The Carter Hotel

About The Carter Hotel

The Carter Hotel suits travelers who want a simple base in the middle of Midtown and plan to spend most of the day out. The address on West 43rd Street places Times Square about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away in a straight line, so evening shows, morning meetings and late dinners sit within a short walk. Couples on a theater weekend, solo visitors and small business groups get a central position and a 1-star rating that sets expectations plainly: a practical place to sleep between long days in the city.

The Carter Hotel is a 1-star hotel, and that rating frames the stay plainly: the basics, a bed in a central spot and a location that keeps the day moving. It is not a property for long afternoons indoors. It suits short trips built around Broadway, meetings near Times Square and early trains from Penn Station. Hotel bills in New York City add state and city taxes plus a per-night occupancy charge, so check the total price with taxes and fees when you book.

Rooms and listed facilities

A business center and a meeting room help anyone combining work with a Midtown trip, while a restaurant on site means a meal without another walk after a late arrival. Self parking is listed too, useful if you drive in, though space and access are worth confirming with the property before you arrive. Couples and families should ask about room configuration and quiet positions at booking.

The setting

The Carter Hotel occupies 250 West 43rd Street, a Midtown side street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, a block up from the Times Square crowds. Times Square is about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away in a straight line, Broadway and the Theater District about 0.2 miles (0.4 km), the Museum of Modern Art about 0.6 miles (1 km), Grand Central Terminal about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) and Hudson Yards about 0.7 miles (1.2 km).

Location and neighborhood

Long stays in Midtown work best when you treat the neighborhood as a base rather than a sight to conquer. The street grid makes walking predictable: numbered streets run east to west, avenues north to south, and Fifth Avenue divides east from west addresses. The Carter Hotel sits inside that grid, so most errands on foot take minutes rather than a subway ride. Groceries, pharmacies and laundry services are scattered along Eighth and Ninth Avenues in the Garment District, which keeps a week-long stay practical. Midtown stays busy at all hours, and a room here removes a daily commute to the rest of the island.

Budget planning in Midtown starts with what costs nothing. Central Park begins at 59th Street and is free to enter, the Staten Island Ferry leaves from the southern tip of the island at no charge, and the 9/11 Memorial pools can be visited without a ticket. Theater is the one worthwhile splurge, and timing matters: evening curtains usually rise at 7 or 8 pm, and same-day seats sometimes appear during the day, so check the show and ask at the box office. On a longer stay, pick two paid sights and let the rest of the week run on foot.

Getting there and around

Arriving is simple. The airports lie around 14 miles (21.9 km) away, and road or rail connections typically take 45 to 75 minutes to Midtown depending on traffic; AirTrain links JFK and Newark to the subway and commuter rail. The Carter Hotel sits around 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from Penn Station, and Port Authority Bus Terminal handles regional buses on the west side. The subway runs 24 hours, paid by tapping a contactless card or phone at the turnstiles. Vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street pay a congestion toll. The center of the district is around 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away, and the grid is flat and easy on foot.

Nearby sights and food

Midtown packs a large share of the city's sights into a small radius. Broadway's theaters cluster around Times Square, roughly forty houses in all. The Museum of Modern Art stands north of Bryant Park, and the main public library branch faces the park on Fifth Avenue. Grand Central Terminal is worth a look for its concourse alone. Observation decks at the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt give different views; Edge adds an outdoor platform at Hudson Yards, where the Vessel stands. The Intrepid Museum sits on the Hudson at 46th Street.

Eating well on a budget in Midtown takes a little looking, since the blocks closest to Times Square aim at visitors. Ninth Avenue in the Garment District and the side streets of the Theater District hold a mix of Thai, Indian, Mexican, Korean and Middle Eastern kitchens, many small and family run. Lunch counters, slice shops, dumpling rooms and food halls keep portions generous and queues fast. For longer stays, delis and grocery aisles cover breakfast and picnic lunches. Save table service for one or two evenings; elsewhere, counter seating is quicker and easier on the wallet.

A day from The Carter Hotel

Start before the crowds. Head to Bryant Park for a coffee and a bench, then continue north on Fifth Avenue to the Museum of Modern Art when the doors open; weekday mornings are calmer than weekends. Cross into Central Park at 59th Street and follow the paths north for a while, then come back down for an inexpensive lunch at a counter or food hall. In the afternoon, ride to the Financial District for the Staten Island Ferry, which is free and passes the Statue of Liberty. Return to The Carter Hotel to change, then take in a 7 or 8 pm curtain and eat after the show, when tables thin out.

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.

• Business Center
• Meeting room
• Restaurant
• Self Parking