To the point
On a recent family trip to New York, we stayed at the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel. Here's my review of this property right in the center of the Times Square New York scene.
Renaissance New York Times Square - Booking
The cash rate for our 2-night stay at the Renaissance New York Times Square was $587 USD ($775 CAD) per night.
Each room night was also available for 58,000 and 76,000 Bonvoy points respectively.
We opted for the points rate and were able to use 50,000 point and 85,000 point certificates we had from the US-based Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card. The first night required an 8,000-point top-up using the 50,000 point certificate, and the 85,000 point certificate was sufficient to cover the second night in entirety. This was a great use of certificates since both the cash and point rates for New York City hotels are very high.
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The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at more than 7,000 hotels around the world is with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card).
In addition to the great welcome bonus on both cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases and 5 points per dollar at Marriott locations. And each year, you’ll earn a certificate for one free hotel stay (35,000 point value) and 15 Elite nights toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.
Renaissance New York Times Square - Location
If the golden rule of real estate is “location, location, location”, then you cannot possibly do better than the Renaissance New York Times Square if you’re looking to be right in the center of midtown NYC energy. There are many hotels that include the words “Times Square” in their name, but some can actually be a fair distance away from it. Not so with Renaissance which is literally overlooking the square. Its restaurant is directly underneath the Coke sign!
Renaissance New York Times Square - Arrival & Check-In
The hotel’s entrance is on 7th Avenue, between West 47th and 48th streets. There is valet parking available if you arrive by car.
Inside the main doors is quite a small lobby area where we checked in. We confirmed our rooms for two nights. Alas, there were no upgrades available due to our Platinum Elite status. I wasn’t expecting this since occupancy was high and from looking at their inventory online, I don’t believe the hotel features many suites. We received our keys, received bonus points due to our Elite status, as well as complimentary breakfast for the whole family during our stay. With that we headed to the elevators to go up to the main floor.
The reception area and main floor of the hotel are on a split level, so you need to take an elevator up one floor after check-in. The main floor consists of a social area, several seating areas, and the hotel’s concierges. To reach the guestroom floors you need to take a second elevator. They have several little sheep statues scattered around the hotel, paying homage to the sheep that used to graze this area of Manhattan before it was developed into an urban area.
The concierges are called Renaissance Navigators. These employees are styled as passionate explorers themselves and local experts. They are available to help with any aspect of your stay and help make the most of your time in your destination. Here’s the description from the Renaissance website:
Renaissance New York Times Square - 2 Doubles Guest Room
Our room was a fairly standard one with two double beds. It was 330sqft in size though which is on the large size for a hotel near Times Square. The climate control system worked very efficiently, the beds were extremely comfortable, and the soundproofing was top-notch which is vital considering the location. So all in all it provided a good place to sleep which is all we needed from it really since we would be out exploring all day.
Features included a writing desk with chair, coffee/tea station, closet, small bar area, and empty mini fridge. Bottled water was $6.50/bottle, but complimentary for Platinum guests and above.
The bathroom was also pretty standard. It had a bathroom/tub combination with ceramic tiles, single sink, and Aveda toiletry products. Everything worked well and the shower pressure was great.
Being on an upper floor we had a high view of downtown Manhattan and the Times Square area.
Renaissance New York Times Square - Dining
The hotel has a nice bar/restaurant area called the R Lounge on the main floor . This has floor-to-ceiling windows which directly overlooks Times Square, right from underneath the famous Coke sign. In the evening the bar is open and you can have a cocktail while watching the sights of the thousands of people going by.
In the morning we had breakfast here which was complimentary due to our Platinum status. It featured a full buffet with a standard American breakfast: Eggs, sausages, bacon, ham, cereals, fruits, yoghurt, oatmeal, toast, bagels, and a drink station for juice/coffee/water. Overall the food was good quality which we enjoyed, and the great view gave you a good New York buzz before heading out for the day!
Renaissance New York Times Square - Facilities & Service
The hotel also has a small gym with both cardio and weight training equipment.
For service, the staff we did interact with were quite friendly, including the reception, restaurant servers during breakfast, and housekeeping.
But what can I say – it’s a hotel in Times Square. It’s not a place that you’re going to spend much time in. It provides a really comfortable, quiet place to sleep, a solid breakfast, which are the main things you’re looking for in this location. While we didn’t have a need for it ourselves, the one service feature which may give this property a leg up compared with others in the area are its Navigators who try to provide personalized service for any of your travel needs.
Renaissance New York Times Square - Hotel Fact Sheet
| Parking | Valet $80/day | Breakfast included with room | Platinum Elite and above |
| Pool | No | Rooms with balconies | Yes |
| Spa | No | Rooms with kitchenette | No |
| Gym | Yes | USB plugs in room | Yes |
| Restaurant | Yes | Smart TV | Yes |
| Accepts animals | Yes ($50 fee) | Shower/Bath | Combination |
| Executive lounge | No |
Conclusion
The best selling feature of the Renaissance New York Times Square is its location. If you’re looking for a central location and great view over Times Square, you’d be hard pressed to do better than this. The rooms are relatively spacious, quiet, and comfortable, the staff are friendly, and the breakfast is good.
Most people I would guess aren’t looking for much beyond that in a hotel in this area. This property is fairly expensive, and there are almost limitless options for accommodations in this part of New York. You may be able to find a similar quality for a lower price. But if it fits your budget and you’re looking for a home base in the heart of the New York action, then this is a great choice.
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