New York hotels · head to head
Midtown West design against a Times Square resort four-star — Penn Station at 0.6 km against the square at 0.2 km — quieter practicality versus theatre-district energy.
By Kaiser Khan · last reviewed
Rates for both move constantly, so nothing here quotes a price. Each full review carries the rate comparison for that property.
Same star class, different Midtown products. Arlo sells Hudson Yards and Penn Station; Margaritaville sells Broadway doorstep and a pool listing. That is a real either/or on the same shortlist.
We publish a handful of comparisons per city, chosen by an editor. We do not generate a page for every possible pairing: at thirty hotels that would be 435 near-identical pages per city, and at five hundred it would be 124,750 for one city alone — which is a doorway-page pattern, not a service to anybody trying to pick a hotel.
Should you book this hotel?
Arlo if Penn Station, Hudson Yards and parking listed matter; Margaritaville if Times Square and a pool listing win — accepting Arlo’s small-room and noise cons and Margaritaville’s inconsistent-amenity warnings at 8.72.
Position splits cleanly. Arlo puts Penn Station at 0.6 km, Times Square at 0.7 km and Hudson Yards at 1 km; Margaritaville puts Times Square at 0.2 km and Broadway at 0.3 km. Location scores 9.73 against 10 — both strong Midtown pins with different centres of gravity.
Supplier ratings: 9.4 out of 10 from 7,354 reviews at Arlo against 9.2 from 6,561 at Margaritaville, both captured 18 December 2025. Arlo’s room quality is 8.77 with size, noise and privacy named; Margaritaville posts 10s on service and location while cleanliness, room quality, amenities, value and food cluster at 8.72.
Facilities fork: Margaritaville lists a swimming pool, soundproof rooms, parking and pets allowed — with pool availability questioned in the guest analysis. Arlo lists parking, restaurant, bar, terrace and pets allowed, with no pool in the first twenty-five amenities cited. Both check in from 03:00 PM and out by 12:00 PM.
Cons: Arlo names small rooms, noise and privacy; Margaritaville names small rooms, inconsistent amenities and breakfast expectations versus price without quoting a rate. Pick the complaint you can live with for the pin you actually need.
Verdict last reviewed . Rates, refurbishments and management change — re-check anything time-sensitive before booking.
4-star hotelMidtown West & Hudson YardsIndependent
A four-star Arlo on West 38th Street — Times Square 0.7 km, Penn Station 0.6 km, parking listed — with strong service and location scores and small-room, noise and privacy complaints.
Third-party guest reviews: 9.4/10 from 7,354 reviews — as of
4-star hotelTimes Square & Theatre DistrictIndependent
A four-star Margaritaville on Seventh Avenue — Times Square 0.2 km, pool listed, soundproof rooms listed — with flat 10s on service and location and inconsistent-amenity complaints at 8.72.
Third-party guest reviews: 9.2/10 from 6,561 reviews — as of
Every row is checkable against the supplier data on the two property pages. “Level” is a real answer and is used — a comparison where one side wins every row is usually a comparison somebody wrote backwards from the conclusion.
| What is being compared | Arlo Midtown | Margaritaville Resort Times Square | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official classification | 4-star | 4-star | Level |
| Position | 351 West 38th Street. Penn Station 0.6 km, Times Square 0.7 km, Hudson Yards 1 km. | 560 7th Avenue. Times Square 0.2 km, Broadway 0.3 km, Rockefeller Center 0.6 km. | Level |
| Supplier rating (our hotel data provider, /10 — display only) | 9.4 from 7,354 reviews, as of 18 December 2025 | 9.2 from 6,561 reviews, as of 18 December 2025 | Arlo Midtown |
| Location (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 9.73 — Penn / Hudson Yards | 10 — Times Square | Margaritaville Resort Times Square |
| Room quality (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 8.77 — small rooms; privacy concerns | 8.72 — small / cramped noted | Level |
| Service (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 10 | 10 | Level |
| What guests complain about | Small rooms; noise; privacy concerns | Small rooms; inconsistent amenities; breakfast expectations | Level |
| Pool | Not in first 25 amenities cited | Swimming pool listed — availability questioned in guest analysis | Margaritaville Resort Times Square |
| Parking | Parking listed | Parking listed | Level |
| Soundproof rooms | Not in first 25 amenities cited | Soundproof rooms listed | Margaritaville Resort Times Square |
Rows taken: Arlo Midtown 1, Margaritaville Resort Times Square 3, level 6. Counting rows is not how you pick a hotel — one row usually decides it, and the verdict above says which.
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