Located one half block from Broadway and Times Square, the Paramount Hotel, in New York, N.Y., is within walking distance of Fifth Avenue shopping and Rockefeller Center.

The midtown Manhattan location is less than 18 miles from JFK International Airport and just 10 miles from LaGuardia Airport.

Restaurant Row is three blocks away.

Designed by the famed interior designer Philippe Starck, the hotel lobby presents an Art Nouveau feel. Unique furniture rests on a checkered rug, hinting at the idea of a chess board staged mid match. An unusual staircase of grey marble ascends to the mezzanine, adding an unusually skewed perspective to the room.

The Mezzanine Restaurant serves New World Cuisine in a low key setting with secluded alcoves overlooking the lobby. The street level Paramount Bar beckons both guests and passersby for martinis in a cordial atmosphere.

Amenities at the Paramount include valet services, bellhops, and a concierge ready to arrange for transportation and entertainment reservations. A well equipped fitness center stocked with fresh fruit and bottled water boasts cardiovascular equipment and free weights.

The business center makes available two computer stations, and wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel.

The chess board motif continues into the 567 guestrooms where bright designer lamps and immaculate white furnishings rest upon black and grey checkered carpets. Behind the high thread count linens and down comforters of premium beds, oversized reproductions of paintings by European Masters enlist as magnificent headboards. Bathrooms feature crisp designs and stainless steel fixtures.

The world's largest Toys R Us is located in Times Square and has a full size, indoor Ferris wheel featuring cars decorated with cartoon favorites making for an excellent photo opportunity.