Like having your own Manhattan apartment
If you've ever dreamt about having your own Manhattan apartment but reality dicates a short stay in a hotel is more feasable, I recommend a stay at the Hotel Beacon on the Upper West Side. My husband & I stayed at this hotel about 7 years ago, and the hotel has been significantly upgraded during this time. We were assigned a room on the 9th floor, located next to the elevators. The room was spacious for 2 adults - two closets (one with a safe), a living area with a 3-seater sofa which may have had a pullout bed (I didn't check); 2 flat screen TV's - one on the bedroom, one in the living area; a cozy kitchenette with fridge, stove, oven, etc; a queen-sized bed; some drawer space; and a small but usable bathroom - the water pressure was average but heated up quickly and stayed warm throughout the shower. A door seperated the living area from the bedroom for added privacy. There is a significant number of channels available on the TV so finding something to watch shouldn't be difficult. The room had 2 large windows overlooking the NYC cityscape. Adorable artwork lining the walls provided a more comfortable "home" feel rather than just a hotel room. Wi-Fi was provided for a "nominal fee" and you had to get a code from the reception desk - we never used this service so I'm unable to comment. The only downsides were since our room was so close to the elevator, we heard the pullies and the opening/closing of the doors all night; the carpet was a bit frayed in corners. Also, the heater in our room was noisy and turned on and off all night, which could possibly disturb someone who is a light sleeper. The deskman provided a good recommendation for a nearby restaurant, and the meal was delicious. Across the street is a market and the subway is about a block or two away. Overall, this hotel helped us to feel more like New Yorkers and less like the tourists that we are - and isn't vacation all about escape??