ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: We headed to New York City at the most wonderful — and busiest! — time of the year: December holidays. Especially in New York City and Times Square, this is an extremely hectic and chaotic time of year to visit. We were celebrating our twin niece and nephew’s 10th birthdays and had two families traveling together, so I was determined to find a perfectly located hotel to allow for easy navigation to our scheduled activities. Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square fit the bill.

© Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square

Our two groups drove from our homes in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and despite following each other, we ended up separated once we hit the swell of cars in and around Times Square. It’s easy to get turned around, but my husband and I found the property, right at the corner of 47th and Seventh, with relative ease. The valets were friendly and helpful, but the lobby was packed with the check- out crowd. Our room wasn’t ready, but we were able to hold our bags and sit in the lounge area near the lobby bar and quick-serve eatery. By the time our second group arrived, most of the people in the lobby had departed, so it was calmer and quicker to leave bags. We headed out for afternoon activities, and our rooms were ready when we returned that early evening.

© Kimberly Inlander

GUEST QUARTERS: Our two-queen-bedded, functional guestrooms were next door to one another, and each offered smart layouts more than adequate for our one-night stay. At the entrance a small bench sat to the left of the door, with open space above to hang jackets and clothes and store some bags. The two beds were separated by a nightstand and sat across from a long dresser/desk with a flat-screen TV above. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a sliver view of Times Square, and an armchair in the corner nestled next to them.

The large bathroom, outfitted in bright tile, boasted a large walk-in shower (that hosted lots of giggles as the three kids huddled together in there to hide from us) alongside the other basic washroom amenities.

SERVICES/AMENITIES: The stylish Times Square hotel offers 661 guestrooms across 46 floors plus two restaurants. An outdoor terrace overlooks the pulse of New York City, and the fitness center is open 24 hours. WiFi is complimentary. Cribs are on offer if needed, and Confirmed Connecting Rooms are available for families if booked with ample time. Valet parking costs $95.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

• Our itinerary included ice skating in Central Park, Bryant Park’s Winter Village, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and Radio City Music Hall; the hotel was conveniently located within walking distance of all our activities and then some.
• Should your trip fall around the same time of year, keep in mind the garage for Tempo’s valet service is right near Radio City Music Hall, and valet drivers contend with the theater’s Christmas Spectacular traffic. Wait times approached two hours.
• Rather than traditional room service, the hotel offers a grab-and-go concept in the lobby; we both grabbed what we needed there and used DoorDash to have New York City bagels delivered to us the morning we checked out.
• The hotel was first on my radar due to its unique themed offerings, like a specially designed suite for the Broadway show Beetlejuice, playing at the theater next door. Those in town for performances can’t go wrong selecting the hotel, as it lies near all theaters and steps from the TKTS ticket booth in the heart of Times Square.

TEMPO BY HILTON NEW YORK TIMES SQUARE
1568 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
tel 212 262 8100