Staying at a hotel in New York is symbolic of what it's like to live in New York. It's a competitive market and price is dictated by high demand. Rooms, like apartments, are on the whole smaller than you would have ever thought and what New Yorkers call "quality-of -life"-pollution,crowding-are often a problem. Why put up with It ? Easy, There's no equivalent experience to being in the city that never sleeps. To truly get the center-of-the universe energy and excitement that New York is famous for, you have to live here, even if it's only for one night.
To get the most out of your hotel experience , it pays to research and ask questions. If size is important to you, ask the reservation how many square feet a room has, not just if it's big. A hotel room in New York is considered quite large if it's 500 sq. feet .
Now you need to consider price. The least expensive time to book a hotel room in New York is January and February. If you're flexible , ask reservations if there's a cheaper time to stay during your preferred traveling month; that way you can avoid crowded weeks, such as Fashion week and the Marathon.
Remember the Realtor's adage"location,location,location,"
and bear in mind that you'll pay prime prices for your prime piece of real estate. Several less-tourist areas offer a far more accurate sense of the pace and feel of New York life.
Deals do exist if you know where to look. Weekdays in the Financial District are full price, but weekends, when most of businesspeople have vacated, is a great time to get a discount spot at the Millennium Hilton or Ritz-Carlton Battery Park.
Finally, remember to enjoy your little piece of New York. Live like a local, stroll the neighbourhood, visit the corner deli, and you'll remember fondly the time you were able to call New York home. Many New York Hotels go out of their way to accommodate families with special amenities and family size rooms. However, a hotel claiming it's child friendly doesn't always translate to true kid welcoming style. Ask if cribs come with linens, whether there are high chairs and children's menus in the dining room, and if there as in-house babysitters. Here are some of the top picks for traveling with kids. SUITE LIFE : Space is at a premium in New York hotels, and if you have more than two people,a suite is an answer to spread out in style.
The Embassy Suites Hotel New York in lower Manhattan is a tried and true family option. It is even more kid friendly in New York since it's in the same building as a multiplex movie theater and several reasonably priced dining options.
Affinia Fifty in Midtown East is another option as the family hotel of choice on the residential East Side. LUXE LIFE : Just because you have children in tow doesn't mean your dream mean your dream of pampering vacation needs to go down the drain. Several top New York hotels go out of their way to accommodate families.
The Ritz-Carlton's two hotels in Manhattan and Midtown West offer special healthful children's menus, rubber-duck-filled baths, and toy menus.The Battery Park location has children's etiquette classes the first Saturday of the month;the Central Park branch holds special teddy bear teas.
The Pierre in Upper East Side , your little one can luxuriate in a child's bathrobe while perusing the menu of the children's favorites that includes everything from Froot Loops to Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. The hotel can also find a babysitter with as little as five hours notice. NEW YORK SPECIAL :
Hotel QT in Midtown West might make the perfect respite if you have teens in tow. There's a funky lobby pool; a lobby kiosk that stocks sweets with which to fill the in-room refrigerators;and rooms with ingenious bunk beds their own plasma TVs-all in the heart of Times Square.
Hotel on Rivington in East Village & the Lower East Side, a special family suite has two full bedrooms, one with two sets of bunk beds and a big bin of toys, two full baths, and a Japanese tub that could easily fit four preschoolers. Bonus points: the hotel is a across from Economy Candy.
Le Parker Meridian in Midtown West has a large pool, a restaurant that serves decadent breakfast foods such as chocolate French toast until 3 PM, and another dining spot that serves nothing but burgers and shakes.
Omni Berkshire Place in Midtown East , kids get a goodie bag and a loaner backpack upon check-in. Both contain toys galore from cards and puzzles to coloring books and bedtime reading. Even if you live in New York treat yourself to a stay in one of these romantic hotels where you can order everything from breakfast in bed to a rose-petal-filled bath. Ritz-Carlton New York Battery Park in Lower Manhattan, your wish is their command. Take advantage of lower-than-normal weekend rates to book a Liberty Suite, with sweeping views of the Statue of Liberty. A quick call to the concierge before you arrive can take care of everything from having champagne and strawberries waiting on your arrival to silver-framed picture of your sweetie by the bedside. A bath butler can then fill your marble tub with a potion of bath oils and flower petals. If you're here in February don't miss a trip to the penthouse Chocolate Bar with its aphrodisiacal chocolate and champagne buffet. The Inn at Irving Place in Flatiron District & Gramercy does romance if the old fashioned way, with four posterbeds, fireplaces, fur throws, and lots of privacy in an elegant 1800s brownstone. The complimentary breakfast is served on fine bone china either in the cozy sitting room or in bed. The Library Hotel in Midtown East , rooms have a certain inviting charm that makes them a good choice for a romantic weekend away, but if you're looking for a little mood reading, ask for the Erotic literature room or the Love room, curated by Dr.Ruth.
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