The many brands of Starwood Hotels (now part of Marriott) range from budget to luxury and I tend to stay mid-range hotels (Westin, Sheraton, W) when I travel.  As I needed to reposition myself to New York for an award ticket on British Airways from JFK,  I figured why not stay overnight, go to a Broadway Show and catch up with friends in New York City.  I’m not sure what was going on in the city for that night but rates were $400+ at even the most budget of budget hotels.  This is why having points currency available in my Starwood hotel account was key to being able to book a last minute room in Midtown Manhattan at the Four Points Times Square (aka Four Points by Sheraton Midtown Manhattan). I’d never stayed at a Four Points by Sheraton before but for one night, it looked like a good option with positive review and at 12,000 points (more than 3% ROI for me) was a great points deal.

Four Points Time Square Location

The hotel (SPG category 5), is pretty central for most of the things you want to do, see and taste in New York City Midtown.  Located at 326 West 40^th Street, the hotel is between Hell’s Kitchen and Times Square (a 5-10 minute walk to the Theatre District and Times Square) and about 25 mins to Rockefeller Center. The Port Authority bus station entrance is at the corner across from the NY Times building, which meant that the area is busy with people.  Also at the corner is the subway entrance for the A line which I took to meet the Brooklyn Walking Tour.

Arrival in Midtown

From Penn Station, I took a taxi to the hotel due to my luggage, otherwise, I would have easily walked. I arrived after the standard 3pm check-in so my room was thankfully ready.  I was acknowledged as a loyalty Marriott member and thanked for my loyalty.  The Times Square Four Points hotel features were explained to me (lobby bar, restaurant, coffee area, free Wi-Fi, etc.) before I waited for one of three elevators to whisk me up to the 19th floor.  For a hotel with 244 smoke free rooms, I was surprised that the elevator wait was minimal in the lobby and on the guest room floor.  When I arrived on the preferred floor, I found my room around the corner.  This floor was small with only eight rooms. It was nice not having to walk down that long hallway to the room.

Four Points Times Square – Standard Room

When I opened the door, to be honest, I was surprised that this was a Four Points by Sheraton (its a category 5 and I thought Four Points were budget hotels but I was wrong).  The room décor and flooring (cute plaid carpets) was recently updated as the hotel has done a refresh (it still had a bit of new room smell). It definitely shared features with The Sheraton in the way that Aloft is the companion property of W Hotels. The only initial disappointment was the loud air con/heater in the wall.  You can’t have everything with older buildings in New York City.

The bed, a Four Points signature bed, was a comfortable respite from my journey from Philadelphia so I crashed out for a few minutes before walking to the Broadway theatre for my ticket to “Dear Evan Hansen” later that evening. There is a storage cabinet that held an iron, ironing board, safe and to my surprise – SLIPPERS!  Seriously folks, slippers have become my thing now – in many hotels only suites get slippers so I always ask for them because I will not walk in any hotel room in bare feet or in my socks (my OCD moments).

The room had a full length mirror, flat screen tv, ample desk working space, free bottle of water (usually a SPG member only benefit but at the Four Points Times Square it’s standard for all) and many outlets.

The bathroom contained a newer walk in shower with a small sink and shelf for your stuff (a bit too small for my stuff).  The amenities were in environmentally friendly refillable containers in the shower so nothing to steal take with me.

The weather was unusually hot so I did need to kick off the air conditioning for just a little bit.  The noisy machine was distracting and if you are a lite sleeper might bother you.  I slept a good bit as the black-out shades were pulled shut but the noise did disrupt my sleep a few times during the night.

Lobby Bar Happy Hour

The lobby bar was surprisingly crowded the night I arrived and the day I left, from Happy Hour into the late night.  On the Wednesday after check out, the lobby bar was hosting a happy hour with free appetizers that the chef was walking around.  He had chips, dip and empanadas on the first go round and said he had more to bring out.

Breakfast at Gotham Bistro

Breakfast is served (for a fee) in the back dining room.  I didn’t stay for breakfast given my early time for the Brooklyn Walking Tour.  The menu prices seemed quite fair for an ala carte breakfast and the dining room pleasantly designed. There are many options for breakfast in the area (sit down and takeaway) but the Gotham Bistro would have been my first choice if I didn’t have the early appointment.

Overall – Four Points Times Square Hotel

One night in Manhattan, the Four Points Times Square Hotel was a nice surprise.  That it was recently renovated even better and an option for a Marriott award stay perfect for the trip. The staff were lovely and ordered me a car to JFK with their preferred vendor which saved me time from searching online.  The hotel is a nice base for visitors to New York City and the Time Square/Hell’s Kitchen area for one night or longer.