🇺🇸 New York, United States
The Draper
📍 4, West 37th Street, New York, 10018
Your stay — The Draper
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for New York.
The Property — The Draper
The Draper is a no-nonsense three-star in Midtown East, with a compact lobby that smells of coffee and polished brass. Rooms are functional rather than fancy, suited to business travellers or tourists who plan to spend their days out. Its main draw is location: a five-minute walk to Grand Central Terminal and a straight shot to Times Square. You trade pretension for practicality here.
Chronicles of New York
New York City was founded as a Dutch fur-trading post called New Amsterdam in 1624, then taken by the English in 1664. Its grid street plan, adopted in 1811, shaped the relentless vertical expansion that produced skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. Waves of immigration through Ellis Island forged its multi-ethnic character, while the mid-20th century decline and eventual rebirth under Mayor Giuliani gave it the cleaned-up, tourist-friendly veneer it has today. The city’s contemporary identity remains one of sharp contrasts: gleaming glass towers next to century-old brownstones, hedge-fund bankers a block from homeless shelters.
Best Time to Visit
Full New York guide →Best months
May, September and October offer the best balance: warm but not oppressive (highs 20-25°C), low humidity, and fewer tourists than peak summer. Central Park is lush, and outdoor dining is a pleasure.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak for tourism and heat (often 30-35°C with humidity). The July 4th fireworks and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade draw huge crowds. Hotel prices in Midtown rise 30-50% above shoulder rates.
Budget shoulder season
April and November are the best budget months: April brings tulips and mild temps (10-18°C), November has crisp air and lower room rates before Thanksgiving. Expect fewer street crowds and shorter queues at museums.
Weather & packing
New York's climate swings from stifling humidity to sudden thunderstorms, especially in July. Pack a compact umbrella and breathable, quick-dry layers such as cotton or linen — and always carry a light cardigan for aggressively air-conditioned restaurants and subway cars.
Live City Briefing — New York
- The MTA’s $7 billion Second Avenue Subway extension remains on track for a 2027–2029 completion; Phase 2 (96th Street to 125th Street) broke ground in 2025, causing street closures along Second Avenue in East Harlem.
- Open Streets NYC runs every summer weekend on stretches of Broadway, Park Avenue and 34th Avenue in Queens — expect pedestrianised blocks with pop-up vendors and street performers from June through September.
- July 2026: the annual Shakespeare in the Park season at the Delacorte Theater runs through August; free tickets are distributed at noon on performance days (or via online lottery), but queues start forming by 8am.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Draper, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 6 through 10 facing the back courtyard. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough that lift wait times are short. The back-facing rooms (odd-numbered rooms typically) get less traffic rumble from 37th Street.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 2 (directly above the lobby and breakfast area) and any room ending in '01' or '02', which are closest to the lift shaft. Rooms facing West 37th Street below floor 6 suffer from taxi horns and delivery trucks at the rear loading bay.
Best views
The best view is from south-facing rooms on floors 8–10 overlooking the back courtyard — you get some natural light without the unrelenting noise of 37th Street. North-facing rooms look into the side of the adjacent building.
Quietest floors
Floors 6 to 10 offer the best balance of quiet and convenience. Above floor 10 the lift takes longer and water pressure can drop in older 3-star buildings.
🔊 Noise notes
West 37th Street carries heavy traffic from 6th Avenue to 5th Avenue, including taxis, rideshares, and delivery vans for the garment district showrooms. The hotel entrance is on a one-way street, so engines idle at lights. The lift has an audible 'ding' on every arrival, audible in rooms within 3 metres of the lift lobby.
Insider tips
1) If you're driving, the nearest affordable parking is at Icon Parking on 38th Street between 5th and 6th — book online for a 20% discount. 2) Request a room on floor 8 or 9, back-facing, and specifically ask for 'no connecting door' — interior connecting doors in 3-star hotels have thin seals and you'll hear your neighbour's TV.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Draper
Free standard WiFi (10 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up) with device limit of 3; no login or password required after connecting to 'The Draper Guest' SSID. Premium tier (100 Mbps, unlimited devices) available at $9.95 per day
One passenger lift serves all 5 floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital PressReader access via lobby iPad or staff for device pairing; no physical newspapers
Standard check-in from 15:00; early bag-drop available at bell desk (no fee). Late check-out until 12:00 free, after 12:00 subject to $50 fee or half-day rate depending on availability
Complimentary for guests before check-in / after check-out; non-guests not accepted
Step-free street-level entrance at 37th Street; lift to all floors. No roll-in showers; one accessible guest room on 2nd floor with grab bars and wider doorways
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Icon Parking at 32 West 38th Street, $50–$65 per 24 hours (no reservation needed). No EV charging on property
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: $3.50 per room per night plus 14.75% hotel occupancy tax on room rate
Deposit & card hold: First night's room plus tax charged at booking; $100 incidental hold (per stay) on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: sathya sai (315 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Inner Enlightenment Spiritist Society (333 m · ~4 min walk)
- Synagogue: Chabad of Midtown Manhattan (347 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Lutheran Church In America (449 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
The Shops at Columbus Circle — 2.3 km · ~29 min walk
The Morgan Library & Museum — 489 m · ~6 min walk
Stephen Sondheim Theatre — 542 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Bank of America — 264 m · ~3 min walk
CVS Pharmacy — 484 m · ~6 min walk
In A New York Minute Grab N' Gi — 477 m · ~6 min walk
5th Avenue — 221 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →US Dollar, USD
ATMs are widely available and offer fair rates; avoid currency exchange desks at airports and tourist-heavy spots due to poor rates and high fees.
