Hotel Review | Holiday Inn Manhattan View in Long Island City + Views from NYC Monday 10 October, 2016
When traveling to New York where is a good place to stay? I found a great spot with the most spectacular views of Manhattan and close to the subways station at Holiday Inn Manhattan View. You can be nearby all the action and also get some peace and quiet in this Astoria location. Check out my full review below.
I know you all have seen me travel over the past few weeks, but after my Carnival press trip I had another trip. I went to Cuba! I went to Cuba, but I flew into NYC first to say hello to family but I also got an opportunity to do a hotel review at the Holiday Inn Manhattan View in Long Island City. Long Island City is not in Long Island…it’s actually in Queens. This was perfect for me, as I arrived in NYC through LaGuardia airport which was only a 15-20 min ride via Uber. I stayed her on my way back from Cuba, which I will be doing a follow up post on that soon…but NYC is my birth spot. I was born in New York, have family all over from the Bronx, Harlem and Manhattan but honestly I have never stayed in Queens area so this was a different experience.
Holiday Inn Manhattan View in Long Island City is located in the growing part of Queens called Astoria. New York can be known for its super busy, loud and action packed area but Astoria is really peaceful and quiet and a few trendy spots growing around the area. A cool tidbit is that Holiday Inn is the first hotel in the area to open up and others hotel chains have been built to follow suit. I predict in a few years Astoria will be packed and will be a super trendy spot for people to come visit if they don’t want stay directly in the city. I am so happy I stayed here and read more to see the perks of staying at this hotel and the convenience it is to get to other parts of NYC.
Holiday Inn Manhattan View sets the bar high for Manhattan area hotels. This location has the most amazing views of the lit up New York City skyline, and highly impressed with the views and location. This is located in Queen, just minutes from Manhattan and other New York legendary landmarks. Although this is not directly in Manhattan, its a short train ride to explore the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Museum of the Moving Image, and the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Broadway, and Madison Square Garden. Holiday Inn Manhattan View is a nearby neighbor to many Fortune 500 companies, offering easy access to Citibank, MetLife, the United Nations, JetBlue, Delta, and Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Manhattan View Queen Size Bed with Balcony
I was amazed with my room. I see why its called the Holiday Inn Manhattan View now and it lived up it its name. Mega sized opened windows that covered the room 180 degrees around the room. I never stayed at a hotel where the views were this vivid. I got a perfect view of the Manhattan Skyline perfectly. It looks beautiful in the daytime, but nighttime is where the room shines. I couldn’t get a good nighttime view because of the glaring lights, but trust me when I say, you would seriously see from this room why New York is called the city of lights. It was so beautiful and relaxing, especially after returning back to the states from Cuba. Perfect place to unwind after a full day of traveling.
More daytime views of Manhattan from the room
If the room wasnt enough views, there is a balcony where you can indulge in more of the open city.
My perfect view of Manhattan and the Queensboro bridge
I can’t rave enough how much I was impressed with the views of New York. Seriously I have been to NY plenty of times, bur never got chance to enjoy it from this angle. It was amazing and surprisingly peaceful in Astoria.
Queens hotel is located just one block from the N and Q subway lines and just a few blocks from the E and R subway lines. I was really excited about being so close to the subway station (only a 10 minute walk) and explore NYC. My family lives in NYC and I know I was born here, but every time I come to visit I discover something new. Hey it’s New York, I think you can never stop exploring this city. I was on a mission to go to Canal St. and Soho from here. Surprisingly Time Square station was only 4 stops aways if you were interested in going to all that action. I didn’t make it there but come with me on my Canal + SoHo journey.
Oops broke a rule lol!
So if you aren’t familar with New York Canal St. is the area of where Chinatown and Little Italy reside. It’s exactly how it sounds, one side it a town full of authentic street Chinese restaurants, vendors, grocery store, fruit stand and more. You really feel like you stepped into China with all of the action. Little Italy the exact same situation – a town full of Italian resturants, vendors and more except this day was different on that side of town. It was the Feast of San Gernaro which I just accidentally stumbled upon. It was a full blown festival that blocked off the streets to celebrate Carnival style with games, rides, food on top of food and of course street vendors. I was so in shock on what was going on, I didn;t want to pull out my camera and look like a super tourist. I totally should have but I didnt, I am so sorry guys…but I still have plenty to show you all.
Food from Wo Hop an amazing Chinatown gem of a foodie spot!
