Your Destination Guide to New York City

The Alex

Posh, elegant and soothing, this Midtown hotel sits quietly just off busy Third Avenue yet right in the middle of the midtown's action and has everything a traveler can wish for a short action-packed stay in New York City. Rooms are tastefully furbished with retro-style furniture and cr?me de la cr?me brand amenities: Frederic Fekkai bath products, Frette linens, and Dean & Deluca snack trays plus the typical flat-screen TV, high-speed Internet access and Wi-Fi with the addition of ultra-convenient Alex Business Cart (fax, scanner, and other equipment). Suites have kitchens with a gamut of appliances from refrigerators to stovetops, and to ovens and dishwashers. The nearby restaurant Riingo serves American and Japanese cuisine and provides 24-hour room service. And if you are on a romantic getaway, don't miss your chance to lounge in front of the lobby fireplace and hold hands while watching the flame dance and glow.

• Information
• Location: 205 E. 45th St. (off Third Ave.), New York, NY
• Phone: 212-867-5100
• Website: www.thealexhotel.com
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Tribeca Grand

If Midtown feels too busy and overcrowded, try the Tribeca Grand - one of New York's top hotels. Tribeca Grand is hip without hype, right smack in the middle of the fashionable and famous New York TriBeCa area, which stands for the 'Triangle Below Canal' and is bordered by Canal Street on the north, Broadway, Vesey Street by the south, and washed by the Hudson River on the east. One of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, TriBeCa hosted an echelon of New York artists in the '70s and '80s inside its former industrial spaces converted into multi-million dollar lofts that now house great fame and fortune. The Tribeca Grand opened its doors in May 2000, marking the arrival of the first New York luxury hotel in TriBeCa and turning the hip neighborhood into a one-stop destination for downtown Manhattan culture, close to Wall Street and Ground Zero, and only a short subway ride away from Times Square, MoMA, and the Theater District.

The hotel offers over 200 rooms, with spectacular Manhattan views. The rooms are furnished in a sleek, minimalist-style and equipped with the latest technology, providing maximum comfort for weekend getaways or business trips. Designed by William Sofield and recently renovated, the Penthouse suite features a grand living room and an exquisitely decorated master bath. Amenities include flat-screen plasma televisions, fully equipped iMac G5, and Sony Dream Machine Speaker Dock digital music system - everything and more that TriBeCa local residents would expect at home. For those who prefer TriBeCa's cool to Midtown's hassle, and hidden artsy boutiques to Fifth Avenue shopping, this is the place to stay.

• Information
• Location: Two Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY
• Phone: 877 519 6600
• Website: www.tribecagrand.com
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The Lowell

An intimate hotel with the feel of a private mansion, The Lowell New York, is located on a quiet, tree-lined street off Madison Avenue, right in the heart of Upper East Side, New York's most exclusive and fashionable area. The Lowell boasts thirty three suites with wood-burning fireplaces, fourteen suites with spacious terraces, many with fully equipped kitchens and some with in-room libraries. Every room is individually decorated with fine carpets and antiques and such elegant tasteful touches as Asian porcelain bowls, bronze figurines and botanical prints. Scandinavian down comforters, Italian marble bathrooms, Bulgari amenities plus Bose Wave music systems, iPods and iPod docking stations, keep the hotel on the cutting edge. The Penthouse has a terraced garden. The Manhattan Suite is furnished in dramatic Art Deco style which includes a rare collection of New York photos. The famous fourteenth-floor Garden Suite, has two terraces with a fountain and immaculately kept flowerbeds. Special services include twenty-four hour multi-lingual concierge and maid service twice daily.

Hidden away on the second floor, The Pembroke Room is one of New York City's best kept secrets, favored by prominent locals who meet here for power breakfast, as well as weekend brunch, and cocktails, and certainly for afternoon tea, which has become a New York social ritual. Serene and charming, The Pembroke Room envelops the guests in its stylish warmth while they sample the richest collection of teas from around the world, traditional scones and Devonshire cream, finger sandwiches, fresh berries, pastries and petit fours. Of course, hors d'oeuvres and spirits are available as well.

• Information
• Location: 28 E. 63rd St. (Park & Madison Aves.), New York, NY
• Phone: 212-838-1400 or 800-221-4444
• Website: www.lowellhotel.com
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Hotel Plaza Athenee

Perhaps not as well-known as the famous New York hotel landmarks, Hotel Plaza Athenee is one of the most respected hotels in the world - an oasis of elegant French luxury on the fashionable East Side. Plaza Athenee blends old style European grandeur with the intimacy of a boutique hotel. With its crystal-and-marble lobby, Louis XVI furniture, and gigantic murals, it instantly transports you to nineteenth century France, completing the experience with potted palms and lavish floral arrangements that would rivals the Louvre's.

