review of: On the Ave Hotel
(1 of 1 review)

2178 Broadway, New York, NY
212-362-1100

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web site:
http://ontheave-nyc.com/

category:		lodgings
recommended for:		elementary,tweens
cost:		moderate
keywords:		New York City, hotel
photos:

My first mother-daughter trip with my oldest child, who is nine, was to New York City. Talk about jumping into the fire… We had a wonderful time and I attribute some of that to the hotel where we stayed.

I had not been to NYC since 1999 and I was not really sure where to stay. I decided on the Upper West Side as it is close to Central Park, where I was hoping we could take a few walks, and close to the Museum of Natural History, where I knew my daughter wanted to go. I looked online at several websites and decided to book a package (hotel and airfare together) that included a standard room at On the Avenue at 77th and Broadway.

We were not disappointed! We booked a standard room with a king size bed. The bed was comfortable and every room as a large screen TV on the wall. That was a huge hit with my daughter. She looked forward everyday to coming back, relaxing and watching a little TV. Of course, some nights we got home so late and were so exhausted from walking all over the city that she only watched a few minutes before falling asleep.

The hotel also has a nice roof garden with a great view, a concierge to help with transportation, tickets, etc. and a lobby with a piano player in the evening.

Every room also comes stocked with some local magazines with tips for shopping, theatre tickets, restaurants and more. Across the street from our hotel on 77th was a cozy restaurant called the Pita Grill with middle eastern fare (try their sweet potato fries – yummy!) and a 24-hour diner with something for everyone.

Across the street on Broadway was a very well-stocked grocery with anything you might want from sandwiches and salads-to-go to snacks, fruit, medicine, water bottles and more. I noticed a few nights they were open until past midnight and I'm not even sure if they ever bother to close at all!

I really liked the location because it is quiet and safe. We were only two blocks from a subway stop (79th and Broadway) and we could get anywhere we wanted in the city in 5 - 20 minutes. When we walked around Times Square and Midtown – where many tourists stay – I was glad that we weren't there as the activity and stimulation are non-stop. Not to mention we had more of a variety of restaurants in our neighborhood and most very affordable!

It seems that all hotels in NYC are expensive, and I'd put this one as mid-range. It wasn't cheap by any means at $199 a night. And, we might have found a place with breakfast in the morning, but then would have been back to the Midtown location. Very few hotels in the city have pools (if you're looking, the Travel Inn is one that does... and they also are the only hotel in the city with FREE parking for guests), but we didn't miss swimming... there so much else to do in NYC!

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