I am one of the biggest fans of the Westin chain of hotels for business travel. Their logo should say “no surprises”. To find this kind of comfort and predictability while staying in a big city is priceless.

The Westin Times Square is located at 270 West 43rd Street. I could go on and on about the central location and the subway stations within walking distance, etc., but I won’t. My favorite thing about this hotel is that there are no surprises. You know what you are getting every time the cabbie drops you at the door.

First, the security of the hotel is sound. Entry at the ground floor will require showing a hotel key before you are allowed to ascend the escalator to the Lobby. The staff at check-in seems like a group of robots every time, and I mean that in a good way. Always friendly, always helpful. After several hours on a flight across the country, I don’t want to have a memorable experience while checking in other than to remember it always goes smoothly.

I often opt for the executive club level rooms at the Westin Times Square. For the extra money, breakfast and evening hors d’ourves are served with the honor system for cocktails. Again, nice and predictable. The food is tasty, and the drinks are there and service with a smile.

If you have an extended stay in the Big Apple, say more than 2-3 days, I would recommend this property’s spa inspired rooms or workout rooms. The spa rooms incorporate aromatherapy, a spa chair, and room for yoga or other exercise. The workout rooms include a life cycle stationary bike or treadmill. Of course I always feel sorry for the person in the room below when I use this equipment. If these specialized rooms are not in your travel budget, then maybe at least request one of the corner rooms allowing for more open views of the hustle and bustle below.

The onsite restaurant at the Westin Times Square is Shula’s Steakhouse. It is accessible from the street level so meeting colleagues there in the morning or evening is convenient and pleasant. The property also has a full gym and spa available to its guests. As always, space is tight in New York, but this hotel has pulled off comfort, relative affordability compared to most properties in the heart of the city, and again, the predictability is priceless. Did I mention location, location, location?

The hotel’s proximity to Hell’s Kitchen is a personal plus for me. I enjoy the up and coming culinary hotspots in this area of the city. There are also delis and small supermarkets within a block of the hotel if you would like to skip the usual variety and cost of the room service menu. There really isn’t anything that is not within walking distance of this hotel that you might need on a business trip.

I highly recommend the Westin New York Times Square for your next trip to the city that never sleeps. Of course, you will sleep comfortably in your Heavenly Bed.