New York Marriott East Side

The Marriott New York East Side is and isn't just another Marriott. Designed by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's grandfather, it first opened in 1924 as the Shelton Hotel, a place for swinging bachelors. At the time, it was one of the city's tallest residential buildings and much excitement surrounded it. In 1926, Harry Houdini was lowered in a coffin to the bottom of the hotel's pool. Painter Georgia O'Keefe and painter Alfred Stieglitz lived there for years. In 1990 the Marriott took over, and it has been a 3.5-star chain hotel ever since.

These days, the original Shelton is only apparent in fragments, an original staircase here, an old stained-glass window there. But the dark woods and marble floors of the relatively small lobby and second floor suggest the glamour of past times. The 646 guest rooms above, however, are all modern. Renovated in 2007, they boast large HDTVs, desks with A/V hookups, and new carpeting and furnishings. The hallways also showcase (or suffer from) garish movie-theatre-esque carpeting. Today, the hotel attracts business travelers and upper middle-class families -- mostly Americans.

The Marriott East Side sits in a cluster of big, mostly old hotels. The Intercontinental, the W, the Waldorf Astoria, and Hotel Roger Williams are all within a block. The hotel's entrance is right on Lexington Avenue, a street busy with cars (the better to get a taxi) but relatively little foot traffic. The hotel's location in east Midtown means that the surrounding area is busy during the day when office workers arrive via subway or train at Grand Central to toil away in high-rise office buildings. After work, some of these folks stick around for a quick drink at a hotel bar (and not the Marriott's bar), but the area quickly empties out in the evenings and is relatively quiet. It's extremely safe, but not very exciting. Some sporty dive bars along Second Avenue can be a bit lively if the right game is on, but this is in no way an area known for its nightlife.

In terms of transportation, the 6 train at 51st Street, two blocks away, is the closet subway stop to the hotel. More useful is Grand Central Station, six blocks away. Visitors can grab the shuttle train there and be at Times Square in less than five minutes, or pretty much anywhere else in Manhattan in less than 45 minutes. TK area information

New York City has three nearby airports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Flying into JFK or LaGuardia is typically easiest and the least time-consuming. From JFK, it's a (one-hour) $45 flat-rate taxi ride to anywhere in Manhattan. From LaGuardia, it's about a (30-minute) $40 metered cab ride to Midtown Manhattan. Rides from Newark cost at least $40 (plus tolls), and can take more than 90 minutes. Don't forget to tip your driver 15-25 percent.

To save some cash, try the group shuttles that are available at all three airports for about $14/person. For more information on the shuttles, go to Super Shuttle or New York Airport Service. You can also take public transit from any of the airports for as little as $7 per person, but travel can take up to two hours and involve a lot of lugging bags up and down stairs. For mass-transit directions right to the hotel, check out HopStop.com.

• All 646 guestsrooms were remodeled in 2007.
• Standard rooms, the deluxe king, averages 175 square feet. This isn't huge, but it's a pretty typical size for a New York City hotel. Rooms are big enough for a large desk, king-size bed, night stand, and side chair.
• Decor is contemporary, and most rooms are scarlet, mustard, or dull yellow, like other Marriott properties. There are a few more interesting details, like a scarlet leather headboard with built-in spot lamps.
• Designed for business travelers, the large desk features an ergonomic desk chair, numerous conveniently placed outlets, and a breakout box with A/V hookups for guests to connect their iPod or laptop to the 32-inch flat-screen TV.
• Daily fee for Wi-Fi
• Beds are topped with a thick down comforter in a white duvet cover atop a padded mattress pad.
• 32-inch LG HDTV with cabel, HBO, ESPN, and TNT. On Demand movies are also available, including kids movies.
• Timex alarm clocks that can connect to any MP3 player via a headphone jack. They work with iPods, but unlike iPod docks, they don't charge them.
• Bathrooms, also renovated in 2007, with granite counter that features a convenient little alcove, perfect for stowing a cosmetics bag. Toiletries from Bath and Body Works.

• Fitness center features Star-Trac cardio machines -- treadmills, elliptical machines, bikes -- each have their own individual cable televisions, along with iPod docks and USB ports. Headphones are available to borrow at no extra charge.
• business center is open daily. Computers, a paper shredder, a printer, and a copier are available.
• Concierge Lounge is open for free continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres.

Though the Marriot East Side attracts a business crowd, it also draws more families than neighboring hotels, like the Intercontinental, the W, and the Roosevelt. Adjoining rooms are available by request (no guarantees). Roll-aways and cribs are free, but a superior room or larger is needed to accommodate them. The extensive pay-per-view movie selection featured dozens of "kids & family."

For guests needing a babysitter, the concierge can make arrangements through a third-party childcare agency that specializes in caring for children in from out of town.

• The Marriott East Side's restaurant, the 525LEX, is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• A Concierge Lounge is open daily for free continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres.
• The lounge bar is open from noon to midnight and serves light fare.
• There are numerous places nearby to grab a cheap meals, as the area surrounding the hotel caters to office workers.
• Room service is available daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.