Does the interior of the Plaza Hotel look run down?
May 25th, 2000, 10:32 AM
#1
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Does the interior of the Plaza Hotel look run down?
Basically the above title is my question? Considering its age and the amount of traffic that the carpets/upholstery have to endure, does it look run down. Both the Plaza and the St Regis are, lets say, traditionally decorated, (old style furniture etc,) so apart from the St Regis being a newer property and more expensive,(although the suite at the Plaza is costing us $4500 a night)is there that much difference bewteen their interior (not considering the rooms).Please centre your answer around the Plaza, as that's the hotel in question.
May 25th, 2000, 10:39 AM
#2
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We did venture into the Plaza last fall to have a look. Interestingly, the first thing that struck me was that the public areas when you entered did indeed look tired and worn. It also smelled old and musty. I was entirely unimpressed. I do appreciate a beautiful, expensive hotel, but I simply do not understand the big attraction of The Plaza.
May 25th, 2000, 04:04 PM
#8
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Michaelangelo, Pierre, Four Seasons, NY (former Helmsley) Palace, Rihga Royal, St. Regis, Essex, Peninsula, Mark, and Stanhope. It's all opinion, of course, but The Plaza wouldn't cut it. It would be in my top 20 though!!! My point is that $4500 is silly for such a hotel.
May 26th, 2000, 07:34 AM
#10
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Sorry if i was unclear Howard, but we haven't yet booked the suite.Again, it was the hotel's reception areas I was inquiring about and not the suite - we already know that the suite is absolutely outstanding as I have a brochure/pictures and have spoken to the hotel in great detail. As for the price,similiar suites in the hotels mentioned above are $7000. Therefore, although you may think "what a rip-off!", it's not as much of a rip-off as the other establishments.So thankyou sd for your useful comments,THEY were appreciated.
May 26th, 2000, 08:51 AM
#12
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Merc, I am going to put this as gently as I can...
If you are indeed being asked to pay $4500 a night for a suite at the Plaza, and you are blithely contemplating doing do, then either money is no consequence to you or else you have no concept of what an adequate suite costs in a New York hotel. I will hold in abeyance, for the moment, an alternate theory that you are twelve years old and are simply toying with a group of gullible adults.
Merc, the Plaza may have a suite that costs $4500 per night. But, if it does, it had better be the swankest, most lavish suite in the hotel and it had better boast at least three bedrooms a grand piano, and two full-time butlers. When I last stayed at the Plaza, I stayed in a "deluxe" room that cost $335. I cannot scale up that room to 14 times its cost in my mind.
I just had a suite at the Grand Hyatt in New York. Granted, it was a junior suite with but one bedroom and a sitting room, but its cost was a mere $625 (to anyone reading, I was hosting a series of meetings in my room, and this was the alternative to paying $600 for a meeting room plus $275 for a standard room). I had reason to be in a suite at the Palace, surely one of New York's finest hotels, and that one bedroom suite rented for $800 per night. The Four Seasons, arguably the best hotel in New York, will rent you a high-floor suite for $2500. In other words, a perfectly acceptable suite in a very nice New York hotel can be yours for one half, or less, what you have said you are about to pay.
As to the decor of the reception and public areas, it has been fastidiously maintained since the hotel's renovation. You will find that it befits the hotel. The staff is well trained, polite though not obsequious, and extremely helpful to guests. In the archives, you will find a piece called "One Traveler's Opinion: The Plaza Hotel" which touches on the hotel's staff and decor.
If you are indeed being asked to pay $4500 a night for a suite at the Plaza, and you are blithely contemplating doing do, then either money is no consequence to you or else you have no concept of what an adequate suite costs in a New York hotel. I will hold in abeyance, for the moment, an alternate theory that you are twelve years old and are simply toying with a group of gullible adults.
Merc, the Plaza may have a suite that costs $4500 per night. But, if it does, it had better be the swankest, most lavish suite in the hotel and it had better boast at least three bedrooms a grand piano, and two full-time butlers. When I last stayed at the Plaza, I stayed in a "deluxe" room that cost $335. I cannot scale up that room to 14 times its cost in my mind.
I just had a suite at the Grand Hyatt in New York. Granted, it was a junior suite with but one bedroom and a sitting room, but its cost was a mere $625 (to anyone reading, I was hosting a series of meetings in my room, and this was the alternative to paying $600 for a meeting room plus $275 for a standard room). I had reason to be in a suite at the Palace, surely one of New York's finest hotels, and that one bedroom suite rented for $800 per night. The Four Seasons, arguably the best hotel in New York, will rent you a high-floor suite for $2500. In other words, a perfectly acceptable suite in a very nice New York hotel can be yours for one half, or less, what you have said you are about to pay.
As to the decor of the reception and public areas, it has been fastidiously maintained since the hotel's renovation. You will find that it befits the hotel. The staff is well trained, polite though not obsequious, and extremely helpful to guests. In the archives, you will find a piece called "One Traveler's Opinion: The Plaza Hotel" which touches on the hotel's staff and decor.