I will be honest, I came strictly to Canal St. to make a beeline to a restaurant I visited last year on my New York Tour called Wo Hop. It was so amazing I promised I wouldn’t leave NYC without getting another taste of this authentic Chinese food. I highly recommend going to Wo Hop when visiting Chinatown. Its kind of hidden on Motts St. but trust me when you find it and if there is a line, it is worth the wait. It was a Saturday afternoon and there was a line. There wasn’t a line the last time I came, but I was so anxious for the food I waited and it was worth it! Pictured here is a 3-D meal with a mixture of Shrimp, Chicken and Pork (I removed the pork out of my meal) into a wonderful fresh noodle dish. Best Chinese food I ever had!
I continued to walked down Canal St. to intersect into SoHo, which was my next mission. I heard there was an actual Chobani storefront in SoHo and I wanted to make it my business to try the yogurt brand in the flesh. SoHo and Canal St. is only a 20 minute walk from each other. SoHo is highly known for their high fashion art district and where #NYFW (which I missed by only one day) is located. As I walked, I was enamored with all of this beautiful street art and graffiti. I took a couple of snaps of my favorite ones. So I discovered that SoHo is also an artsy district too that only the energy of New York can create.
Chobani Storefront on Prince St. In SoHo NYC
I finally found the Chobani store and it is everything I thought it would be and more. I am already a fan of the storebought yogurt brand, but this is definitely more fresh. You choose your own fresh ingredients to make your own signature yogurt bowl or get a pre-made one. It doesnt stop at yogurt bowls here as you can get sandwiches, breakfast, salads, smoothies, juices and more at this place. Only in NYC can you get a Chobani store and taste the freshness of what the brand has to offer. Best $7 I ever spent on a yogurt bowl!
After the Chobani run, I stumbled upon a pop-shop for the Magnum ice cream brand. I was walking back to Canal St. when I heard some music and looked over and saw people lined up to get Magnum ice cream. At first I thought Magnum had a storefront in NYC too, but it was a pop-up that ironically was the last day. So guess what…I made a trip to get me a Magnum Ice Cream. It was $7 to create your own Magnum creation. At first I wasn’t going to do it, but I felt like I couldn’t leave without having my own unique Magnum ice cream experience. You pick your ice cream flavor, your chocolate coating and your topping for your own creation. I got a vanilla ice cream based with a milk chocolate coating topped with fruity pebbles, granola, and cookie and creme crumble garnished with edible gold flakes. One of the most expensive ice creams I ever bought, but it was a cool experience as you watched them top it live in front of you and its cute! #OnlyInNewYork
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After my NYC adventures I was tired. I went to sleep and enjoyed my 180 nighttime view of the city of my room. I woke up and decided to try out their morning breakfast special. The breakfast is located within the hotel but the public can also come and pay to eat here without being a guest. It’s only $4.99 for an all you can eat buffet of breakfast food from 7-11am daily.
Interior of the breakfast area which double as a bar in the day and nightime
My breakfast spread by the window
Breakfast was nice and I truly enjoyed my stay here. In Astoria,Queens its actually pretty quite and peaceful which made my trip that much more pleasant.
I had an amazing stay at the Holiday Inn Manhattan View in Long Island City. I never stayed at a Holiday Inn so nice and with amazing trendy views of the city. If you are looking to go to NYC and not stay directly in Manhattan but have a great time with nice views, a great area and a good distance to a subways for your own exploration I highly recommend a few nights here.
Learn more about Holiday Inn Long Island City Manhattan View here.
This hotel has been hosted on the behalf of Holiday Inn Long Island City Manhattan View and IHG. All opinions are my own.
Stay tuned for my Cuba post and I hope I inspired your for you next NYC trip!
Have You Got A Chance To See The New York Skyline For Yourself?
About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty
Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching.
Follow her on her blog and social media at kiwithebeauty.com + @kiwithebeauty
I’ve seen the NYC skyline. You captured the incredible view so nicely. The Holiday Inn view is so awesome in your pictures. Glad you had a good time and gave us so many hints for touring the area.
That view is awesome and it’s perfect for people who are visiting NYC for the first time. I couldn’t be prouder of my hometown! I think it’s awesome that you got to try all these cool stuff, that magnum is an experience!
I live in NYC and I’m always being asked to give hotel recommendations and after reading your post this holiday inn is at the top of my list!! I love your pics of NYC too– you are inspiring me to take a staycation and go exploring!
