whiner
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Wine Thief
Posts:2875
 | | 09/27/2005 2:43 AM |
| Quote:
I think she's leaning towards either the St Regis or the new Mandarin Oriental -- neither fit her original location criteria. [sigh]
You should consider the St. Regis Club in the Essex House -- I think that it a little closer to where you wanted to be?
a | |
I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
-- Woody Allen | |
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Rothko
Palm Beach
Wine Thief
Posts:2875
| | 09/27/2005 1:15 PM |
| In August I stayed at the New York Palace (got a group rate for a wedding) and thought it was a very nice hotel. Had a room that looked over the back of St. Patrick's cathedral. Excellent location, nice amenities, large room. I'd stay there again, if the price was right.
Other favorites are the Benjamin and the Michaelangelo. | | | |
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Rothko
Palm Beach
Wine Thief
Posts:2875
| | 09/27/2005 1:17 PM |
| | By the way, Tripadvisor.com is an excellent resource for reading reviews on hotels. And they also give rankings, based on the reviews. | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10799
| | 09/27/2005 7:56 PM |
| | I posted some info today on a couple of our Italian hotels on Tripadvisor. It is a good source of reviews. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 12/17/2005 8:16 PM |
| I'm taking my girlfriend to NY in Feb (part of her Christmas present) and am looking for a very nice hotel, north of 50th and south of 70th. East or West side doesn't matter much. Closer to the Park is preferable.
I'm currently looking at:
The Four Seasons
The Peninsula
The St Regis
Has anyone ever stayed at either of the first two? St. Regis has been mentioned on this thread. Any other recommendations? I'm willing to pay a considerable amount. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 12/17/2005 9:35 PM |
| | If you're willing to splurge, stay at The Pierre, on 5th Avenue at the Park at 61st or 62nd (or both). | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 12/17/2005 9:42 PM |
| | Thanks, Board-O. Unfortunately, that hotel is sold out for the dates I need to stay in the City. Any other reccs? | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10799
| | 12/17/2005 9:49 PM |
| If you want to splurge the Four Seasons is fabulous in most respects. I was impressed at the size of the room we were in - in NYC that is sometimes an issue. Killer room service. Also the location is desirable if anyone is interested in shopping. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 12/17/2005 10:10 PM |
| | The Melrose is a couple of blocks east of the Park about 63rd St. It's nice, but the rooms are a little small. You can walk to the Central park Zoo from there. The Marriott Eastside at Lexington and 53rd is nice. You might be able to get in there for a decent price. What dates will you be in NYC? | | | |
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whiner
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Wine Thief
Posts:2875
| | 12/18/2005 6:48 AM |
| Quote:
I'm taking my girlfriend to NY in Feb (part of her Christmas present) and am looking for a very nice hotel, north of 50th and south of 70th. East or West side doesn't matter much. Closer to the Park is preferable.
I'm currently looking at:
The Four Seasons
The Peninsula
The St Regis
Has anyone ever stayed at either of the first two? St. Regis has been mentioned on this thread. Any other recommendations? I'm willing to pay a considerable amount.
I'd say St. Regis for Starwood points. The Peninsula for no-holds-barred elegance. (Although, the Peninsula may be a little more business-y.) I've never set foot in the Four Seasons. You honestly can't go wrong with any of these places.
a | |
I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
-- Woody Allen | |
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whiner
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Wine Thief
Posts:2875
| | 12/18/2005 6:56 AM |
| Oh! I can't believe I forgot... if you want to be right on the park (and actually, usually, save a little cash) the top floors of the Essex House are a St. Regis, not a Westin. Pretty much the exact same level of service and amenities as the hotel on 5th.
a | |
I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
-- Woody Allen | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 12/18/2005 5:24 PM |
| a - Thanks for the suggestions! I'm actually a Gold tier SPG, so there's a *chance* I might get upgraded if I were to stay at a Starwood property. However, my AmEx travel service also tells me that most often I'd get upgraded if I were to book any of those hotels through them (although, it might just be a marketing ploy and they do caveat that its based on availability).
I've been in (but never stayed) at all of the places I listed except the Peninsula. The fact that you mentioned it might be a little more business-like tends to steer me away due to the purpose of my trip this time.
Board-O - I'll send you a PM | | | |
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MTPockets
Grape Puncher
Posts:951
| | 12/18/2005 5:38 PM |
| | Another hotel right on Central Park is the Ritz-Carlton. The rooms on the north side have the park views. A plus for the Ritz is complimentary use of their Maybach. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 12/18/2005 5:49 PM |
| | I have actually stayed at that Ritz. The view of the Park from my room was fabulous. Didn't know about the car service, however. | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10799
| | 12/18/2005 9:52 PM |
| Mdriver -Quote:
However, my AmEx travel service also tells me that most often I'd get upgraded if I were to book any of those hotels through them (although, it might just be a marketing ploy and they do caveat that its based on availability).
Not just a marketing ploy - we generally get upgraded at all of the AMEX Platinum properties. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 12/19/2005 3:08 PM |
| | Thanks, Shannon! That's great info. | | | |
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whiner
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Wine Thief
Posts:2875
| | 12/19/2005 3:44 PM |
| Just confirming what Winetex posted. If booked via AmEx Platnium, you get a free room upgrade if one is available (plus, generally, free breakfast). You sometimes even get a special gift basket in your room.
a | |
I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
-- Woody Allen | |
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JimmyV
Central Connecticut
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5112
| | 12/19/2005 3:46 PM |
| Slight thread drift, but the info will probably be useful to many readers of this thread:
Quote:
Not just a marketing ploy - we generally get upgraded at all of the AMEX Platinum properties.
When you book through Amex Platinum, do you usually pay the same rate that the hotels list on their own website? Starwood has a guarantee that their published rates are the lowest available, and experience shows that sites like Expedia and Travelocity match but don't beat those rates. Does Amex get the same rates, or are you paying a "premium" for your "free" upgrade? | |
Beta testing a new signature. | |
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JimmyV
Central Connecticut
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5112
| | 12/19/2005 3:49 PM |
| Quote:
If booked via AmEx Platnium, you get a free room upgrade if one is available
If you are Gold level or higher with Starwood, you get the same promise. I guess what we're trying to figure out is if one method gives you a higher probabitiy than the other. | |
Beta testing a new signature. | |
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whiner
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Wine Thief
Posts:2875
| | 12/19/2005 3:51 PM |
| Quote:
Slight thread drift, but the info will probably be useful to many readers of this thread:
Quote:
Not just a marketing ploy - we generally get upgraded at all of the AMEX Platinum properties.
When you book through Amex Platinum, do you usually pay the same rate that the hotels list on their own website? Starwood has a guarantee that their published rates are the lowest available, and experience shows that sites like Expedia and Travelocity match but don't beat those rates. Does Amex get the same rates, or are you paying a "premium" for your "free" upgrade?
Pretty much the same rates unless there is a special being run, in which case the Starwood rate may be lower. But, in general, the (basically) same rate.
a | |
I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
-- Woody Allen | |
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