Building and construction works are taking place directly opposite and directly next to On The Ave Hotel. Building works do not run throug the night but start very early in the morning and run till the evening. Rooms are very small indeed but are very clean and comfy. Loction wise, you're walking distance from Central Park and the train subway.

I've stayed in On the Ave twice, the first time in 2001 and the last in 2005. I must say that I like this hotel. Here are what I like:

1. Upper West Side location. The 1 and 9 is a block or two uptown. Ruby Foo's is likewise an uptown block away. There's a Cosi and, if you need something more basic, a Subway a walk away. Empire Diner's right accross the street (food is average unfortunately). There is no restaurant on the premises.

2. The rooms have an understated welcoming style. The Standard rooms are indeed small - this is New York after all. But they do have style. The bathrooms are nice as well. Thankfully, I've never had a room that faced a brickwall... that alone is a plus.

(Tip:The Hotel Bellecalire a block west from On the Ave - cross Boadway and you're there - offers larger comfortable rooms with flat screen plasma TV, refrigerator and an Ipod dock for roughly the same amount of money as it would cost you to stay in On the Ave, but there's still something missing ... On the whole, On the Ave has a nicer, cooler vibe to it. Am I a sucker for style over substance? Maybe.)

3. The lobby is nice. The hallways are tastefully decorated and wel lit.

4. Free internet. Though when I was last there, it was still through wire. I've no idea if they've begun offering free WiFi or not.

Well, not everybody likes this hotel, my friend and I did. The room was indeed small, but how much time do you want to spend in the hotel
while you are in New York? The bathroom was clean, as well as the room, apart from the specific area: window - however, good value for your trip to NYC.

The concierge was very helpful in making reservations for Musical, however you can go also to one of the ticket shops on Broadway. We did not have time, because of appointments and shopping, and choose the concierge.

The metro station 1,2,3 is at 72nd street. Nice walk. 1 week metro card costs 7 USD. If you take the line 1, you have stops every 5-8 streets. If you take line 2, your first stop is Time Square - as it is the express line.

It is advisable to take the metro but also to walk, as you learn more
about the city. On the Amsterdam and Columbus avenue, parallel to Broadway you find a lot of places to eat and drink. You also have a nice walk to the central parc. Buying from H&H Bagels your bagels, butter, philadelphia, coffee (some streets ahead, on a corner uptown)
and having a nice breakfast on a central parc bench - this is holiday :-) Yes, we had nice, sunny weather :-))

Places to eat:

Sushi: HARU - 205 west 43rd street (around the corner from Hard Rock Cafe) - the best Sushi I've ever had - fresh and delicious

Brasserie AIX - 2398 Broadway at 88th Street

Steak: Smith & Wolenski - Corner 3rd Avenue & 49 th street

Places to shop:

Bloomingdales (you have 11% off if you show at visitor desk you fly
with Singapore Airlines) Macy's (you have 11 % off if you show at
visitor desk you are a foreigner and have one of the guides in your pocket) Soho Columbia Circle - Time Warner Centre - with coffee shops, book store (where you can buy nice guides for New York) and other shops Century 21 - at World Trade Centre - lot of design in sale Union Square - I missed the name, but there is a big shop with also designs and shoes for sale


Places not to miss:
take the Circle Line boat for 2 hours - pier at 43rd street or 3 hours and enjoy the skyline of New York with nice guide (the guy does not stop talking, even if he promise, but it is somehow instructive)

If I remember somethins I missed ... will post an update.

NYC in autumn was very nice

We were referred to this hotel because we were going to a wedding nearby.We booked a Superior King room.When we checked in we were advised that no king rooms were available & were given a queen room with a view of a brick wall.At least it was quiet.After returning to our room the next day we noticed that a dental appliance my wife uses was missing.We reported it to housekeeping.Obviously the housemaid had misplaced it & disposed of it.After some inital reaction we heard nothing from the hotel.Prior to check-out I spoke to front desk & security& was advised that only the General Manager could make any adjustment.I spoke to him & nothing has been done.I sent them a copy of our bill for the replacement appliance,called him again left message-nothing.Obviously Customer Relations is not important to this hotel.I was told that hotel has new owners.