NYC Luxury Hotel
 

I am planning a trip to NYC for my husband and me for December 2007, and we are both 31 years old with no children. We will be staying four nights, which will encompass New Year's Eve. I have been doing research for hotel prices on travelocity, and for the type of hotel I am wanting - luxury, 4-5 stars, - I can expect to pay around $500-600/night, including New Year's Eve night. I have looked at The Caryle, The Waldorf Astoria, and The Gramercy Park hotels. My husband has never been to NYC, and he is really going just to humor me, so I want to do it up right and at the very least treat him to a stay in a world-class hotel. I don't wish to exceed much beyond the $600/night. I prefer to be within walking distance or a short cab ride to fabulous shopping and restaurants, Central Park, Rockefeller Center and Times Square. Am I on the right track? Does anyone have any other hotels to suggest? Also, do any of these hotels (or any others you would like to suggest) have bars that are considered places to "see and be seen" or will I not find those in hotels in NYC, but rather, off premises?

I don't really consider the Waldorf=Astoria a luxury hotel, more of a four star.

Of your list, The Carlyle is more old Grande Dame while the Gramercy Park Hotel is upscale Ian Shrager chic.

Do you want more old New York or more chic New York? That is how I would decide.

For what you want to do, The Carlyle is a better location.

If you can go over $600, this is my list in this order:

The Mandarin Oriental
St. Regis
Four Seasons
Pennisula
The Pierre
Plaza Athenee
The Mark
Ritz Carlton Central Park

According to several reputable sources including <i>New York</i> magazine, the best hotel in Manhattan is the LOWELL on the Upper East Side.

http://www.lowellhotel.com/

The location is <i>perfect</i> for what you describe -- close to everything but on a quiet block just steps from Central Park.

Yes, add the Lowell to my list.

GREAT hotel.

The true luxury hotels - esp rooms with views - will be considerably more than your budget, esp for New Year's Eve. For your budget you should get a nice 4* - but not a deluxe 5*. The ones you mention are not world class hotels - with the possible exception of the Waldorf - but the Towers only - not the regular hotel - much of which is kind of tired.

For world class you need to look at the Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton Central Park, Plaza Athenee, St Regis, or Trump International.

Wow - great replies and so fast - thanks! I went to The Lowell's website, and it looks great, and the pricing is good, too - $590/night. To answer your question GoTravel, if I had to pick between old New York vs. chic New York, I've got to go with chic New York (though I would be very happy with old New York, too). To give you an idea, one of my favorite hotels is The Delano in South Beach - what I would consider one of the ultimates in chic. I am going to start researching all of these hotels - thanks again! Oh, and does anyone have an opinion on my question about chic hotel bars - any of them really great or do I need to look outside the hotels for this?

The Lowell is an excellent hybrid -- not as stuffy as the old-school midtown options but you won't hear trance music in the lobby.

Stay at the Lowell. You'll love it and the location is the best for you (and location is everything in NYC).

(And I always stay at the Delano with in South Beach, a few times a year.)

Then go with Ian Shrager's latest hotel, The Gramercy Park.

A couple of the chic hotels like The Hudson through NYE bashes. I think Christina Agullira hosted their last NYE bash.

The Hotel On Rivington isn't in your neighborhood but for your $500-$600 budget, you would be able to get on heck of a cool room with a view.

Check out the website: http://www.hotelonrivington.com/

The downtown &amp; union square area hotels are great but not in the area that Becca requested ... &quot;fabulous shopping and restaurants, Central Park, Rockefeller Center and Times Square ...&quot;

Agree with what's been said. I think NONE of the hotels you mention is a good idea. The Carlyle rooms are past their prime and the area will feel dead. Gramercy Park is a real hipster hotel and not really in a location that I think you'd like.

At that time of year including NYE, your budget will probably not buy a 5* unless you have access to some discount or corporate rate but you may find a nicer room (ie junior suite or nice view) at a good 4*.

Since you are both young, you might want to consider staying in a trendier downtown location at a boutique hotel like the Mercer or 60 Thompson in Soho.

Otherwise, I'd say the Sofitel is one good option in a convenient midtown location, near but not in theater district, just off Fifth ave. and within a 15 minute walk to the park.

If you don't mind a very traditional setting, you might be able to find a good rate at the Sherry Netherland. I've seen some packages on luxurylink.com for it but you'd have to find out if they'd accept those rates for your dates first.

The Michelangelo is a nice hotel with good sized rooms and bathrooms. I see some good rates for it at quikbook.com. For more of a hipster feel in midtown, some like the Bryant Park Hotel. Are you interested in spending NYE at your hotel's restaurant? If yes, that could affect your choice.