Credit/debit cards and contactless payments (Apple Pay/Google Pay) are accepted almost everywhere, though some small vendors and street carts may be cash-only.
15-20% at restaurants; $1-2 per drink at bars; $1-2 per bag for hotel porters; $2-5 per night for housekeeping; 10-15% for taxi/rideshare drivers.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Drip coffee from a corner deli or bodega, about $2.50-3.00.
A slice of pizza or a deli sandwich from a local shop, approximately $8-12.
Basic pasta, burger, or similar main at a casual eatery, around $15-20.
Prepared foods from food carts and halal carts in Midtown and near office buildings offer quick, affordable meals.
Key Food, Western Beef, or Trader Joe's (nearby) are common budget supermarket options in the area.
Affordable shopping at chain retailers on 34th Street (such as H&M, Old Navy) or at Century 21 for discount designer goods.
Single subway/bus ride is $2.90 with a MetroCard or OMNY tap; a 7-day unlimited pass costs $34. From JFK, take the AirTrain + subway (~$11); from LGA, the bus + subway (~$2.90).
Walk as much as possible (many attractions are within walking distance); buy a week-long MetroCard if you'll ride often; eat at delis or food carts instead of sit-down restaurants for lunch.
Good to know — New York
Type A/B · 120V
safe
USD ($)
Emergency Contacts
New York911 connects you to police, fire, or ambulance. For non-urgent police matters, call 311. Text 911 if you cannot speak (register your phone for text-to-911 in advance). Poison control: 1-800-222-1222.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in New York, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Draper
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Bank of America — 264 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · CVS Pharmacy — 484 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Newark (EWR) Airport → Trump International Hotel and Tower, Columbus Circle (A/C/E/1 lines)
💡 Most economical option. Take AirTrain to Newark Airport Rail Station, then NJ Transit to Penn Station, then A/C/E subway. Buy 7-day MetroCard ($33) for unlimited local transit.
Times Square, Grand Central, Penn Station → Columbus Circle (59th Street Station)
💡 Use the A or C line directly to 59th St-Columbus Circle. Get a 7-day unlimited pass ($33) for best value during multi-day stays.
Midtown / Upper West Side → Trump International Hotel and Tower, Columbus Circle
💡 Good for short hops and sightseeing. M10 runs along Broadway/Amsterdam Ave. Combine with subway for city exploration. Get MetroCard for both bus and subway access.
Newark (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA), or JFK Airport → Trump International Hotel and Tower, Columbus Circle
💡 Pre-book Uber/Lyft for predictable pricing; avoid peak hours (8-10am, 5-7pm). Yellow cabs from EWR are flat-rate ~$70.
About New York
Wikipedia ↗
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States. It is located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island;...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Draper?
Request a room on floors 6 through 10 facing the back courtyard. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough that lift wait times are short. The back-facing rooms (odd-numbered rooms typically) get less traffic rumble from 37th Street.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Draper?
Avoid rooms on floor 2 (directly above the lobby and breakfast area) and any room ending in '01' or '02', which are closest to the lift shaft. Rooms facing West 37th Street below floor 6 suffer from taxi horns and delivery trucks at the rear loading bay.
Is The Draper noisy?
West 37th Street carries heavy traffic from 6th Avenue to 5th Avenue, including taxis, rideshares, and delivery vans for the garment district showrooms. The hotel entrance is on a one-way street, so engines idle at lights. The lift has an audible 'ding' on every arrival, audible in rooms within 3 metres of the lift lobby.
Which rooms have the best views at The Draper?
The best view is from south-facing rooms on floors 8–10 overlooking the back courtyard — you get some natural light without the unrelenting noise of 37th Street. North-facing rooms look into the side of the adjacent building.
What are insider tips for staying at The Draper?
1) If you're driving, the nearest affordable parking is at Icon Parking on 38th Street between 5th and 6th — book online for a 20% discount. 2) Request a room on floor 8 or 9, back-facing, and specifically ask for 'no connecting door' — interior connecting doors in 3-star hotels have thin seals and you'll hear your neighbour's TV.
What time is check-in at The Draper?
Check-in at The Draper is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Draper have Wi-Fi?
Free standard WiFi (10 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up) with device limit of 3; no login or password required after connecting to 'The Draper Guest' SSID. Premium tier (100 Mbps, unlimited devices) available at $9.95 per day
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Draper?
$3.50 per room per night plus 14.75% hotel occupancy tax on room rate
Where can I eat cheaply near The Draper?
A slice of pizza or a deli sandwich from a local shop, approximately $8-12.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Draper?
Single subway/bus ride is $2.90 with a MetroCard or OMNY tap; a 7-day unlimited pass costs $34. From JFK, take the AirTrain + subway (~$11); from LGA, the bus + subway (~$2.90).
When is the best time to visit New York?
May, September and October offer the best balance: warm but not oppressive (highs 20-25°C), low humidity, and fewer tourists than peak summer. Central Park is lush, and outdoor dining is a pleasure.
Top Attractions in New York
💡 The street itself is short and can feel underwhelming without context — the real draw is the surrounding Financial District, including Trinity Church at its western end and the 9/11 Memorial a few blocks south.
💡 Rent a bike or walk the Mall to see literary statues and street performers; avoid horse carriages unless you want a pricey, slow ride.
💡 Walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan for the best photo backdrop; go at sunset to see the city lights come on.
💡 Bring a suggested donation of $25 if you're not eligible for pay-what-you-wish; or aim for a quiet weekday morning to avoid crowds.
💡 Check their website for free 'Shop Life' walking tours or pay-what-you-wish hours on certain days; book tours well in advance.
💡 Visit the free memorial plaza at dawn for quiet reflection; reserve timed tickets for the museum online to avoid queues.