Random Thoughts, Part I

Random thoughts...

I'm in NYC, staying at the Renaissance Times Square this time, and, yes, I have raided the minibar for the cashews (and not just cashews, JUMBO cashews) and the Bud Light. I rarely ever stay in the same place twice when I'm in New York, mostly because the same hotel never has availability from one trip to the next. Anyway, to start my random thoughts, here is how I rank the Times Square (-ish) hotels I've stayed at over the last couple of years, from best to worst.

1) The W. I know, not at all imaginative, and the $60 salmon was admittedly over the top, but I had a large corner room with mood lighting, fluffy robes, cashews, hassle-free internet connectivity, lotion/shampoo/et al from Bliss Spa, and a CD with Goldfrapp on it.

2) The Millennium Broadway. The rooms have a sort of Asian flair, which cancels out the fact that the ambient lighting in the headboard doesn't work; decent if uninspired room service menu; cashews; view of my office (creepy but cool at the same time because there's neon signage involved); friendly staff; mixed berries, including strawberries, blackberries AND blueberries with your room service cereal; hassle-free internet connectivity; entrances on (I think) both 45th St. and 46th St.; and a kick-ass, black-on-black, art deco lobby.

3) The Sheraton Hotel & Towers. This is on, like, 6th and 52nd or something, so it's a few blocks from my office and very close to Central Park. I also like it, because it's away from Times Square but still close, and it has an aweseome fitness facility and cashews. You can get a pretty good salad at the bar downstairs, but the food from room service sucks, and the rooms aren't anything to jump up and down about, though the internet access is painless. If you're staying facing 6th, you can see the Ed Sullivan Theatre, where they film the David Letterman Show. Also, the hotel lobby is huge and pretty nice.

4) The Hilton Garden Inn. Surprise, surprise, it's not even the full-blown Hilton, but it's cheaper and, even though the lobby does not inspire confidence, I think the rooms are more nicely appointed (clearly having just been re-done) than the Hilton Times Square. The little French bistro immediatley next door is wonderful. Also, it's on 8th Ave. and, like, 48th St., so it's away from the hustle and bustle of Times Square, which is sooooooo nice. And though the internet works really well, there are no cashews.

5) The Hilton Times Square. It's just a Hilton and it's pretty much forgettable. The restaurant downstairs tries to be imaginative, but it doesn't really work out. For example, you really shouldn't make quesadillas with smoked gouda cheese. I can't remember if they have cashews, but I'm pretty sure they don't. Their internet works well, though. Like the Millennium, it has entrances on two sides, 42nd and 43rd.

6) The Renaissance. I'm at the Renaissance tonight. In fairness, I just got here, so I don't know if room service is any good, but judging by the menu, there's not much variety and no pasta. Also, the lobby, while it appears they tried to re-do it recently, still looks pretty tired (the devil is in the details). Hang on one sec while I check to see if there are bathrobes...nope, no bathrobes, but the bathroom fixtures are super cool. Also, as stated previously, they have cashews, and the internet obviously works. Depending on my dining experiences (I'm here for three nights), this one may leap-frog the two Hiltons, we'll see.

7) Crowne Plaza. This hotel sucks and I do not recommend it. No cashews, fitness center opens at 6:30 a.m., no high speed internet and the wireless doesn't work, restaurant sucks and faces the M&M's store, which is annoying, they re-did the rooms recently, but did so on the cheap and it shows. Don't stay here. Ever.

Once upon a time I also almost stayed at a Days Inn in midtown. This was, like, seven or eight years ago. I checked in, got to my room, turned around and checked out. Don't ever, ever stay at a Days Inn in New York City.