I used to live in NYC and while I’ve discovered that I’m definitely more of an LA girl, I do miss it time to time and would love to go back and visit. I love Holiday Inn and would definitely consider staying here!
Ohhh I haven’t been to NYC in SO long and this post is making me want to go… yesterday! Love the fact that this Holiday Inn is in Long Island but still has a fantastic view.
Looks like you had an amazing trip with a view! We stayed in Manhattan a few years ago but we had a lower floor room with a street view. Bummer. Glad you enjoyed your stay!
It has been more than 10 years since I have visited NYC and seeing your pics, I am dying to go back. The hotel view looks absolutely amazing, I will look into that the next time we get out there for a visit!
That view is worth making the trip to NYC all by itself. But I love that you found so many yummy things to eat once you stopped gazing at the lovely views. I’d love to try my favorite brands in their own stores.
You had some amazing views from the hotel. I’ve never been to New York, but do plan to put that on my list within the next year. I will definitely look into this hotel. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed your stay. I too have had the opportunity to stay. Plus its in my hometown of Queens so I loved the invitation of a staycation. Only thing is Astoria has a lot of hustle and bustle where as the area the hotel is in is more quiet.
I’ve always loved staying at Holiday Inn’s when traveling. This looks great, I’ve only been to NYC when I was little so this has definitely inspired me to check it out in the near future.
I love hotels with a solid view. There are certain cities who’s skylines I hold dear to my heart and NYC is definitely one of them. You were definitely blessed to have stayed at such a great location.
We would love the opportunity to accommodate all of Kiwi’s followers and readers at Holiday Inn Manhattan View in Long Island City. Besides the close proximity to Manhattan and the great views that some of the rooms offer, we have a fabulous team of staff members who go out of their way to make you feel at home. Please let us have the opportunity to show you how convenient we are to all Manhattan attractions. Thanks to Kiwi for her review of the hotel and for staying with us. We enjoyed having her with us.
Those are pretty great views! I love new york city, and I think it is great to have options outside the city that are more affordable. The subways are pretty cool!
What a great way to see the city without the major city prices. LIC is fun – and just a short subway or tram car ride away from Manhattan.
We are actually debating on trip to NYC, so perfect timing! Thank you!
This looks like a nice hotel and the view is amazing. I will keep this in mind if I am ever in the area.
How gorgeous! And YES! I have had the chance. I’ve been to NYC several times, and I always try to get a room on a high floor for the view.
I absolutely love the New York skyline. I’ve only had the chance to see it once, but it’s something I will NEVER forget.
That sounds like such a great place to stay! The next time I plan a trip to NYC I’ll have to look into the Holiday Inn.
This looks like a great hotel with beautiful views.
I lvoe NYC and Holiday Inn. this would have been the perfect trip for me.
I’ve seen the NYC skyline. You captured the incredible view so nicely. The Holiday Inn view is so awesome in your pictures. Glad you had a good time and gave us so many hints for touring the area.
I love New York Copity. The views from your room at Holiday Inn were amazing. I would love to visit the Chobani shop. Maybe next time I am in town.
Wow, you definitely had a nice view form your room! Your NYC experience sounded like a blast.
So cool! I think we need to plan our next trip to NYC! Sounds like an awesome place to stay while at NY!
What a great view! I never know where to stay in the city, this sounds like a perfect option!
My husband loves to book us at Holiday Inn when we travel. If we get to NYC, we’ll definitely stay there. Your views were simply amazing!
I have stayed at a Holiday Inn hotel before and I loved their service. The view from your room is amazing.
I love the view I could just sit in that bed with a good book and enjoy the view! Thanks for sharing!
That’s a great location being so close to the subway and you can’t beat those views! You made me miss NYC!!! There’s no place like that city!
Great review! My husband and I were just looking for a place to stay for our next trip so we will have to check it out!
I’ve never been in NYC! I’ve heard Cuba a lot and it’s sounds gorgeous place!
That view is awesome and it’s perfect for people who are visiting NYC for the first time. I couldn’t be prouder of my hometown! I think it’s awesome that you got to try all these cool stuff, that magnum is an experience!
This place couldn’t be more perfect if it tried. It has some freaking cool street art, this is my kind of hangout.
Looks like you had great food choices nearby. I love a cheap(er) place to stay near NYC. It’s a great place to visit and it can be so expensive.
I love street art. You got some great pictures of it. It’s fun to see other cities!
I love to go to New York as often as I can. If I could I would move there. I love all the street art.
