New York luxury hotels | Plaza Athenee

I have been a frequent guest of the Plaza Athenee New York which is around the corner from my sister's apartment on the Upper East Side. It is a classic small hotel on E. 65th Street with an European feel. Though its rooms are have been a bit on the small side, the hotel offers very warm and personal service.

Here's some exciting news. The Plaza Athenee will close on Jan. 5 for a substantial renovation, with its reopening scheduled in six months. I was shown a model of the new rooms — so recently completed that the smell of fresh paint was still in the air. The room was stunning — and substantially larger — featuring hardwood floors, very tastefully chosen wallpaper, and new built-ins. The effect was a slightly contemporary take on the classical ambiance of the hotel's present styling. But the biggest WOW was the new bathroom, much larger than the tiny bathrooms now existing in the rest of the hotel, featuring beautiful marble floors, new marble vanities, a large new tub, and a separate rain shower with three massage jets. Where all the extra space came from? I learned that the hotel will lose about 10 rooms in the course of the renovation, and existing space will be better utilized. (The present layout loses a lot of useful space in large entrance hallways to some of the rooms). Upon its reopening in the summer of 2009, I expect the newly renovated Plaza Athenee to be the crown jewel of New York's boutique hotels.

Third night free! Between now and January 5, enjoy a third night free... and be sure to book the Plaza Athenee through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant in order to receive exclusive Virtuoso amenities: upgraded room upon check-in if available, complimentary daily continental breakfast, and your choice of an extra amenity.

Plaza Athenee New York (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 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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