We had relatives coming to the U.S. from Europe for the first time and wanted to show them the Big Apple in all its glory. I was looking at booking two rooms at another hotel, and then I checked out the Doubletree in Times Square.

The price was a little less than two rooms at my other favorite Manhattan hotel, and we could all be together, which was a plus because of the language barrier for our relatives. At the Doubletree we booked a double/double room (suite), that also offered a pull-out queen couch. We were two couples with two kids and it worked out perfectly.

The hotel is located smack in the middle of Times Square but getting to it was no problem. We had driven into the city, so my husband dropped us right at the entrance. A bellhop immediately came out to help us with our bags while my husband drove around the corner to the parking garage the hotel uses.

There is a security guard right inside the entrance doors and you take an elevator up to the registration lobby. The minute you step out of the elevators, prepare yourself for the scent of chocolate chip cookies baking. They offered us a handful of them to munch on while we checked in.

Our room was huge by NYC standards, two rooms (one with two double beds, the other with the queen pull out couch). There are entrances to the roomy bathroom off both of these rooms, and televisions in each room. The room was very clean and there is also a refrigerator, coffee maker, microwave at the bar. The bathroom was decked in marble and also very clean.

We stayed three nights and never had a problem. There was a newspaper outside our door each morning. The beds were comfortable (even the pullout couch) and housekeeping was more than happy to supply us extra towels and linens. With six people staying in the room, we never felt cramped. And you do not notice the outside noise of the city (we were on the fifteenth floor). Inside the hotel is quiet and comfortable. With the mecca of New York restaurants awaiting outside, we never tried the hotel's dining room, mostly because my favorite deli, The Stage is easily within walking distance.

Recommended: Yes