely won't have a car as I am stopping off in NYC on the way back from a trip to Israel. The tour begins and ends in NYC (don't know yet which airport) so I figured as long as I was passing through, I had to see NYC!

 

[Joe33426]

We recently stayed in the hotel room section of the resort, about two weeks ago. We had family traveling with us, so we had both a one bed hotel room (king bed) and a two bed hotel room (queen beds) on the same floor. I understood no microwave and no refrigerator, but what really drove me crazy is that there is no ice. You have to call the front desk to get ice delivered to your room. There is nowhere to get ice on your own and no ice bucket in the room. One time it took three phone calls and about 1.5 hours for ice to be delivered. The resort manager actually delivered the ice and we had a nice discussion about the ice situation. Otherwise, the stay was very nice and the room more than adequate. It's NYC, so there is a ton of great places to eat in all price ranges, so cooking in the room really isn't necessary. It would have been nice to have even a small refrigerator for drinks, etc., but I understood that there was none when I booked the reservation. I have stayed in the suites about 4 or 5 times when I've had meetings or events in the city and those provide a much more "timeshare" like experience. I will say that the suites are much better and if a suite is available and you have the points, it's well worth the upgrade.

Bucking traditional wisdom, we drove and valeted our car at the resort. If you're only staying a few days and can stand driving into the city, then IMHO it's worth the expense . We're only 30 minutes from mid-town via a commuter rail, but it was just too hot the few days we were going to be in town. I'm so glad we drove. The cost was $55/day with no in-and-out privileges.

Not sure if OP likes Thai food, but we had an incredible dinner at:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sukhumvit-51-new-york

Which is within walking distance of the resort.

The resort recommended a restaurant in Williamsburg called Sweet Chick. I guess the place is owned by some rapper, but was supposed to have really great food. We happened to be going to Williamsburg and eat there and it was really good.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sweet-chick-brooklyn