Going to NYC, what's the best hotel around Times Square?

We stayed at Hotel Mela on New Year's Eve last year and I was a get hotel. Super close to Times Square, pretty large rooms, really nice washrooms and the staff there was really great. Very modern hotel.

Washroom and bathroom are the same thing We use both interchangeably up here.

Well since we're on the topic, what are those co-ed bathrooms that are shared by guests on each level? Are they still common in NYC?

Hmmm, I've never heard of that anywhere other than in hostels. Are you thinking of WC's (water closets)? That's the only other word I know for "bathroom" (other than the loo, haha).

Very common in Europe I think, but I've never seen them in a hotel before. Just hostels. But I've only been to NYC 3 times so maybe there are some hotels that have them that I don't know about...?

If you want to stay in times square then the W is the nicest hotel there. There are others that are nice but that is the nicest. However, keep in mind that NYC hotels are small. NYC is very crowded and you don't pay for luxurious space you pay just for being in NYC. So unless you are going to get a penthouse overlooking central park in the Plaza Hotel, any room you get is going to look small in comparison to when you travel anywhere else.

If you go a little farther uptown and stay near Central Park then I would recomment the Empire Hotel, which has one of the hottest nightspot right now at the top of their rooftop.

The Empire Hotel New York City - Official Site

Also, like another member said the Gansevoort is hot but its way downtown in the meatpacking district. It also has a rooftop pool which is fabulous.

The Mercer Hotel is also downtown and its great. Another great one is the Martime Hotel: The Maritime Hotel

It has a lot going on at night too.

Here is my question for you, what are you planning to do in NYC? Are you planning to mostly sightsee or hit up the nightlife and shopping or a combination of both? The nightlife is way downtown. The touristy places are closer to timesquare and farther up. I'm sure you want to stay in a nice hotel but honestly if your coming to sightsee there is no point in going crazy over it since NY is the city that never sleeps. You will be out all day doing a million things that you really only need a place to crash.

And there are no hostels in NYC. Everyone gets their own private bathroom.

I would honestly recommend the Royalton Hotel. It is located in midtown very close to times square. It is modern, was recently renovated, has an awesome bar inside and the bathrooms are spacious. They have huge round bathtubs. I've stayed at the Plaza and the Four Seasons and this hotel had bigger bathrooms.

New York Hotels in Manhattan - Royalton Official Site

One last thing, you can't go by professional photogs vs. amateur. Of course the paid photographer is going to take a pic of the nicest room. Most people stay in the average room so it is going to look significantly different.

I work w/ NYC hotels here & there are SO many different kind of hotels you can select from.. are you limited to Times Square? What exactly are you looking for? What price range? What kind of hotels do you usually like.. therefore I can direct you to the most appropo place.. let me know, but in the meantime..

Out of your hotel list from a week ago, here are my comments in CAPS:

Affinia Dumont New York - IT NICE & COMFOTABLE, BUT FOR ME, NOTHING TOO SPECIAL

Four Seasons Hotel New York - VERY NICE.. LOOKING @ OVER $700 / NIGHT PROBABLY

Hotel Gansevoort - THIS IS STILL GOOD< BUT I THINK IT CAN BE CONSIDERED 'LAST

YEAR'; IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THIS KIND OF HOTEL, LOOK @:

BOWERY HOTEL (DOWNTOWN)

EMPIRE HOTEL (LINCOLN CENTER)

GILD HALL (DOWNTOWN)

SIX COLUMBUS (COLUMBUS CIRCLE)

HOTEL ON RIVINGTON (LOWER EAST SIDE)

DUANE STREET HOTEL (TRIBECA)

ANY OF THE THOMPSON HOTELS (A FEW THROUGHOUT NYC)

Mandarin Oriental Hotel - SUPER PRICEY BUT OF COURSE REALLY NICE.. STAYING THERE NEXT WEEKEND FOR WORK, ACTUALLY!

Marriott Marquis (still need to throw it in there)

VERY TOURISTY & CONVENTION HOTEL BUT IT WORKS & LOCATION IS PERFECT

Sofitel Hotel - IT NICE, BUT THAT'S JUST IT FOR ME.

W Times Square - VERY TRENDY.. BUT A LITTLE MUCH MAYBE.. W'S IN NYC ARE NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE WITH ALL THE BOUTIQUE / INDEPENDENT HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS HERE.

A COUPLE OTHER OPTIONS:

CARLTON HOTEL NY (GRAMERCY PARK)

GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL (GRAMERCY PARK)

GREENWICH HOTEL (WEST VILLAGE) - NTO SURE IF THIS OPENED JUST YET THOUGH

LONDON HOTEL (MIDTOWN) - THIS HOTEL I LOVE!! ROOMS ARE AWESOME & BIG!

ALSO IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING FOUR SEASONS & MANDARIN ORIENTAL, YOU MIGHT AS WELL CHECK OUT THE PLAZA AS IT JUST REOPENED AGAIN IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR & IT'S SO NY!

HOPE THIS HELPS YOU!