Hotel Aka Nomad

About Hotel Aka Nomad

Hotel Aka Nomad suits travelers who want a central base in Midtown Manhattan, within easy reach of the Flatiron district, Union Square and Grand Central Terminal. Couples can use it for theater evenings and long weekends, while business travelers get a Midtown address close to offices south of 42nd Street. Families have room to spread out in family rooms, and late arrivals find a 24-hour front desk. The building sits on Madison Avenue, so the grid, the subway and the avenues are easy to learn.

Hotel Aka Nomad is a 4-star hotel in the Midtown South area, at the Flatiron and Union Square corner of Manhattan. The booking supplier records a guest score of 4.2 out of 5 from 862 reviews, a solid figure for a city hotel of this size. Expect a working city stay rather than a resort: a restaurant, bars, a fitness center and a business center are all part of the offer. Rates and availability move by date, so check the total price with taxes and fees.

Rooms and listed facilities

The supplier lists air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a safe, room service and a 24-hour front desk, which covers couples who want quiet evenings in and late arrivals who land after midnight. Families can ask about cribs and family rooms, both listed. Business travelers have a business center, internet access and laundry service on the list. Parking and valet parking appear as well; confirm the details, along with breakfast times and any pet conditions, with Hotel Aka Nomad before you travel.

The setting

Hotel Aka Nomad has an address at 131 Madison Ave, in the Midtown South area where the Flatiron district meets Midtown. The streets here follow the grid, so numbered cross streets run east to west and the avenues run north to south, with Broadway cutting diagonally nearby. Measured in a straight line, Times Square is about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) away, Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station about 0.6 miles (1 km), Central Park at 59th Street about 1.4 miles (2.3 km), and the 9/11 Memorial about 2.8 miles (4.5 km).

Location and neighborhood

An early flight and a late arrival are the two tests this district passes well. Midtown South, Flatiron and Union Square occupy the stretch between Union Square at 14th Street and the blocks around Penn Station, with Grand Central Terminal a short ride east. Trains from the airports land at Penn Station or Grand Central, close enough that a late arrival does not become a long cross-town haul. Streets stay active well into the night, and the grid makes a tired walk from a station straightforward. Mornings start early too, with coffee counters and delis open before the offices.

The subway runs all night here, which matters more than any single line. Several stations sit within the district, and Broadway cuts diagonally across the grid, so a route that looks indirect on a map often works on foot. Fares are paid by tapping a contactless card or phone at the turnstile, and the MetroCard is being phased out, so tap to pay where you can. Weekend service changes are worth checking with the MTA before a late trip. Street numbers run east and west from Fifth Avenue, which keeps address finding simple.

Getting there and around

Getting here is mostly a matter of which airport you land at. JFK and Newark are typically 45 to 75 minutes from Midtown depending on traffic and connections, and on a bad evening that range can stretch. Measured from Hotel Aka Nomad, the airports sit around 13 miles (20.9 km) away, Penn Station and Grand Central around 0.6 miles (1 km), and the area center around 0.9 miles (1.4 km). Trains and buses do the heavy lifting, and the free Q70 LaGuardia Link connects LaGuardia with the subway. Check the current fare before you tap, and allow slack on the first morning.

Nearby sights and food

On foot from Hotel Aka Nomad, the district puts a lot within reach. The High Line starts at Gansevoort Street and runs north to Hudson Yards on the West Side, an elevated walk on a former freight line, free to enter and busiest at midday. Hudson Yards and the Vessel sit at its northern end. Little Island and Hudson River Park give you the waterfront. Grand Central Terminal rewards a look at the concourse ceiling even on a commute. Broadway theaters cluster around Times Square, with evening curtains typically at 7 or 8 pm; check the show. Observation decks are scattered across the skyline, ticketed and better booked ahead.

Eating well here rarely requires a plan. Koreatown, on West 32nd Street, concentrates Korean restaurants, bakeries and late kitchens, useful when a flight lands after the usual dinner hour. Around Madison Square Park and Flatiron you find Italian, Japanese, Indian and New American rooms, plus counter-service places for a quick lunch between meetings. Union Square adds a greenmarket on several days a week and casual spots around it. Delis and pizza counters stay open late, and coffee is easy to find on almost every block. Check opening days, which shift on holidays.

A day from Hotel Aka Nomad

A day from Hotel Aka Nomad can start early, before the streets fill. Walk to Madison Square Park for coffee and a look at the Flatiron Building, then head west along 23rd Street to the High Line entrance and follow the elevated path north to Hudson Yards. Come down for lunch around Koreatown or the blocks near Penn Station, where counters serve quickly. In the afternoon, take the subway east to Grand Central Terminal and walk the concourse, then continue to the Theater District for an early dinner. An evening curtain typically falls at 7 or 8 pm; check the show and book ahead. Late trains run all night if the evening stretches.

Distances

Facilities listed by the supplier

As listed by the booking supplier; a facility not listed here may still exist. Confirm anything important with the property.

• 24 Hour Front Desk
• 24-hour security
• Air conditioning
• Banquet
• Bars
• Bathroom
• Breakfast
• Business Center
• Cleaning
• Coffee
• Concierge
• Crib
• Desk
• Dry cleaning service
• Family rooms
• First aid
• Fitness Center
• Free Wi-Fi
• Gym
• Hairdryer
• Housekeeping
• Internet access
• Iron and board
• Laundry Service
• Elevators
• Luggage storage
• Non smoking rooms
• Parking
• Pets allowed
• Restaurant
• Room Service
• Safe
• Security Features
• Shower
• Smoke detector
• TV
• Telephone
• Terrace
• Toiletries
• Towels