HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS - TIMES SQUARE BY IHG, New York

The hotel sits on 37th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, placing it a 5-minute walk from Times Square and the Broadway theaters. Major landmarks such as the Empire State Building (10 min), Madison Square Garden (10 min), Penn Station (10 min), and Jacob Javits Convention Center (15 min) are all reachable on foot. The 42nd Street subway hub (Port Authority and Times Square stations) is a short walk, providing direct lines to all boroughs and airports. The immediate area is busy during the day but can feel less secure late at night due to loitering; staying on main streets is advisable.

The hotel offers 210 rooms, including configurations with one king or two double beds. All rooms feature a private bathroom with bathtub/shower, hairdryer, toiletries, a 32-inch flat-screen TV with cable, an iPod docking station, an ergonomic work desk, ironing facilities, and an in-room safe. Wi-Fi is free and high-speed. Rooms are generally compact, and the furniture shows signs of wear (scuffed, dated). City views are available from higher floors. Air conditioning and heating are individually controlled, but units can be noisy. Rooms do not include a mini-fridge by default-one can be requested at check-in (subject to availability). Lower-floor rooms may experience street noise; higher floors are quieter. Daily housekeeping is provided. Rooms are non-smoking throughout.

Breakfast is included in the rate and served from around 6:30am to 9:30am. Offerings include hot eggs, sausage, pancakes (note: the machine sometimes breaks), a variety of breads and pastries, yogurt, fruit, cereals, and the well-known cinnamon rolls. Coffee, tea, and juice are provided. The breakfast area is small and can become overcrowded; between 7:30am and 9am it may be difficult to find a seat, and some guests eat standing in the hallway. Paper plates and plastic utensils are used. For other meals, the hotel has no restaurant, bar, or room service. Vending machines with snacks and drinks are available in the lobby, and there are many fast-casual and sit-down restaurants within a short walk.

The 24-hour front desk can assist with concierge services, express check-in/out, and wake-up calls. An ATM is located in the lobby. Complimentary coffee, tea, and sometimes snacks (crisps, cookies, water) are available in the lobby. Luggage storage may be arranged before check-in or after check-out (subject to availability). The hotel can receive packages for a handling fee ($5-$10). For business travellers, a business centre with a printer and photocopier is available. The hotel has accessibility features: wheelchair-accessible rooms (10), roll-in showers, grab bars, ADA-compliant elevators, and ramp access. Note that the elevators are a known operational issue-there are only two for 36 floors, and one often malfunctions, leading to long waits. Connecting rooms are available on request. Cribs are available for a fee. The hotel participates in IHG Green Engage sustainability program.