the luxury hotels of New York - part three

This blog concludes my three-part review of some of the luxury hotels of New York. There are many properties to report on, but even a travel consultant wants to do something over Christmas holidays other than inspect hotels.

The Peninsula New York is located on Fifth Avenue very near St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, and The American Girl Place (which was extremely crowded on Christmas Eve). This is a great location for shopping and for business travelers, but if views are your priority, other hotels will serve you better. The Peninsula undertook a $45 million renovation of the original 1905 building, opening in 1988. The rooms are attractive and feature free internet and free local calls, a rarity in luxury hotels these days, and the suites create an inviting atmosphere that reminds you of your own living room. The hotel even has a swimming pool, an obvious attraction to summer travelers to New York City.

Right across Fifth Avenue is the St. Regis Hotel. Set in the same neighborhood, the St. Regis has the feel of a classic New York hotel and boasts Mobil Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond ratings for 12 consecutive years. The lobby has a beautiful sitting area (decorated with both a Christmas tree and a menorah over the holidays), and the hotel features the King Cole Bar where the Bloody Mary was invented. Soon to open is Adour, a new signature restaurant managed by Alain Ducasse.

For a completely different look-and-feel, consider the Gansevoort, a new hotel in the trendy meat-packing district. The Gansevoort has a contemporary "industrial" look, and the guest rooms are modern and very attractive. The area, on the west side of Manhattan, features a brand new Apple Store, and right across the street is the very popular Spice Market, a crowded Thai restaurant. With close access to two subway lines, the Gansevoor offers a reasonable alternative to business travelers coming to New York.


The advantage of Virtuoso. When booking any of these three hotels, or any of the hotels in this report, it is worth your while to book through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant. Why? Because you simply get more, for less. Room upgrades (sometimes at booking), complimentary daily breakfasts (have you noticed how much hotel restaurants charge for this?), an extra amenity specially chosen at each property, and VIP service. And, typically, the Virtuoso price will be the Best Available Rate ... and sometimes the Virtuoso rate will be less expensive than anything you can find online.


New York luxury hotels (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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