While the opulence and the service are suitable for royalty, anyone is welcome in this elegant East Side gem. The hotel has recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation, and the 142 guest rooms and suites mirror the luxury of the lobby, furnished in French townhouse style with their Sferra Italian fine linens, soft plush robes, marble bathrooms, Penhaligon's amenities, pantries, refrigerators, and even stoves. While styled in best traditions of nineteenth century, the hotel doesn't miss a bit on the modern decadence which includes a twenty-four hour health lounge, a newly opened spa offering a gamut of unique treatments, huge plasma-screen TVs, wireless, Internet, safes, mini-bars and hair dryers and, in certain select rooms, iPod docking stations and DVD players. Suites boast homey living rooms with hardwood floors and sofa beds, one and half bathrooms and full kitchenettes, perfect for the long term stays. Deluxe Suites feature balconies, glass-enclosed terraces and/or solariums. The Thai Suite features luxurious Asian silk fabrics and exquisite wood millwork while the Penthouse two-story duplex suite boasts a spacious glass-enclosed atrium terrace with seating areas and an outdoor balcony which wraps around half the length of the building. The hotel provides truly unforgettable romantic getaway packages which feature luxurious accommodations for 'Two In a Suite' or in two connecting guestrooms, Perrier Jouet Champagne on arrival, spa treatments, and even a private shopper.

• Information
• Location: 37 E. 64th St. (Madison & Park Aves.), New York, NY
• Phone: 212-734-9100 or 800-447-8800
• Website: www.plaza-athenee.com
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Carlton

Over a century ago, the luxury Carlton hotel transformed the neighborhood into one of Manhattan's most desirable areas. Originally opened as Hotel Seville in 1904 - just before the opening of the New York City subway - this historic hotel helped to transform the area into one of New York City's most elegant destinations. Originally designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Harry Allen Jacobs, the hotel was later majorly redesigned and refurbished by David Rockwell in a multi-million dollar transformation effort, and now surprises its guests with the seamless integration of old-world charm and modern urban extravagance. The guest rooms feature traditional materials with a modern twist. Unusual tall leather headboards, dark walnut wood, distressed mirrored furnishings and polished nickel create a unique eclectic look, which sets Carlton apart from other luxury hotels in New York City. The hotel features 317 guest rooms and suites and a vintage bar that hosted stars such as Frank Sinatra back in 1912. And if this doesn't pique your curiosity, dig this: during the reconstruction, the hotel staff rediscovered a Tiffany-style glass skylight on the Mezzanine Level, long hidden by layers of paint used to deter air raids during World War II.

• Information
• Location: 88 Madison Avenue, New York, NY
• Hotel Direct Phone: 212-532-4100, Reservations: 866-774-0263
• Website: www.carltonhotelny.com
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Omni Berkshire Place

Literally steps away from the luxury of 5th Avenue shopping, Omni Berkshire Place, one of New York City's most exclusive midtown Manhattan hotels, combines modern elegance and sophistication in a Midtown Manhattan's premium spot. Located on the corner of Madison Ave and Fifty Second Street, Omni is one block from St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center and three blocks from Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art, while Central Park is a ten-minute walk.

Omni is a perfect destination for the leisure traveler, while the services and amenities appeal to the corporate executive looking for a world-class business hotel in New York. The service is impeccable, the amenities excellent, and the food tray is stuffed with gourmet snacks that can carry you through the day without having to set foot outside the door or even call room service. The rooms are a bit on the small size, but tastefully decorated with gorgeous mahogany furnishings, comfortable beds, luxury linens, and bathrobes as soft and fluffy as clouds. The only problem a traveler may face at the Omni is being too comfortable and never wanting to get out of bed.

• Information
• Location: 21 East 52nd Street at Madison Avenue, New York, NY
• Phone: 212-753-5800
• Website: www.omnihotels.com
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New York Marriott Marquis

The New York Marriott Marquis brings the energy of New York City to the door of your room. Towering over Times Square and overlooking the crowd pouring in and out of Broadway theaters, this Midtown NYC hotel is perfect for weekend getaways, family and business travel. The famous New York attractions like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Madison Square Garden are within walking distance from the hotel and so are Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center and Central Park. The hotel boasts tasteful rooms, unusually large for Midtown Manhattan, and countless boutiques that sell everything a shopper may dream of.

High-speed glass elevators, the hotel's hidden attraction, yet well-known by the locals, whisk passengers 48 stories above the city in seconds, leaving them to survey the astonishing view of Times Square in awe and veneration. They deposit the crowds at The View - a revolving restaurant, which perhaps is the hotel biggest draw. The View offers an excellent Nuevo American menu while slowly taking the guests on a three hundred and sixty degree journey of the magnificent universe of the midtown Manhattan. On top of the restaurant sits a revolving lounge much favored by couples who love to sip their drinks and hold hands while watching Times Square ads glare like artificial suns against the backdrop of the city skyline, where myriads of smaller lights glow in the night sky like a galaxy of its own.