For bars to &quot;see and be seen&quot;--first it depends on who's doing the looking-- There are some hotel bars that are considered trendy, but unfortunately most are in hotels you wouldn't want to be at b/c rooms are painfully small. You might be interested in the hotel and bar lists at hipguide.com Remember this is &quot;hip&quot; not elegant. ;)

SHE said the Gramercy Park Hotel and I also noted that &quot;the Hotel On Rivington isn't in your neighborhood..&quot;

Was writing while you all were discussing. I think the Lowell is nice idea. Read all reviews here
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html

31 Years Old during New Years Eve period?

NYC is a zoo over the holiday.

You like the Delano/South Beach vibe?

Stay downtown if you are not touristy sorts who have to &quot;see everything&quot; in the NYC guidebook. The Mercer Hotel is a good option. Take a taxi when you need to.

I only stay in Mid-town for convenience to theater district and if I have people along who want to be tourists. Four Seasons is near enough.

I'll defer to others here on Uptown hotels.

I know I've probably lost my mind about staying in NYC over New Year's Eve.

This is probably going to start a whole other issue, but yes, I'm planning on attempting the Times Square insane 8 hour or so wait for the ball drop. I have done my research and am well aware of being put in the pens, no food, no drink, no bathrooms. I have spoken with the manager at the Times Square Olive Garden who says that for the past 5 years or so, the NYPD has allowed their guests - $250/head for a ticket to their NYE party - to go out on the street in front of the restaurant before midnight for a great view of the drop, so we may explore that as an alternative.

We spent this past New Year's in the Dominican Republic, and you know what I did? At 1am DR time (midnight on the east coast), I sat in my hotel room and watched the ball drop on tv and was so envious that I wasn't there. I just want to do it one time. I can't explain my reasoning - it is on my &quot;must do&quot; list, especially before children come along.

(I spent 24 hours on the street in Times Square this past November to meet Paul McCartney at the Virgin Megastore, so I assure you I have the stamina!)

Again, thanks for all the great suggestions!

You want to subject yourself to the ballwatch?

You are definitely into Midtown then. Forget downtown.

The Lowell location looks walkable.

There are good hotels that overlook Times Square but I'm not sure how much those rooms go for on New Year's Eve. Save your bladder.

Actually, I was going to book a room at the Marriott Marquis ($1,600 for New Year's Eve night with a room overlooking the ball drop, and $400 for the other nights), but I realized that it wouldn't make me happy being in a hotel room and watching everyone outside partying. I want to be out there, too - cold, hungry, thirsty and absolutely thrilled!!!

That's when I decided that I would just pour that same amount of money into a fabulous hotel and do what I've wanted to do since I was eight years old. You only live once, right?

My husband jokes that he will have to wear Depends Undergarments to get through the day and night. Unfortunately, I don't think that is a joke for him. I, on the other hand, have the bladder of steel. Looks like the Olive Garden route will probably be what we end up doing.

I second the suggestion for the Sofitel. GREAT location and wonderful suites and luxurious bathrooms with great products.

The Times Square Olive is particularly bad food wise. I would NEVER pay $250 a person [or even per couple] to eat there, even if they let you watch the ball drop from in front of restaurant while sitting on the Maitre'd shoulders!! The food is way worse than any other Olive Garden I have ever eatin in. Also, the NYPD may &quot;LET&quot; patrons go in front of restaurant at midnight, but here's a clue.. there are already going to be 10,000 peole on THAT sidewalk. Forget it.

This all sounds like fun, except for the incredibly amazing idea of paying $250 to eat at Olive Garden. I doubt if I'd take them up on that even if THEY were paying ME the $250 to eat there.

Thanks for the information, Debbie. I also hate Olive Garden's (and most chain restaurants') food and would normally never ever EVER consider paying $250 (much less $25) per person to eat there. While the open bar helps as a lure, the appeal was the ability to not have to get out until 8pm, be warm and dry and fed (with drink and restrooms) for 4 hours, get a position out on the street for a few minutes to watch the ball drop and then be shuttled back into the warmth. I have read a few postings from people on Fodors who have done this with success and were able to see the ball drop, but I do see what you are saying - the crowd on that side of the street might completely block my view. Hmmmm... Maybe I'll research that a little further on Fodors. I definitely appreciate the heads up!

Trust me, NeoPatrick, I would much rather put a $250 per person meal to better use at, for example, Per Se, but paying $250 to perch myself outside in Times Square to watch the ball drop for 15 minutes as opposed to eight hours would be worth it - even if it was the Times Square McD's! :)