Whim trip NYC
 

My daughter just invited us to visit NYC at the end of April. We are from there but haven't lived there for 25 yrs. Can you recommend any 5* hotels, please. Thanks in advance !

If you really want a top luxury hotel, one of the best is the Mandarin Oriental. On weekends, room rates dip below $900.

Kimpton has several really nice hotel. Not 5* but should be!

https://www.kimptonhotels.com/

They often have sales and if you join there free rewards program, Karma, you will get first notice. Other nice perks too.

I agree with the Mandarin Oriental.
Swimming in this pool is a bucket list item of mine -
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/newy...-and-wellness/

Where does your daughter live?

We all live in Reno now. The MO is a bit too modern, plus we don't do high floors.

Sorry, I assumed she lives in NY.

I'm not aware of any low rise 5* hotels. You can always ask for room on a lower floor. Is the room for just you or also your daughter as well?

If you want something more traditional I would avoid the Waldorf Astoria (a lot of rooms are tired). You might consider the Pierre, St Regis or the Plaza Athenee for the general area of Central Park South.

We need two double rooms. Too bad about the Waldorf - no wonder the rooms are so cheap ! I'll look at those plus the Carlyle plus, plus, plus. Thanks !

Look at the Chatwal.

You might check out the Lowell. Also, Sofitels are nice….. tho the one here in NYC doesn't hold good memories for a certain Frenchman.

Actually, I'd recommend you look at the Sherry-Netherland, which is next to the Pierre on Fifth Avenue (across the street from the Apple Store and diagonal from the Plaza). Many of the guest rooms are on lower floors. They even have some two-bedroom suites, but they are expensive. I was able to tour the hotel recently and found it really charming.

Doug - I already looked at the Sherry-Netherland on booking.com. Only king, inside rooms are available for our dates, 4/28-5/1. Alas, that would have been my first choice. Maybe I'll call them. How about the Park Lane ? Any good ?

I wouldn't write off the Waldorf Astoria so quickly. It's an iconic hotel with a great location. Check out the reviews on Tripadvisor, the reviews are great. Just walking through the lobby makes you feel like royalty.

It's my understanding the hotel was recently sold and is going through a renovation. I would grill them a bit about the room conditions and ask for a renovated room. Good luck.

The Waldorf-Astoria hasn't been a luxury hotel for a couple of decades now except in the Towers. It's not a hotel I'd recommend for this trip.

Hey Doug, if you don't like the Waldorf what do you think of the New York Palace, same great location as the Waldorf and ranks high on many review sites. And of course it has the Villard House as it's lobby, you can't ask for much more than that.

But I still wouldn't rule out the Waldorf, when you tell out of towners you stayed there, they'll be oohing and aahing.

Th epublic rooms of the Waldrof are still very impressive. And if one stays in the Towers I have heard the rooms are still excellent. But there have been so many reports about how tired the regular rooms are - over the past couple of years - that I can't believe it's not ture.

Not sure who is giving such great reviews - unless it's people with different expectations.

(I often see "fantastic" reviews for hotels that I know are dumps. Either people who expect nothing - or fake reviews.)

In 1990 my FIL stayed in the Waldorf Towers, and it was fine. I love the lobby of the Waldorf. Hope the Chinese will take care with their renovation. In the 60s I worked on E. 57th and would walk up Park from Grand Central. As often as not I would pass the Duke of Windsor out for his morning constitional around the Seagram building. The Duchess's hairdresser was in my greystone building so I was often in the elevator with her. They lived at the Waldorf.
Anyway, just heard from my daughter who said that after much comparison she booked us into the Park Lane. I am SO proud of her. The other hotels were at least double if not WAY higher. What a sensible 1%er she is! Now to make a list of restaurants. All this to attend a performance of Carmina Burana at Alice Tully!
BTW, I feel sort of funny consulting Fodors for NYC, but it has been 25 yrs!

If they lived there they wer in th eTowers - that's what it is for as well as heads of state and other dignitaries - although regular folk can stay there is there's room and they don;t mind spending a fortune.

As for staying in 1990 - that's 25 years ago. Hotels generally have to refresh at least every 5/6 years or so if they don't wand to be incredibly tired. The smart ones that want to keep good ratings are just constantly refreshing individual rooms to keep ahead of the curve.