Family Stay at Crowne Plaza Times Square,NYC
hotel right in the middle of Times Square is a favorite of ours because of its location and excellent customer service.
The multiple eateries like Bond 45 and Carmine’s nearby; several big name attractions such as the Discovery Center, the giant Toys ‘R’Us flagship store; and numerous Broadway theaters all so close, makes this the perfect ‘middle of the action’ spot!
Getting to the entrance is a bit confusing since guests need to pass through some side corridors when arriving from the parking or the front, and then need to ride two escalators to reach the actual lobby area.
The public spaces have a futuristic look to them with a liberal use of metallics, neon blues, and purples in different configurations. The sofas, loveseats, and chairs in the bar area are comfortable to encourage guests to come and relax in them after a day of walking and shopping in the Big Apple.
Our Welcome
We were welcomed back at the front desk by a receptionist whom we had met on our last trip, and our check-in was efficient and uneventful.Our son with autism is noise sensitive, so ahead of time, we always request a room on a high level to avoid hearing the bustling city below. Like previous visits, we were assigned two moderately sized connecting rooms on the 41st floor, with superb views of Times Square and the city rooftops. Who knew there were so many rooftop gardens in NYC?
Our Connecting Rooms
Both our room were carpeted and were decorated in a contemporary style that made the place look very updated. Ours included a king sized bed with a velour tufted headboard, a work desk complete with multiple recharging outlets, a 46-inch flat screen TV and a sitting area overlooking the large paneled, partially opening window. Our sons’ room had a similar setup but with two single beds instead. There were room safes, coffee makers, and bathrobes and slippers available in both rooms, which made our stay quite comfortable. . Both white marble and granite bathrooms featured a commode, modest counter top for cosmetics and medicines and glass enclosed showers, complete with handheld showerhead. No anti-slip bath mat was provided, but housekeeping was quick to bring extra towels and toiletries when we asked for them. Unlike other properties we’ve stayed at in the Times Square area, this hotel offers reliable and fast Internet connection for which both my Wi-Fi-addicted teens and I were very grateful.The Breakfast Options
The hotel doesn’t have an executive lounge but offers two options for breakfast. Their sit down restaurant at $28 per person and an ‘on the go’ Starbucks corner bistro with baked goods, cut up fruit and various hot beverages. For those who wish to start the day with a budget friendly $8 per person buffet, there’s a Sbarro restaurant not far away. We opted to try their breakfast buffet and were pleasantly surprised by the abundance of choices; especially the Chinese delicacies. Worth mentioning is the hotel’s gym; the New York Sports Club 29,000 SQ foot gym on the 15th floor, that has cardio and weight training equipment and offers Yoga and Pilates.
Autism Travel Tips
- Ask for a high floor since the noise of the cars and sirens around Times Square can be overwhelming for a child on the spectrum.
- You can stock up on snacks and water for the room at the local drugstore two blocks away.
- If you want your child to enjoy their shopping experience around Times Square, plan on heading to the stores early when they first open, as they are typically less crowded then.
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