I have a lot of accommodation options when I visit New York, from staying with friends to getting a room at my alumni club. The Sheraton Russell is one of my two favorite places to stay whenever possible (the other is the Helmsley Park Lane). Here's why:

--the location on Murray Hill near Grand Central is incredibly convenient to almost everything (except West Side theaters), and yet feels pleasantly removed from much of the frantic hustle of midtown. It's the best combination of central and peaceful locations I've found in New York.

--the hotel is small and intimate, with an excellent staff ready to respond to any request, whether business or leisure related. They are unobtrusive but efficient and courteous. You never receive the brusque efficiency here so typical of larger midtown business hotels.

--the rooms are fantastic. They are incredibly quiet and full of amenities, from a well-stocked refreshment center to in-room faxes. Although they are not strikingly decorated, they are luxurious and comfortable. The smallness of the hotel gives even the rooms, which are reasonably large, a nice intimate feel lacking in most New York hotels.

Drawbacks:

--it ain't cheap. You may luck out on a weekend rate of $250/night or so, but midweek rooms are usually at least $300 and often more. And that's before hotel taxes. I only stay here on business, or when I have points I can redeem for a free room.

--because the hotel is small, its hospitality options are limited. Room service is delivered from area restaurants, which provides a nice variety of choices, but there is no in-house restaurant and the bar, while pleasant, is pretty nondescript. Of course, you are in a city with hundreds of great places to eat, but sometimes, particularly on a business trip, you just want to sit at a comfortable table in your hotel for a meal; that's not an option here.

Nonetheless, this is a great hotel for those who can afford it and who want a quiet, civilized retreat just blocks from Grand Central.

Recommended: Yes