In one way or another, New York City never seems to disappoint. Be it the impressive skyscrapers, green parks and amazing neighbourhoods, or the ‘city that never sleeps’ vibe, we love it! During our press trip to test KLM’s new Premium Comfort product, there were a ton of hotel options to stay at. We heard some good stories about the M Social Hotel Times Square New York, and in this review you can read all about our experiences at this upscale hotel.

Location in New York

Planning a trip to New York City can be a little daunting if you think about all the many hotel options. This time, I was in the market for a centrally located hotel near Times Square. Even with such a specific area to stay, there’s still a lot to choose from. However, InsideFlyer got the opportunity to stay at the M Social Hotel Times Square New York and in this review you can read all about it.

The hotel is located in the heart of the city, just next to Times Square. Iconic Times Square is a year round ‘must visit’ for many tourists. The amazing buildings, big ad screens and neon lights make it a sight you will not forget any time soon.

M Social Hotel is located on 226 West 52nd Street, just around the corner of Broadway and only a couple of minutes by foot from Times Square. Central Park, MoMo, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall are also close by. In the area you can also find hotel brands such as Sheraton, citizenM, Riu Plaza, Crowne Plaza and Hilton Garden Inn.

If you’re flying in from New York JFK Airport (JFK) or New York Newark Airport (EWR) then it will take you about one hour to reach the hotel by public transport. A taxi ride is also possible, which may take somewhere between 45 to 80 minutes depending the infamous New York City traffic.

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On a side note, some time ago this 480 room hotel was operated by Accor Hotels under the Novotel brand. However, during the pandemic it closed down, and after a takeover and renovation it’s now fully operated by Millennium Hotels & Resorts using the M Social brand.

Check-in at the M Social Hotel

When I arrived at the hotel in the early afternoon it was fairly quiet. The ground floor is used for baggage storage and here you can take the elevator up to reception. The reception and check-in area are located on the 5th floor.

I was kindly greeted by the employee at the reception desk. It’s quite a big open area with lots of cosy seats and big windows. On the same floor I also saw a games area and a bar.

After handing over my ID and reservation confirmation, the employee checked if my room was ready. As this stay is offered by M Social to InsideFlyer, I didn’t need to make any payment. Normally, I would use my American Express Platinum card, as it includes extensive travel insurance and you never know when that can be of use.

After a bit of explanation about the hotel facilities, the employee handed over the room key and then I was off to the 21st floor! Before entering the elevator, I noticed a piece of art showcasing the area around the hotel in a very nice way:

The Room: Social Superior Hudson River View

The elevator took me up to the 21st floor and the room was easy to find. My Social Superior room claimed to have views of the Hudson River, so I was very curious about the view of course.

When I stepped into the room it immediately felt quite spacious. That’s really a plus considering some of the small hotel rooms I’ve seen in New York. It’s also great to have enough space to open my suitcase after a long trip. When entering the room there was a wardrobe on the left and on the right you could access the bathroom. In the wardrobe there was an iron and ironing board, bathrobes and a hairdryer.

When entering the actual room, there was a cupboard on the left. Here you can find some cups, a fridge and a small safe. This hotel unfortunately does not offer any free bottles water and there’s also no kettle to make coffee or tea.

The large kingsize bed took up most of the space in the room. I recognize the outer headboard from some of the Novotel hotels I’ve stayed before, though the inner part has been refreshed with a yellow M Social headboard. The mattress was very comfortable and the blankets were also good, although I felt a bit warm during the night. The bed has four pillows in total, two per person. On both sides of the bed you can find a small stand with a reading light. On the left there was an alarm clock that also let’s you charge your smartphone wirelessly – a nice detail.

Opposite the bed, there was a big wall-mounted tv with local and international tv channels. The desk below the tv offered a bigger reading light, some power outlets and a phone to make calls for room service and reception.

The sofa was located in front of the window, which had a nice view of the area, New Jersey and the Hudson River!

The bathroom

In the bathroom you immediately notice the big mirror with integrated lighting. The wash area is on the small side here, but there are enough towels in different sizes. You also get a small Five Wits soap bar. On the other side there is a big walk-in shower, separated by a glass wall. In the shower there is both a hand and rain shower. The hotel offers C.O. Bigelow shampoo and shower gel, and Five Wits conditioner in refillable bottles. Finally, there is of course a toilet.

Comfort of the Social Superior Hudson River View room

A hotel room can look nice in videos and pictures, but it’s hard to judge the comfort of a room like that.

First of all, the 25 sqm. size of the room is very good for the area. The room is also designed to have sufficient space for storage and opening your suitcase.

It’s a pity there’s no coffee machine or kettle. This basic amenity does make a hotel room more comfortable facility wise, I would say. After my long trip from Amsterdam, I was quite tired and could fall asleep easily, but I noted some noise coming from the air-conditioning system, which may be irritating to some. The soundproofing of the rooms was good – I never heard any noise from the other rooms or hallway.

The room has sufficient power outlets with American plugs. The lighting is also good and easy to switch on and off.

Facilities at the M Social Hotel Times Square New York

Let’s also have a look at the facilities that this M Social hotel offers.

On the 5th floor, you can find the restaurant and bar called ‘Beast & Butterflies’. Here you can enjoy a nice meal or a drink at the bar.

I had a great American Breakfast at the restaurant in the morning, which was served between 7 and 11 AM. The breakfast offers yoghurt and cereals, bagels and some cold and hot dishes. If you don’t have breakfast included, you can book it at a rate of $ 27 (before tax) per person.

As mentioned earlier, the 5th floor also offers a games room and an area to see some sports on the tv. There’s plenty of seating, so it’s also a good area to relax and enjoy the company of your fellow travelers. Every floor has an ice machine.

On the same floor, there is also a nice outside terrace and bar with a great view of Times Square. Here you can also have a drink and a meal. On some nights the hotel organizes live music here.

The fitness center is located on a lower floor. It’s quite well equipped with different types of fitness equipment. Here you also have a view on Times Square.

Finally, you can find a souvenir shop and computer corner opposite the reception desk.

Frequent traveler benefits: MyMillennium

We wouldn’t be InsideFlyer if we don’t discuss the frequent traveler benefits in this review of the M Social Hotel Times Square New York. As mentioned, M Social is part of Millennium Hotels. The loyalty program is called MyMillennium. It’s free to join and you can collect points and elite night credits.

Staying 10 or more nights in a year earns you ‘Prestige’ status. Members with this status earn more points on stays. They get a welcome amenity and a room upgrade (if available and applicable). You can read more about the MyMillennium program here.