My husband and I are planning to spend 2 nights in a hotel in NYC (without the kids!) in March. We're having some trouble choosing a hotel.

Here's what we're looking for: We definitely want luxury, great service, a beautiful room that isn't tiny and, all things being equal, a spa. Our budget is $600/night.

We can be either uptown or downtown. We don't want the hotel to be either too old/stuffy or too intimidatingly trendy/hip.

For what it's worth, we are in our late 30s.

Ideally we would choose the Four Seasons or the Pierre, but I'm pretty sure those are out of our price range. At the moment we are considering the Mercer, the Ritz Central Park and the Ritz Battery Park. But all suggestions appreciated.

Thank you!!!

Waldorf Astoria

Although it doesn't have a spa, the London is a great, luxury hotel that you can get for under 600. It is a member of Amex's Fine Hotels and resorts Program, so in the same company as the St. regis, the Ritz Carlton, etc. (although i will admit, it's not quite as luxurious as those 2). The rooms are all suite and start at 500 sq. ft. The location, on 54th between 6th and 7th, is great if you're looking at that area.

But the London doesn't have a spa as far as I know. I think either of the Ritz Carltons are your best bet. I think the spa at Battery Park is probably better (and has a pool) but the location at Central Park for doing other things is obviously better but may not meet your budget.

The NY Palace and the Peninsula are other options to check. The Palace will be a lot less expensive for both room and spa services.

Checking on luxurylink.com I found this offer for the Essex House (right near the RC Central Park)
http://www.luxurylink.com/luxury-hot...871&oid=237942
I think they also have an offer for the Palace.

McLaurie and others -- What do you think about the Mercer? Several people have suggested it.

Thanks!

I checked the rates at the Mandarin Oriental and for the dates I checked it was 800+. But, if I were working with your budget I'd join their email list and hope for a "deal".

The Mercer is where Russell Crowe infamously hurled a phone at someone out of frustration for not being able to make a phone call in the middle of the night. They don't have a spa but offer in-house massages etc. If that's what you want, there are plenty of other hotels that would also provide that service. Not saying don't go, just saying you asked about a spa and they don't have one. Reviews on tripadvisor are very good but not a sole mentions massages etc.

Mclaurie - I don't think the Ritz BC has a pool - but the spa looks nice. I see that The Peninsula can be had for around 400 on quikbook - also Essex House . . maybe check out the newly renovated Empire hotel. I see The Benjamin has nice one bedrooms and up for around $400, too - but I don't think it's a luxe as the OP is looking for, is it?

Have never seen anything at the Mandarin Oriental for near $600.

It would be worth it to go to the hotel websites to see what deal they may have. Often it's not a lower price - but theywill giveyou free spa services or a meal of champagne of something. (March is still close to low season.)

Also - do look at the rates after taxes - not before - that's a big difference.

The Benjamin is nice, and the 1-bedroom suites there have kitchens, which is a big plus in NYC. The location is also better than Battery Park City, and there's a nice spa. I think the rooms there are lovely and modern. But it's not quite as luxurious as some of the other choices.

You can sometimes get a good rate on the St. regis. The lowest i've seen recently is about 650. It is very very luxurious.

IMO, the palace and the benjamin aren't in the same league as some of the others mentioned here. And I had a bad experience with the spa at the benjamin. The masseuse literally hurt me, even after i asked her to lighten up on the pressure. she essentially told me she knew better than I did what i needed!

Thanks for all this info, everyone. Now that I think about it, a lovely indoor pool would GREAT.

Any opinions on which luxury hotels have the best pools? Which luxury hotels for less than $600/night, I mean.

Thanks!

Okay, now you said it.
Just up your budget and stay at the Mandarin Oriental.

http://www.nyc.com/visitor_guide/new...al_review.aspx

(runners-up are also listed)

Very few pools in NYC. Of the 5*'s in midtown, the Trump International, Mandarin Oriental and the Peninsula have pools in midtown. 4*'s but no spa= Parker Meridien, Millenium UN Plaza, the newly redone Empire and the Crowne Plaza in Times Square.

There are quite a few downtown hotels relatively speaking with pools which is why I thought the RC had one. The Marriott Financial and the Millenium Hilton have them.
http://www.nyc.com/visitor_guide/new...al_review.aspx

I'd really look at the newly redone Empire hotel - fits your price range, has a La Jeunesse Spa, and is modern, upscale and convenient to midtown. Unfortunately, the pool is only open May to Sept. Rooms look nice to me. Have a great meal at Gabriel's, Picholine, Telepan or Bar Boloud. Or Jean Georges. Have a drink at the Mandarin Oriental, but stay at The Empire.

I usually agree with mp but in this case I don't. The Empire is not gonna ring your bells for luxury imo. If you want a pool, I'd negotiate a good deal for a suite at the Parker Meridien or see if you can get a deal at the Trump.

If you would rather stay downtown, what about Soho House? http://www.sohohouseny.com/#/soho_house_new_york

Thanks again, everyone.

Many people have mentioned negotiating for a better price or looking for a better price for these hotel rooms.

Any tips for how to do this? I know of luxurylink.com. Are there other similar sites? And is it customary to call the hotels and ask whether I could get a better rate? I tend to browse their web sites, but that's all.

Thx!

Sorry, but you can't really "negotiate" a hotel price.

However, you can ask for every available discount? Do you belong to AAA? Some other organization? Can you get a corporate discount from where you work? There are a lot of options and avenues for discounts right now. You're unlikely to find a true luxury hotel on Hotels.com, but that's also a possibility. Sometimes Luxury Link offers some good deals.

The first thing to do is sign up for emails on sales and become a frequent guest member (free) at any hotel you're thinking about. This can be done online. Then do some simple google searches like discounts at St. Regis NYC or discounts AND Trump International. American Express or any other credit card you hold can sometimes help. Any airline affinity program you belong to. Once you've found the cheapest rates on your dates online and you have a frequent guest account, phone and ask what specials they might be running for March.

Websites like kayak.com search lots of sites so see what the prices are there. If your dates are flexible, sometimes that helps.

Again, thanks.

We're leaning toward the Peninsula, where the least expensive room is $595. But I'm wondering whether it's wise to book the cheapest room in the hotel or whether we should book at a different hotel where we could afford a "better" room. Does anyone have an opinion about this?

If we don't choose the Peninsula, we will likely go with one of the Ritz-Carltons. But which one? God, I wish the Battery Park one had a pool!