If you are heading to New York City with the family, we recommend staying downtown at the New York Marriott Downtown. We recently stayed at here and it was the perfect location for site-seeing, shopping, and quiet (yes, it was quiet).
Quiet New York City sounds like an oxymoron, am I right? Even I didn’t believe it was true. After several trips to NYC over the years, I had come to expect noisy nights, the streets filled with honking horns, police sirens and garbage trucks. But I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up after our first evening at the New York Marriott Downtown realizing how soundly I had slept. And that’s not all I liked about this hotel and location.
When my daughter was 13, we did a big New York City trip for her birthday, hitting all the major tourist spots. We had one primary reason to go to New York City for this summer trip – to see the Broadway musical, Hamilton. We actually planned very little for this trip, wanting to relax and wing it a bit. Because of this, I initially wanted to stay in Midtown, near Times Square. But an opportunity came up and we were invited to stay downtown at the New York Marriott and I am so thankful we did. Let me tell you why.
New York Marriott Downtown: Why Stay Downtown?
Location is key when you travel to New York City, but there is something to be said about finding a quiet area of Manhattan to stay in. We arrived late afternoon on a Tuesday at the hotel and were starving. The concierge posted out a few local spots to grab a quick bite and we settled on pizza. Just one block west of the hotel is a tree-lined residential neighborhood with a corner grocery store and deli. We grabbed a few slices and walked one block more toward the Hudson River. We enjoyed our pizza on the Hudson River Promenade watching a few boats, barges, & helicopters along the river. It was a peaceful start to our busy 4 days in the city. And we were both so happy to have found a quiet spot so close to the hotel.
The New York Marriott Downtown is blocks away from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory, Wall Street and Batter Park (where you can catch the ferry to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island).
We spent the first afternoon in NYC walking to some famous Alexander Hamilton sites – Federal Hall (the spot where George Washington took his oath as the first president of the United States), Fraunces Tavern (where Hamilton & Aaron Burr met for the last time before their dual) and the site of his grave. All within walking distance of the New York Marriott Downtown.
It is also less than 2 blocks from the Red Metro line, which can be a quick ride up to Midtown, with stops at Times Square, Columbus Circle (Central Park) and Lincoln Center. We rarely had to make any subway line changes to get where we needed to. And if you do not want to take the Subway, it was a $22 Uber drive one night after a show in Times Square and it took us about the same time as it would on the Subway.
The New York Marriott Downtown turned out to be the perfect location for our trip. Since it is technically in the Financial District of Manhattan, the area is busy during the day, but nothing like Midtown. I personally felt safer staying here than I would have in Times Square. And nothing beats getting a good nights sleep after a busy day – I have never stayed in a quieter area of town.
New York Marriott Downtown: Family Friendly
Given it’s location to the Financial District, the New York Marriott Downtown does have a high amount of business travelers, but the hotel goes out of it’s way to welcome families as well. The hotel’s rooms are very spacious, allowing for room to spread out, which is a rarity in a NYC hotel room. We stayed in a Double/Double Guest room for just the two of us, but 4 would have fit comfortably.
New York Marriott Downtown Guest Room Views
We also found the staff to be very attentive, from the bell staff opening doors and calling taxi’s for us, to the front desk staff showing us where his favorite pizza joint is. And onsite is Bill’s Bar & Burger, known for it’s award-winning burgers and milkshakes.
New York Marriott Downtown: A Room Tour
We stayed in a Double/Double Guest Room on the Concierge Level with a view of the Hudson River (you can also get a view of the Statue of Liberty) during our stay. We found the beds to be very comfortable, especially after a long day of walking the streets of NYC. The rooms come with standard amenities, TV, alarm clock, coffee maker and hair dryers. Cribs and Mini Fridges are available as well. All rooms are non-smoking and have WiFi for a small fee.
The New York Marriott Downtown offers several room types to choose from to accommodate any sized family. They also have a large workout facility and concierge level. Breakfast, lunch & dinner is available at Bill’s Bar & Burger.
New York Marriott Downtown: Concierge Level
We have stayed on concierge levels of hotels a few times, and I really like staying at this level for several reasons. I enjoy having a spot in the hotel to decompress after a long day with a glass of wine (coffee/tea/sodas are complimentary). I also really like being able to have a light breakfast before heading out for the day. The New York Marriott Downtown Concierge Level breakfast was definitely more than “light” – scrambled eggs, bacon, bagels, pastries, oatmeal, and more – we were full after our breakfast with a beautiful view of Lady Liberty.
What We Liked About New York Marriott Downtown:
- The rooms were large and spacious
- Extremely comfortable beds
- Location (see above)
- Quiet rooms (no outside noise)
- 2 blocks from Subway Station
- Friendly staff
- Concierge Level breakfast
- Late Checkout by request & bag storage
What You Need to Know About New York Marriott Downtown:
- Valet parking is available. It is $65 per night.
- High Speed Internet is $14.95/day and the lobby offers free WiFi.
- The Uptown Attractions (Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park) are about 20 minutes away.
We really enjoyed our stay at New York Marriott Downtown in New York City and fully recommend it as an ideal location to stay with family. I like the fact that was clean, quiet, & welcoming. And I really enjoyed the location of the hotel – perfect for first time visitors to season pros.
Other Articles You May Enjoy About New York City:
New York City with a Teen
The Ride: Tour NYC in Style!
The New York Pass: Is it Worth It?
Disclosure: My family & I were invited to stay at the New York Marriott Downtown as their guest. All opinions are my own.
