The Travel Inn, part of the Empire Hotel Group, is located in Midtown Manhattan on 42nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues; a short walk to Broadway and Times Square, the Javits Center, the USS Intrepid, and the Circle Line Boat Tours.

If you have ever tried to park a car in the Big Apple you will definitely appreciate the hotel’s parking garage. It is multi-leveled free parking for their guests. Normally you could expect to pay between $15 and $25 per day in a public lot.

The hotel is well posted with signs, making it easy to find. Be sure to check-in before you park your car and get a card to place on the windshield. The watchful parking attendants make sure only guests park here.

When you check-in, pay attention to the directions to your room. There are two sets of elevators, each servicing a section of the hotel. Depending on your location, you may need to take one elevator to the third floor - walk past the pool to another set of elevators. This second elevator is accessible from the garage parking, and once you get the hang of it, it makes it easy to get to and from your car.

Our room was a double; a narrow room that we actually had to walk sideways between the bed and the armoire hiding the television. The bathroom was small also, but hey! This is New York City. The TV worked well, the bed was very comfortable, and there was a large window that could be opened - something important for those of us who suffer from "AC/Heating" allergies. There are a total of 160 rooms, including an Executive Suite and larger Deluxe Rooms with two queen beds and much more space than the double.

A large swimming pool and patio occupies the center of the hotel on the third floor. Unfortunately, all the furniture had been stored away for the winter, so it looked pretty bare; I can imagine the popularity of this area on a hot summer day. Next to the pool is a small exercise room and vending machines.

Across the parking entrance from the lobby is the River West Café, owned by the Travel Inn. It is open 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. The fare is typical New York - bagels and lox, toasted bagels spread thick with cream cheese, along with the traditional eggs, bacon, and French toast.

Within a half block of the Hotel is the Kraft Coffee Shop/Restaurant, open late for an "after the theater" coffee and dessert.

As far as security, there is a police substation directly across the street and guess what - the night we stayed at the hotel, we did not even hear a siren.