New York City | Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan/Central Park Hotel

 Whilst we're not a 5 star hotel kind of couple, we definitely appreciate a nice hotel when it comes to a city break. New York was probably our biggest challenge yet; everything was just so expensive! We wanted somewhere based fairly centrally so we could make the most of it but it was seemingly impossible at first with the prices! However, my mum struck gold and found us the Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan/Central Park Hotel which was based between Times Square and Central Park.

We had booked a King Size Room with city views, and I'm so pleased that we did. Whilst our room wasn't huge (I saw people moaning about the size on Trip Advisor, like seriously you're in New York, get the hell out of your room!) it was definitely big enough for everything that we needed it for. The bed was absolutely massive. I could have fitted about 4 more people in it with me! It was also incredibly comfortable; which was ideal as we walked a lot during our stay so a good nights sleep was always very crucial.

The room was kept clean on a daily basis, and the bathroom was always very hygienic too. We had a shallow bath, and a shower too which was so powerful! I could have stayed in it all day. For such a huge hotel, I was so impressed that the rooms were kept so well, and obviously very pleased about it too as it made our stay so much nicer. In our room we had a TV, a safe which was very easy to use and an excellent hot drinks machine - it was very much so a pinch yourself moment looking out onto New York city with a green tea in hand. We were very lucky with this hotel that's for sure! Interestingly, our hotel was actually the tallest hotel in North America, so that was pretty cool...

Whilst we didn't make the most of the facilities of the hotel, there was a gym on the 35th floor, a mini market (although we weren't able to find it!) and a bar too which hosted football nights three times a week. We opted to spend time outside of the hotel, but did notice that a lot of conferences were held at the hotel throughout the week so these facilities would be perfect if you were there for a business trip or event!

The part that really made our stay for me was the fact we had been given a room on the 30th floor of the hotel. The views were incredible, and we were both in awe from the moment we arrived there late on the Saturday night. We even slept with the curtains open on numerous occasions so we could enjoy the view at night, and also when we woke up the next morning! Whilst we couldn't see anything of real tourist interest, we were blessed with our views, and it was incredible to see some of the huge skyscraper buildings from our bedroom. I loved it, and would go back in a heartbeat if I could!

If you're looking for a cheaper, gem of a hotel near the buzz of New York City, this hotel has got you covered. Just make sure to book a room with a city view like the one we had - you won't regret it!

Have you ever stayed at a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel?