Holiday Inn Express New York City Times Square

This Holiday Inn is situated in a busy corner of Midtown Manhattan, prone to heavy traffic and clogged sidewalks. But once inside, the bright lobby offers a calmer and composed space. White walls and wood-laminate floors give a clean backdrop, and modern prints and a few plants dress up the space, but it's almost always cluttered with luggage from waiting guests (there's no luggage room either). Other common areas include a bright small breakfast area with tiled floors and clusters of tables and chairs -- it can get busy in the morning. Note that the 36-story high-rise has only two elevators, so plan departure times ahead during peak hours, as long waits are not uncommon. This property is popular with tourists and business travelers alike who are looking for a reasonably priced chain hotel and are willing to sacrifice space and amenities for a central location. 

The Holiday Inn Express is surrounded by other mid-range hotels, a few restaurants, and constant traffic from the Lincoln Tunnel. It's a 10-minute walk from Times Square and is a good spot for those needing easy access to public transportation. The Times Square - 42nd Street subway station (a major transportation hub connecting to the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, R, Q trains and a shuttle to Grand Central Terminal) is a seven-minute walk away. The Port Authority Bus Terminal is just a five-minute walk up 8th Avenue, and there's also a convenient CitiBike rental rack right outside the hotel for those brave enough to navigate the traffic on two wheels. There are plenty of options for shopping, people-watching, Broadway shows, drinking, and dining within walking distance. This is especially true for Restaurant Row on 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, which has a variety of bars and restaurant choices, though most of these are touristy. Other landmarks in walking distance, require a longer hike, such as Bryant Park (12 minutes) and the Empire State Building (16 minutes). The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is 13 minutes away by subway, and Fifth Avenue shops are 10 minutes away. Travelers arriving or departing by air should factor in a bare minimum of 20 minutes to LaGuardia in Queens, half an hour to Newark, and 45 minutes to JFK, though traffic means these trips usually take considerably longer.

All of the hotel's 210 rooms are on the small side even by New York standards, but many have king beds. Rooms with two double beds and ADA rooms with a queen bed are also available, an while some have city views, the windows are typically small. Decor is contemporary but chain-like, with patterned carpets, simple wood-veneer furnishings, and neutral walls. The patterned curtains and window treatments are a bit much for the size of the room, adding a busy vibe that doesn't help create a feeling of spaciousness in the somewhat cramped quarters. Small desks come with office chairs, and all rooms have 32-inch flat-screen TVs with free HBO, along with coffeemakers -- some have Keurig coffeemakers. Bathrooms are small and generic, with shower/tub combos and basic toiletries.

Facilities are slim here, with a simple lobby and no real restaurant or bar. The fitness room feels like an afterthought, and when we visited it was being used as a storage room with boxes blocking access to the few cardio machines available. The breakfast room has an attached dining room, and offers a free continental buffet with hot items including eggs, sausage, and pancakes. There's also a 24-hour business corner with a pair of PCs and a printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.