Fifty by Affinia NYC Hotel Review

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Heading to NYC with kids? Make your life a whole lot easier by staying in a spacious hotel room right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan with a full kitchen and plenty of perks for the kids!

 Planning a NYC family vacation? This midtown Manhattan hotel features full in-room kitchens, perks for the kids, and is just blocks away from major NYC attractions 

Affinia Hotel NYC Family Review

Ella and I just got back from a whirlwind week in NYC complete with three giant PR events, two trips to Rockaway Beach, going backstage at Blue Man Group, a fancy afternoon tea, toy shopping (and dancing on that famous piano), an immersive theatre experience for kids, a Lower East Side food tour… and Ella’s favorite: a day at the Manhattan Children’s Museum.

There is so much to share with you, but today I’m going to get started with an honest, in-depth review of our home base that week: Fifty Hotel & Suites by Affinia in Midtown Manhattan.

Air BnB is actually banned in NYC because it inflates the housing market (which is already expensive enough there to begin with). However, for families, staying in a conventional hotel can feel cramped and can get pretty pricey with NYC restaurant prices. (Not that that stops us!)

All three “Affinia Hotels & Suites” locations in NYC used to be private apartments – so the hotels are huge apartment-style suites with kitchens! This is amazing (and pretty unheard of) for Manhattan.. let alone for the price!

Fifty by Affinia Hotel NYC Amenities

Walking in, I was expecting a tiny kitchenette – a kettle, coffeemaker, maybe a microwave if we were lucky – but it was a fully equipped kitchen with a 2-burner stove, oven, dishwasher, mini fridge, microwave, teapot, toaster, and most of the utensils and cookware you’d need for simple meals.

There are three grocery stores within a two-block radius so you can quickly stock up on what you need for your stay (though I’d personally brave the 14-minute walk to Zabar’s on E 78th St just for their black and white cookies, Sarabeth’s preserves, and all that French butter). Fifty by Affinia also partners with a grocery delivery company called FreshDirect that can stock your room with snacks and light meals before you even arrive, and of course, there is always room service!

They also have a 24/7 fitness centre, valet parking, a delish and robust continental breakfast, and a “Social Sips” wine and cocktail hour with very reasonably priced drinks (and snacks for the kids). 

There are also Pack n’ Plays, strollers and high chairs available if you want to travel a bit lighter.

But Ella’s favorite? Their Affinia Junior: Kid’s Program which has both free and paid offers. For free, kids get coloring sheets, crayons, and access to the “Family Fun” chest filled with board games.

For $49, kids get a backpack full of goodies including a pillow they can color in, a glow in the dark flashlight, and temporary tattoos.

We opted for Affinia’s Starry Night Camp-In experience which included a 6′ teepee set up against our gorgeous view of Lexington Avenue, along with a Starry Night Light and a copy of “Good Night, New York City.” Add some cupcakes and hot chocolate, and you’re all set for a hotel slumber party!

This also emphasizes how much room our junior suite had that we were able to add in an entire teepee and we still had plenty of room to stretch out and walk around. There are bigger room offerings if you need more space or a sleeper sofa in addition to your king-sized bed.

Fifty Hotels & Suites by Affinia Hotel NYC Location

And that brings me to one of my favorite parts of staying at Fifty Hotels & Suites by Affinia – THE LOCATION!

We were less than a 15-20 minute walk from so many must-do NYC spots:

  • Broadway
  • The American Girl Store (plan your ultimate American Girl store day here)
  • FAO Schwartz
  • Rockefeller Centre
  • Empire State Building
  • Times Square
  • Central Park
  • The Museum of Modern Art
  • UN Headquarters
  • Fifth Avenue
  • Madison Avenue (shopping)

And you’re 9 minutes from Grand Central Station which houses a Shake Shack (best burgers ever), a Jacques Torres chocolates, and the famous Grand Central Oyster Bar.

    

I loved being able to walk to many of the things we wanted to do on this trip, and also having the flexibility to easily return to the hotel during the day if we were feeling a bit tired, or if we wanted to save money by eating in.

There were so many great restaurants in the area, too, so you don’t have to cook – it’s just an option. (Check out our favorite NYC Restaurants by Area here.)

I also think it’s really important to point out that while Fifty Hotel & Suites by Affinia was budget-friendly, it had a lot of the small details that one would expect a high-end hotel. There was modern art throughout the lobby, fresh flowers, two great lounge areas for families to relax in and have a cup of complimentary coffee or tea, and the staff were helpful and efficient.

The TL;DR Edition

  • Fifty Hotel & Suites by Affinia is one of three Affinia properties in NYC
  • Fully equipped kitchens with stove, microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee maker, tableware, teapot, and toaster
  • Less than 15 minutes walk to many NYC attractions
  • Affinia Junior: Kid’s Program has both free and paid options to keep kids happy in the hotel room, including a 6′ teepee, board games, and more!
  • Grocery delivery is available so that your room can be fully stocked before you arrive
  • Continental breakfast for $13/person
  • 24/7 fitness centre
  • Social Sips” wine and cocktail hour with reasonably priced drinks and snacks for the kids
  • Pack n’ Plays, strollers and high chairs available if you want to travel a bit lighter
  • WiFi signal was strong and fast

Honestly, they could easily charge twice the price for their rooms/packages! We’ve stayed at $500+/night hotels that were comparable so I found the offerings at the price an incredible value.

 

Pin this Review of Fifty Hotel & Suites by Affinia for your future NYC Vacation planning:

Heading to NYC on a budget? Save money AND stay in the heart of Manhattan at this family-friendly hotel that lets you save money with it's in-suite kitchens!

For more NYC family travel planning, check out our other NYC Family Travel posts! 

 

Staying in NYC doesn't have to be expensive! This Midtown Manhattan hotel has it all: great service, full kitchens in-suite, and perks for the kids! No need to stay in Jersey to save money  Planning a NYC family vacation? This midtown Manhattan hotel features full in-room kitchens, perks for the kids, and is just blocks away from major NYC attractions  Staying in NYC doesn't have to be expensive! This Midtown Manhattan hotel has it all: great service, full kitchens in-suite, and perks for the kids! No need to stay in Jersey to save money Heading to NYC on a budget? Save money AND stay in the heart of Manhattan at this family-friendly hotel that lets you save money with it's in-suite kitchens!

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