Life Hotel New York

About Life Hotel New York

This is a practical base for travelers who want Midtown addresses within walking distance and a straightforward place to sleep afterward. Couples on a city break, solo visitors and small families all work well here, and business travelers benefit from Penn Station being about 0.4 miles (0.7 km) away in a straight line. The building sits on West 31st Street, between the Flatiron district and the streets around Herald Square, so mornings can start with a walk rather than a subway ride. Confirm the room type that matches your group.

This is a 2-star hotel, so expect the essentials rather than extras: a room, air conditioning and a front desk that stays open around the clock. The supplier's guest score is 4.2 out of 5 from 735 reviews, which suggests guests generally find it works for a short city stay. Rooms suit visitors who plan to spend the day out and use the hotel for sleep, laundry and luggage storage. Read the room details before booking and check the total price with taxes and fees in the app.

Rooms and listed facilities

The listed facilities cover the basics well. Couples get air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a fitness center on site, plus a restaurant and bar for meals without leaving the building. Families can ask about family rooms and cribs, both listed, and confirm how many people a room sleeps. Business travelers have internet access and luggage storage, and the 24 hour front desk helps late arrivals check in after a delayed flight. Parking and pets are listed too, so ask the property about availability and pet conditions before you travel.

Rooms are best treated as a base rather than a destination. Solo travelers and couples can pick a room that fits a short stay, while families should confirm bed arrangements and the number of guests allowed before booking. Ask the property about wheelchair accessible rooms if step-free access matters, since accessible facilities are listed. Laundry service, elevators, a safe and luggage storage all help on longer trips. Check the total price with taxes and fees, since city taxes and occupancy charges apply.

The setting

Life Hotel New York stands at 19 West 31st Street, a Midtown South block between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, north of the Flatiron district and south of Herald Square. Observation decks are about 0.6 miles (1 km) out, the High Line and Hudson Yards about 0.9 miles (1.5 km), and Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street about 1.4 miles (2.3 km). The grid makes walking easy.

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 Life Hotel New York, the airports sit around 13 miles (21.2 km) away, Penn Station and Grand Central around 0.6 miles (1 km), and the area center around 0.7 miles (1.2 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 Life Hotel New York, 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 Life Hotel New York

A day from Life Hotel New York 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
• Air conditioning
• Alarm clock
• Balcony
• Bars
• Bathrobe
• Bathroom
• Cleaning
• Coffee
• Crib
• Desk
• Dry cleaning service
• Family rooms
• Fitness Center
• Free Wi-Fi
• Hairdryer
• Housekeeping
• Internet access
• Iron and board
• Laundry Service
• Elevators
• Luggage storage
• Non smoking rooms
• Parking
• Pets allowed
• Radio
• Restaurant
• Safe
• Security Features
• Shower
• Slippers
• Smoke detector
• TV
• Telephone
• Toiletries
• Towels
• WC
• Wake-Up service
• Wheelchair accessible
• Wi-Fi