Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square

Overview

Walking into Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square, you immediately notice how it manages to feel surprisingly calm despite being smack in the middle of the chaos. I mean, you’re literally a two-minute walk from the Times Square madness, but somehow the lobby has this zen-like quality that actually works. The front desk staff – and I’ve stayed here three times now – genuinely seem to know what they’re doing, which honestly isn’t always a given in this part of town.

What really surprised me about this three-star spot is how they’ve figured out the sound situation. You know how most hotels around here either cost a fortune or sound like you’re sleeping next to a construction site? Well, the rooms here face different directions, and if you get one of the ones pointing toward 40th Street rather than the main avenues, it’s actually pretty quiet at night. The rooms themselves are what I’d call “smart small” – they’ve used every inch without making you feel like you’re in a closet. The beds are legitimately comfortable (I’m picky about this), and there’s enough desk space to actually get work done if you need to. The bathrooms are compact but well-designed, with decent water pressure and those little details that show someone was thinking about real travelers.

Here’s what locals won’t tell you: this location is actually perfect for getting around without dealing with the Times Square subway stations, which can be absolutely brutal during rush hours. You can walk to Bryant Park in about eight minutes, catch a taxi easily (the drivers know exactly where 40th and Broadway area is), and there are about fifteen different food options within a three-block radius that aren’t tourist traps. The hotel’s little market downstairs is overpriced, sure, but it’s there when you need toothpaste at 11 PM. I’ve noticed they keep the coffee in the lobby pretty decent throughout the day, and honestly, the whole place feels like it’s managed by people who understand that business travelers and families need different things but often end up in the same space. It’s not trying to be fancy – it’s trying to be functional and comfortable, and in New York, that’s actually kind of refreshing.