• Information
• Location: 1535 Broadway, New York, NY
• Phone: 800-843-4898 or 212-398-1900
• Website: marriott.com/newyorkcity
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The Plaza

No New York hotel review would be complete without the Plaza, the timeless landmarked New York luxury hotel that has recently emerged from the $450 million metamorphosis, striking a balance between its opulent grandeur of the Beaux Arts décor and the new modern-style reflecting pools, elaborate lighting and exotic plants of the Tranquility Garden. The Palm Court (which can compete with the Paris Louvre in its splendor) proudly continues its famous tradition of the Afternoon Tea service blending an innovative menu with a formal tea to provide guests a balance of service and flavorful cuisine. It also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Charming Boutiques provides countless hours of shopping with the world's finest purveyors of art, jewelry and fashion. The Plaza offers 282 distinctive guestrooms, including 102 suites. From the artful décor to the impeccable white glove service, The Plaza is an extraordinary hotel that offers every indulgence imaginable, including an around the clock butler service for the suite guests. But, if a suite and a butler aren't fitting in your budget, treat yourself to a unforgettable visit to the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa, a true one of a kind skin rejuvenation heaven where every skin product is based on grape seeds, juice and stems. Just remember to book a private VIP room for two.

• Information
• Location: Fifth Avenue at Central Park South, New York, NY
• Phone: 888-850-0909 or 212-759-3000
• Website: www.theplaza.com
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Waldorf Astoria

Waldorf Astoria New York hotel, which starred in such American film classics as Scent of a Woman and Week-End at the Waldorf, is truly a beacon of old-world elegance gracefully combined with modern amenities and impeccable service. For Art Deco period lovers, there is no more thrilling destination than the Waldorf Astoria. Recognized as one of the most splendid examples of Art Deco art and architecture in the world, Waldorf Astoria is a living exhibit of design and decorative ornamentation, rare paintings and striking motifs - a true masterpiece of historic and architectural heritage. The hotel offers two types of accommodations: the Waldorf Astoria with beautifully furnished rooms and super comfortable featherbeds, and the Towers of Waldorf Astoria, which sit secretly on the uppermost floors, high above New York City, creating an exclusive world known by only the most discerning travelers, and offering luxury accommodations as legendary as the guests who have stayed within. The hotel has been home to Marilyn Monroe, the inventor Nikola Tesla, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, who had maintained an apartment at the Towers for many years and even such prominent historic gangster figures as Frank Costello, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, and Charles "Lucky" Luciano.

The modern hotel has three American and classic European restaurants, and a beauty parlor located off the main lobby. The Guerlain Spa features 16 treatment rooms and two relaxation lounges that occupy most of the 19th floor. And if this doesn't impress you, here's an info bit known by a few: As part of its historical heritage, the hotel still maintains its own, secret railroad platform at the Grand Central Terminal (platform number 61, under the station). Designed specifically for Waldorf-Astoria, the platform was used to convey President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his limousine directly into the hotel in order to hide his polio-related disability from the public and press; an elevator large enough for Franklin D. Roosevelt's automobile provided access to the Grand Central platform, which was also used by Adlai Stevenson, Douglas MacArthur, and General Pershing.

• Information
• Location: 301 Park Avenue, New York, NY
• Phone: 212-355-3000
• Website: www.waldorfnewyork.com
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Four Seasons

It is only fair to start the nearly limitless list of New York luxury hotels with the famous Four Seasons located at the memorable address of 57 E 57th St, between Park and Madison Avenues in the heart of the premier shopping and business district. The honey-hued limestone tower soars 52 stories high, making Four Seasons the city's tallest hotel with hundreds of rooms commanding incredible views of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park. The hotel decor can be described as post-modern with historical 1920s references, and is sophisticated in a cosmopolitan way. The bedrooms are huge by New York standards and equipped with every modern perk (plasma TVs, internet, etc) while the suites are larger and more deluxe - the two Presidential Suites are 1,500 square feet each and occupy an entire floor of the hotel. On the top floor, there is the Ty Warner Penthouse equipped with its own private elevator, its own private spa and a chauffeured Rolls Royce Phantom and personal assistant.

The Four Seasons bar is the place to be seen - this is where prominent New York singles come to meet each other. The Four Seasons restaurant serves excellent Nuevo American cuisine, each dish a work of culinary art, including such unique and rare specialties like Bison Carpaccio and Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Strawberries. When you return to your room after the exquisite dinner, soak yourself in the huge tub of your Florentine marble bathrooms, which fills up literally in a New York minute - 60 seconds!

• Information
• Location: 57 East 57th Street, New York, NY
• Phone: 212-758-5700
• Website: www.fourseasons.com
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