Lodging

Spacious sleeping area in Affinia 50 Junior Suite.

My family of four stayed at the Affinia 50, An Executive Suite Hotel, on 50th and Lexington over the Thanksgiving holiday. I heartily recommend this midtown-Manhattan property to others making a family trip to New York City.

We stayed in a Junior Suite, which featured a huge open entryway, full closet, safe, ironing board, tons of shelves, dresser, TV, two double beds, a sofa bed, desk, comfy chair, good-sized bathroom with Aveda toiletries, and the best part of all: a full kitchen!

The kitchen was key for our family for storing breakfast foods and snacks. We went to the grocery store a few blocks away and stocked up on bread, eggs, frozen waffles, fruit, peanut butter and jelly. Eating breakfast in our room, instead of going to the hotel’s breakfast buffet or other NYC restaurant each morning, saved us literally hundreds of dollars over our week-long stay. Granted, the galley kitchen was small, but it absolutely served its purpose.

I was also pleasantly surprised that our room on the 7th floor wasn’t noisy at all. We heard no street traffic (granted, we also didn’t have a view of the street, but rather a next-door hotel).

A full refrigerator, toaster and microwave are opposite the sink and stove in the Affinia 50 Junior Suite.

Other marvelous hotel amenities: Free wine and cheese Monday to Thursday evenings, a full fitness center, coin-operated laundry (which we also used halfway through our stay) and complimentary pillow menu.

Another nice touch: Don’t bother packing toiletries like shaving cream, razor, toothbrush, contact lens solution and toothpaste. If you request these items online after you book, they’ll be packed neatly in a bag for you to pick up when you arrive. (Especially nice if you’re carrying your bag on the plane, and don’t have room to pack all of your 3-oz. toiletries in your quart-sized bag.)

The Affinia 50 is surprisingly affordable, too. Guest rooms for a two-night weekend stay in January start at $195 non-refundable nightly rate. Other room options include Studio Suites, Junior Suites (which we stayed in), One-bedroom Suites and Two-bedroom Suites. Be sure to check discounts for AAA or AARP before booking.

Finally, the hotel’s midtown location rocks. It’s within easy walking distance to Rockefeller Plaza, many reasonably priced restaurants on Second Avenue and the Lexington Avenue 4-5-6 subway line.

But, if you’re looking for accommodations elsewhere in Manhattan, consider the other Affinia properties on the Upper East Side, close to Times Square or in Murray Hill. You’ll also find Affinia brand hotels in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

My only complaint was the fee for using Internet. I paid $45 for a week’s worth of Internet service, which doesn’t break the bank, but still, it would be nice to have complimentary Wi-Fi in the rooms. That said, in the Club Lounge, guests can use complimentary hotel computers that are fully wired.

Again, I think the Affinia 50, with its amazing amenities, spacious rooms and ultra-friendly staff, is a great deal for families who are traveling to New York City.

Photos by Kara Williams, taken November 2008.