Courtyard New York Manhattan/Chelsea

The Courtyard is a handsome hotel that opened in late 2013 and pays homage to its location near the Flower District in several ways. The entire wall behind the wooden registration desk features a spectacular tile mosaic with various flowers in bloom. Other floral mosaics, photos of flowers, and even fresh flowers are found throughout the property. The hotel stays busy with a steady influx of guests, ranging from sports fans attending events at nearby Madison Square Garden to city tourists and business travelers taking advantage of the hotel’s proximity to Penn Station.

The Courtyard is located in a safe area near the Garment District on West 30th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, within easy walking distance of several of New York City’s top attractions. The transportation hub at Penn Station is a four-minute walk away, which is why the immediate area can get a bit hectic with rushing commuters. Sports fans will appreciate that Madison Square Garden is only three minutes on foot. Macy’s flagship store is a seven-minute walk, and the Empire State Building is nine minutes away on foot. There are lots of restaurants within a short walk as well, though not as much in the way of nightlife. Times Square also is within reach on foot in about 15 minutes. Approximate travel times via subway to LaGuardia Airport and JFK Airport are one hour. LaGuardia is about 40 minutes by car, while JFK can take upwards of an hour, depending on traffic.

Rooms are contemporary and tastefully decorated, with light-blue accents found throughout, from solid drapes and accent walls behind the beds to the bed skirts and beige-patterned carpet. Even the distinctive sunset artwork that covers most of the walls facing the beds features the hue. Rooms are a little small, but not tiny for a mid-range Manhattan property, and offer enough room for dressers, armoires, ottomans, and desks with office chairs. Standard amenities include mini-fridges, coffeemakers, flat screen TVs, and safes. Most of the tiled bathrooms feature roomy walk-in showers with clear glass doors (although 20 of the rooms have shower/tub combos). Of the 273 units at the hotel, 17 are Suites with separate living rooms, and some of the Deluxe Kings include sleeper chairs that could theoretically work as beds for children.    

This Courtyard offers all of the essentials one would expect of the brand, including a bistro -- Table 135 -- that serves breakfast daily (plus Starbucks coffee). There's also an attached pub that’s accessible through the hotel lobby that features extensive lunch and dinner menus and offers discounts to hotel guests. The on-site convenience  store sells sundries, drinks, and snacks. There's also a 24-hour fitness center with several cardio machines and free weights as well as a guest laundry room; guests can also have their clothes laundered or dry-cleaned professionally through the hotel. Business amenities include a meeting room for rent and a business center with a small sitting area and multiple PCs and printers. Wi-Fi is free and throughout the hotel and there are free newspapers in the lobby. Be aware that while valet-only parking is available around the clock (for a fee), it has no in/out privileges.