That is a nice view. We are overdue for a trip to the Big Apple.
I live in NYC and I’m always being asked to give hotel recommendations and after reading your post this holiday inn is at the top of my list!! I love your pics of NYC too– you are inspiring me to take a staycation and go exploring!
Now I see a good reason to stay at Staten Island when visiting NYC! The view is spectacular!
I can totally see why you were impressed! This view, alone, is incredible! I would be looking out that window all day! I miss NYC…
That view is incredible. I love Manhattan. It’s one of my favorite places to visit.
I used to live in NYC and while I’ve discovered that I’m definitely more of an LA girl, I do miss it time to time and would love to go back and visit. I love Holiday Inn and would definitely consider staying here!
Ohhh I haven’t been to NYC in SO long and this post is making me want to go… yesterday! Love the fact that this Holiday Inn is in Long Island but still has a fantastic view.
Looks like you had an amazing trip with a view! We stayed in Manhattan a few years ago but we had a lower floor room with a street view. Bummer. Glad you enjoyed your stay!
It has been more than 10 years since I have visited NYC and seeing your pics, I am dying to go back. The hotel view looks absolutely amazing, I will look into that the next time we get out there for a visit!
That view is worth making the trip to NYC all by itself. But I love that you found so many yummy things to eat once you stopped gazing at the lovely views. I’d love to try my favorite brands in their own stores.
We love Holiday Inn! We try to always stay there when traveling because they have a great rewards program!
I love the street art, I am a big fan of graffiti!
Yummy food and great view too.
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That Magnum ice cream bar looked like it was the perfect treat. I literally would love this place! lol
The family and I have always wanted to visit here. It’s on our top ten list.
Looks like a great place to stay! I have visited NYC several times, but never actually stayed in the city – odd I know.
The room looks really nice and look at that view! It is stunning. I’ll be in NYC this December for my first trip.
I’m looking to book a trip to NY soon so this is really helpful to me. Thanks for sharing, looks great!
You had some amazing views from the hotel. I’ve never been to New York, but do plan to put that on my list within the next year. I will definitely look into this hotel. Thanks for sharing!
This place looks like it had such an awesome view. The food looks really awesome too!
Glad you enjoyed your stay. I too have had the opportunity to stay. Plus its in my hometown of Queens so I loved the invitation of a staycation. Only thing is Astoria has a lot of hustle and bustle where as the area the hotel is in is more quiet.
I am going to be in New York next week. I hope my hotel has a view that is anywhere near that good. I love your pics.
I have never been to New York but I want to go so bad. It is at the top of my bucket list.
I’ve always loved staying at Holiday Inn’s when traveling. This looks great, I’ve only been to NYC when I was little so this has definitely inspired me to check it out in the near future.
NYC is one of my favorite places to visit! I loved reading your review and the pictures you shared, thank you!!
How funny is it that I live in NYC, and haven’t done half of the things you did on your trip? Glad you enjoyed it!
I have yet to see the skyline but I did ride in the top of a double-decker bus there. Those pics are fabulous.
The view is incredible, I would just lay in bed and look out of the window. I believe in staying in different places and taking the train.
I would have loved that view. There’s nothing like a NY skyline.
I love hotels with a solid view. There are certain cities who’s skylines I hold dear to my heart and NYC is definitely one of them. You were definitely blessed to have stayed at such a great location.
Wow, the views of Manhattan are gorgeous from this hotel. I love looking at the skyline Downtown because it is simply magnificent.
I am a bit of a hotel snob and Holiday Inn would normally not even be on my list but you’ve actually changed my mind. I may just give them a try
We would love the opportunity to accommodate all of Kiwi’s followers and readers at Holiday Inn Manhattan View in Long Island City. Besides the close proximity to Manhattan and the great views that some of the rooms offer, we have a fabulous team of staff members who go out of their way to make you feel at home. Please let us have the opportunity to show you how convenient we are to all Manhattan attractions. Thanks to Kiwi for her review of the hotel and for staying with us. We enjoyed having her with us.
What a view! nothing I would expect from the holiday inn. Let me take another look at them for my next vaation.
Those are pretty great views! I love new york city, and I think it is great to have options outside the city that are more affordable. The subways are pretty cool!
Let me just say that it’s been way too long since I’ve been to NYC! The view from the Holiday Inn is fabulous! I’m loving all the eats too!
Hey! I wish I had known you were going to be here so we could hang out! 🙂