Going to New York City for the books . . .

August 4, 2013 5:38 PM

I'm looking for a medium-priced, safe hotel in New York City that's within safe walking distance (maybe 1 mile?) of The Strand Bookstore. Bonus points if the hotel is near anything else of literary interest. I've only been to NYC once and that was ten years ago so I'm very sketchy on neighborhoods/geography of the city, so I don't even know if this is a realistic request. Any thoughts, NYC booklovers?
posted by bookmammal to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (15 answers total)

I think it all hinges on what you define as "medium-priced".
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:40 PM on August 4, 2013 [2 favorites]

...yeah, could we have a price range? I'm a Strand devotee, but most of the affordable (in NYC terms) lodgings I've found have been a few subway stops away. (This kind of weird hotel in Times Square, for example.)
posted by thomas j wise at 5:52 PM on August 4, 2013

Try the Comfort Inn on 34th Street. Near Macy's and the Empire State Building. Great old hotel on an alley full of cool, cheap restaurants, pubs and coffee places. They have a free breakfast!

InterContinental Barclay can be had on discount sites. Not too close to stuff but a lovely hotel with good vibes.

There's a very cool sounding Hostel in Brooklyn (take the subway into town). New York Loft Hostel. I'd stay there.

Take the subway, it's fun and authentic.

Have a great time!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:54 PM on August 4, 2013

The larchmont hotel is close
posted by exois at 6:12 PM on August 4, 2013

The Pod Hotel isn't close but it's cheap and cool.
posted by Ideefixe at 6:20 PM on August 4, 2013

Twenty short blocks in midtown (north or south) = 1 mile.
Four long blocks (the STANDARD midtown east-west blocks) = 1 mile.

So "the Comfort Inn on 34th" (referenced above by Ruthless Bunny) is just a little over one mile from the Strand on 12th St.
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 6:31 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]

Hotel 17?
posted by mlle valentine at 6:32 PM on August 4, 2013

Basically, anything within about a mile of Union Square will do it for you. Which is, well, a LOT of area.

The question of 'medium-priced' is the question. What's 'medium priced' in New York City might be Insanely Expensive in other places.
posted by mephron at 6:41 PM on August 4, 2013

Try the Ace Hotel on 29th and Broadway. It's definitely within walking distance of The Strand, and it's what I would consider to be mid-price by Manhattan hotel standards (by which I mean I've gotten rooms there for, like, $250 a night). Though be warned, it's very scene-y and "cool," so if that's not your vibe you may find it kind of annoying.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 6:44 PM on August 4, 2013

Rates vary on time of year. The library hotel is about 1 1/2 miles from the strand and will be in the $400s in Oct.
posted by brujita at 6:45 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]

Neither close, nor cheap, but probably the place you'd be the happiest: http://www.libraryhotel.com/
posted by NYC-BB at 10:03 PM on August 4, 2013 [2 favorites]

What about The Jane?
posted by KingEdRa at 12:35 AM on August 5, 2013

Yotel is just under 2 miles from The Strand. We stayed there recently, and it is notable for being squeaky clean. European-style design, small rooms with everything very functional.
posted by jbickers at 5:49 AM on August 5, 2013

The closest I've stayed to that location is at this Holiday Inn. It was fine but small. Prices in NY are really high though, so when I go I usually check all the travel discount sites for specials. The prices really vary by time of year and day of the week so you never know what you're going to find.
posted by interplanetjanet at 6:02 AM on August 5, 2013

They just opened a Hyatt in Union Square, which is really close to the Strand, but I do not know if it fits your criteria as I don't know what you define as "medium-priced". Still, if your primary criteria is that it be near the Strand, it can't be beat.
posted by bedhead at 10:47 AM on August 5, 2013