May 26th, 2000, 09:22 AM
#13
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Not wishing to come across as being snobby or elitish (as this comment doesn't apply to me personally), I would point out to those who are stupefied that someone would willingly spend $4500 a night on a hotel room, that there is an upper echelon of income in the USA (and elsewhere, to be sure) in which this has no impact on the overall finances of the traveller.
Do you realize how many Americans make over $1 million a year, and that after a few years in those strata, with even moderate to conservative investing, disposable income quickly exceeds hundred one thousand dollars a year?
Now if your home is paid off, your second home mortgage is being used as a tax break, you have a couple extra cars and the kids' school is paid for, where will you spend your money? For some, it's travel. Necker Island in the Caribbean is booked most every week of the year, and it 'rents' for something like 70 or 80 thousand dollars a week (correct me, someone, if that's off, as it's been awhile since I read about it).
The Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who spend $30 million dollars for a jet probably don't mind spending .001% of that for a nice hotel room (the cost of the Plaza suite, relatively).
It's (understandably) hard for most people to really fathom how much money some people actually have.
Do you realize how many Americans make over $1 million a year, and that after a few years in those strata, with even moderate to conservative investing, disposable income quickly exceeds hundred one thousand dollars a year?
Now if your home is paid off, your second home mortgage is being used as a tax break, you have a couple extra cars and the kids' school is paid for, where will you spend your money? For some, it's travel. Necker Island in the Caribbean is booked most every week of the year, and it 'rents' for something like 70 or 80 thousand dollars a week (correct me, someone, if that's off, as it's been awhile since I read about it).
The Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who spend $30 million dollars for a jet probably don't mind spending .001% of that for a nice hotel room (the cost of the Plaza suite, relatively).
It's (understandably) hard for most people to really fathom how much money some people actually have.
May 26th, 2000, 09:44 AM
#14
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Thanks Neal for your recent message.I have done great research into the price range of suites throughout all the top hotels.I do realise that,yes, suites are available in many top hotels for alot less (as you rightly stated, from $800 up to the $2500 at the Four Seasons.)However, the $2500 suite at the Four Seasons has one bedroom,a living room and one bathroom. The suite in question at the Plaza has 3 bedrooms,2 bathrooms, living room, dining room,and a marble jacuzzi and spa overlooking Central Park.Therefore, it does have a little more to offer than the Four Seasons.Besides, my friend requested that she would like a jacuzzi and to my astonishment,this is the only one in New York city. I was interested to hear you comment possitively about the reception areas being fastidiously maintained, because the first message from sd states that he noticed that the reception areas did look very worn and tired. So I'm a little confused. Oh, and I am a genuine adult just trying to collect as much information as possible.Anyway, thanks for your comments Neal.
May 26th, 2000, 10:08 AM
#15
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Frankly, folks, I think it's another put-on. I wouldn't waste any more time on this latest little fun and games player. To whit:
If, as you claim, Merc, you are for real and can afford and are willing to spend $4,500 a night for accommodations, then, I would think you could afford to hire someone in the U.S. to check out and book "appropriate" accommodations for you instead of utilizing the Fodor's forum, or at the very least, you wouldn't be doing this research yourself.
And, as for your comments, Peter, I don't think the people you are talking about would be spending their time on this travel forum!
I hesitate to use my real name for fear of some sort of payback!
If, as you claim, Merc, you are for real and can afford and are willing to spend $4,500 a night for accommodations, then, I would think you could afford to hire someone in the U.S. to check out and book "appropriate" accommodations for you instead of utilizing the Fodor's forum, or at the very least, you wouldn't be doing this research yourself.
And, as for your comments, Peter, I don't think the people you are talking about would be spending their time on this travel forum!
I hesitate to use my real name for fear of some sort of payback!
May 26th, 2000, 10:41 AM
#16
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Right, lets set the matter straight.Firstly, this is not another 'put-on' as you stated, I wouldn't waste time with such nonsense.
Secondly, I was unaware that if you had $4500 to spend on a suite that you had to be some sort of millionaire because quite frankly I am not! I have saved hard for this vacation and do not see why I should have to justify myself! Thirdly noname,I was also unaware that only certain type of people were permitted to use this forum! Surely people are able to discuss ALL types of accommodation at ALL types of prices without being verbally attacked!I was interested in hotel information not matters of financial status; so could we please keep to the purpose of this forum page, thankyou.
Secondly, I was unaware that if you had $4500 to spend on a suite that you had to be some sort of millionaire because quite frankly I am not! I have saved hard for this vacation and do not see why I should have to justify myself! Thirdly noname,I was also unaware that only certain type of people were permitted to use this forum! Surely people are able to discuss ALL types of accommodation at ALL types of prices without being verbally attacked!I was interested in hotel information not matters of financial status; so could we please keep to the purpose of this forum page, thankyou.
May 26th, 2000, 11:55 AM
#18
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You can get an awful lot better than the Plaza for $4,500. What about the Carlyle, The Pierre or the Four Seasons? The Plaza was purchased in the not too distant past by the Sultan of Brunei. He did a heck of a job with the Dorchester in London. Maybe it will be the Plaza's turn soon?
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