Americana Inn

About Americana Inn

Americana Inn suits travelers who want a simple base in the middle of Manhattan. The address on West 38th Street puts Times Square, Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal each about 0.4 miles (0.7 km) away in a straight line, so theater evenings, early trains and late arrivals stay easy. Couples come for the central position, business travelers for the short walk to meetings around Midtown, and families for a straightforward, low-key stay. Expect a 2-star, practical base rather than a full-service hotel, and plan days around the city rather than the building.

Americana Inn is a 2-star hotel, and the official star rating is a fair guide to what to expect: a simple, functional base rather than a full-service property. That is a middling figure, so read the most recent guest comments and weigh them against your own priorities. The address does much of the work: you sleep in central Manhattan and step straight out into the city each morning.

Rooms and listed facilities

Facilities listed by the supplier cover the practical basics. A 24 hour front desk helps couples returning late from the Theater District and business travelers arriving on a delayed flight, and luggage storage is useful on a final day before an evening train. There is a snack bar for quick food, a concierge for directions, elevators for upper floors, a safe, and wheelchair accessible facilities. Confirm room type, bedding and any access needs directly with Americana Inn before booking, since the supplier listing is a summary rather than a full inventory.

The listed services read well for different kinds of stay. Couples can leave bags at the desk and walk to an evening curtain. Business travelers get a concierge for directions and a safe for devices. Families and late arrivals benefit from the 24 hour front desk and the elevators. Ask Americana Inn directly about what each room includes, how check-in works after midnight, and whether specific access requirements can be met on your dates.

The setting

Americana Inn stands at 69 West 38th Street in Midtown Manhattan, in the part of the grid where numbered streets run east-west and avenues run north-south. The straight-line distances tell the story: Times Square, Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal are each about 0.4 miles (0.7 km) away, the observation decks about 0.4 miles (0.7 km), the Theater District about 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the Museum of Modern Art about 0.7 miles (1.2 km), Hudson Yards about 0.9 miles (1.5 km) and Central Park's Fifth Avenue corner about 1.1 miles (1.7 km). Walking routes run longer than these figures.

Location and neighborhood

Midtown and Times Square sit at the center of Manhattan's transport network, which matters most on the days you arrive and leave. Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal are both in the district, and Grand Central Terminal is a short walk east along 42nd Street. Trains and buses run late, and the subway runs all night, so a delayed arrival rarely strands you. If you land before check-in, the hours are best spent walking the grid or sitting in Bryant Park. Check current airport connections with the transit authority before you set out.

Late arrivals have their own rhythm here. The streets stay busy well after midnight, and the Theater District empties in waves as curtains come down, so walking back to Americana Inn rarely means an empty block. Times Square is the brightest and most crowded crossing at any hour; side streets north and east of it are quieter. Subway service changes happen on weekends and late nights, so check the transit authority's service notices the evening before an early departure. For a dawn flight, allow slack: security lines at the airports can be long in the early morning, and road traffic into Queens or New Jersey builds quickly.

Getting there and around

From Americana Inn, the three airports sit at different distances and different connections. JFK is around 13 miles (21.3 km) away, reached by AirTrain to Jamaica for the subway or the Long Island Rail Road, or to Howard Beach for the A train. Newark Liberty takes a similar time by AirTrain and NJ Transit or Amtrak into Penn Station. LaGuardia is closest by road, with the free Q70 bus linking to the subway. Grand Central Terminal is around 0.4 miles (0.7 km) from the door, and Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal are walkable. Tap a contactless card or phone to ride the subway, which runs around the clock.

Nearby sights and food

Most of the district's sights sit within a few blocks of one another. The Theater District runs north from 42nd Street around Times Square, and Bryant Park, behind the main library building, fills at lunchtime in good weather. Rockefeller Center is a short walk east, and the observation decks there, at One Vanderbilt beside Grand Central and in the Empire State Building, each show the grid from a different height; reserve a timed slot and check visibility. Fifth Avenue's flagship stores continue north to Central Park South. The Museum of Modern Art is on West 53rd Street; check opening hours and timed entry before you go.

Food in Midtown is built for people in a hurry and people killing time before a curtain. The blocks around Times Square and 42nd Street run to slice shops, diners, ramen counters and steakhouse dining rooms, most of them busy from early evening. The Garment District north of 34th Street has delis, taquerias and Korean kitchens, often cheaper and quieter than the Theater District. Ninth Avenue in the west forties holds a mix of Thai, Greek and Italian places. Book ahead for a pre-theater table, or eat late after the show; many kitchens serve past midnight.

A day from Americana Inn

A day from Americana Inn starts early if a flight is waiting. Walk to Bryant Park for coffee and a bench, then cut east through Grand Central Terminal to see the concourse before the commuter rush thickens. Work north on Fifth Avenue to Central Park South and enter the park at its southeast corner; the paths by the Pond and the lake suit a short loop. Lunch near Rockefeller Center, then an afternoon at the Museum of Modern Art or on an observation deck. Eat before a 7 or 8 pm curtain, and check the show's start time. For a late arrival, reverse the plan: the park at dusk, dinner after 9, and a quiet walk back.

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
• Snack bar
• Coffee
• Concierge
• Elevators
• Luggage storage
• Microwave
• Multilingual staff
• Night club
• Refrigerator
• Safe
• Supermarket
• TV
• Wheelchair accessible