Cool Places to Stay in NYC

I have either stayed in or visited the following and would recommend them all:

Hudson Hotel (very trendy / scene)
Giraffe (very cool / classy yet luxurious)
Palace (luxurious and very traditional)
Embassy Suites (great for extended stays)
Ameritania (next to Times Square and good bargain for Eurostyle)
Royalton (cool / trendy and good bar)
SOHO Grand (very cool and elegant, great location, nice bar scene)
Roger Williams (very cool and a relative bargain)
Marriott Financial Center (good location and nice if you horde Marriott points)

Quick Tips:

You can get a really great deal on these hotels by going through Quikbook.com (which is in the IgoUgo Travel Provider listing).

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way for me to describe the Roger Williams is very modern and elegant. The phrase "less is more" definitely applies. It has an exceptional version of everything you need and nothing more. A few things I really liked:

- the complimentary breakfast, bottled water and espresso
- the terrace for my room
- the business center (I had a lot of work to get done)
- access to the in-room fitness center and access to a New York Sports Club
- the very comfortable bed
- the location (very convenient for nice restaurants and shopping)
- cool design (lots of maple, brushed steel and backlit screens)

This isn''t a huge hotel where things are done for efficiency sake. The little touches are nice, the staff is very helpful and I felt like I got a really good deal. Other friends who have stayed here echoed a similar sentiment.

I still laugh at the name, but the hotel is perhaps my favorite in New York City. Most importantly, the rooms, the service, the amenities, the location and everything about this hotel are fantastic. For lack of a better word it is very classy...not over the top, not ostentatious, just very elegant and well adorned. You immediately sense that you are in for a wonderful stay from the moment you walk in the door. The registration desk is small and does not detract from the comfortable feeling of the lobby. Everyone is polite and I couldn''t ask anything because all of my questions were anticipated. Some of my favorite things:

- You don''t get nickel and dimed: you get complimentary water and juice, wine and cheese and breakfast.
- The complimentary pass to the health club Duomo: This is one of the nicest health clubs in the city and is only a block from the hotel.
- The rooms are impeccable: From the down pillows, to the cloudlike bed, to the stereo system and other nice touches, you will appreciate your stay.
- The location is great: You are at the midpoint between the business area and the entertainment area of New York City. It is easy to go either way and you will not feel overwhelmed by the crowds of the city. Check out the restaurant Tabla located a block away.

You pay a little more for this hotel, but I didn''t even notice. If the need arises, I will not hesitate to stay here again.

This is a classic case of ''be careful what you ask for''. If you are looking for something that is very trendy and buzzing, then the Hudson is great. On the other hand, if you are looking for relaxation, space and low-key, you are way off. Personally, I really enjoyed the Hudson. Yes the rooms are tiny and you might laugh at the size of the bathroom. But everything is very well done and a lot of thought was put into creating a more interesting atmosphere than at your typical big chain hotel. Having said that about the room, I don''t think it is the main reason people do or do not stay here. Downstairs, the scene at the different bars is quite electric and the people watching is excellent. In fact, the Yellow Bar is a destination in and of its own right. For a more relaxed feel, the library bar is very low key. Also, I enjoyed the restaurant and would highly recommend the waffles for breakfast. Finally, you are only a block away from Central Park, so the location is quite nice.

If you want to stay at a more modern feeling hotel in NYC, but don''t want to pay a fortune, the Ameritania is a pretty good choice. The decor is pretty minimal with lots of clean lines and a Scandinavian elegance. It is a little rough around the edges compared to some of the higher profile trendy hotels, but you don''t really notice. The rooms are relatively large and you have all the amenities you need. Also, you are only about five blocks south of Central Park and eight blocks north of Times Square. Further, the Late Show with David Letterman is taped next door and Bar 54 (next to the hotel) is a good place to grab a drink before you hit the town.

I like to stay at a hotel with a little personality, and in New York, the Ian Schrager hotels (i.e. Paramount, Royalton, Morgan's, etc.) always deliver. This was my first stay at the Paramount, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a hip hotel. The lobby, the hallways, the elevators, and the bar are all highly designed. Unique touches abound (i.e. the mirror outside the elevators has the up-to-date weather forecast embedded), and you forget that the rooms are tiny. Our room was all white, with a checkered carpet as the only real color break. The chairs were straight from Alice and Wonderland (large backs and funky curves), and the bed was low-to-the-ground and comfortable.

Other parts of the hotel were also memorable. After a night on the town, the Paramount Bar provides a nice place for a nightcap. The crowd is a combination of tourists and hipsters, but we liked the vibe. The restaurant in the hotel is also worth checking out (the food is nice, and I liked sitting above the lobby, watching who came in and out of the hotel). Further, I liked the newsstand and the Dean and Deluca café (a fancy place to get some good coffee, muffin, bagel, juice, etc.) in the lobby.

Finally, the service and location were great. We had a few special requests, and they were always met with a smile and a quickness that we appreciated. Regarding the location, the hotel is a couple of blocks from the center of Times Square. It was cool to walk through at night, when Times Square was bustling...and a little surreal walking through the next morning, when Times Square was empty. Plus, the access to subways was fantastic. This was a good launching point for any part of the city.

If you don't like 60 Thompson, I'm not sure you can be pleased by a hotel. Everything about the hotel is sophisticated, well-designed, and cool. My first introduction to the hotel was the restaurant (which is always fabulous and worth visiting during your stay or in general). My second introduction came when a friend stayed at the hotel and invited me to the roof deck (for guests only). It has some of the best views of the city and a very intimate and hip vibe (plus good drinks). My third introduction came when I stopped by the bar that is open to the public. It was a pretty hot scene and very crowded. Finally, I had a special occasion, so I decided to book a room for the weekend as a special treat for my girlfriend and me.

All I can say is that I was a hero in her eyes. The rooms were so romantic and relaxing, and everything about the place just oozed sensuality. As with any hotel in NY, the rooms are a little small. But the little touches (i.e. the choice of decor, the linens, the amenities) made this hotel an instant favorite. It is popular and expensive, but you get your money's worth. Plus, I liked the fact that it was accessible, but the guests get the feeling of extra special treatment (i.e. guest-only roof deck). You will feel like a movie star.

The location is also worth noting. You will be right in the middle of SoHo. Within a few blocks, you will find some of the best shopping and eating in all of New York. I particularly like SoHo because you can go from quiet, cobblestone streets to absolute hustle and bustle. Little Italy, Chinatown, Tribeca, and Greenwich Village are all easily within walking distance.

All things considered, I give 60 Thompson my highest recommendation. I always tell my friends to stay here (particularly when their companies are picking up the bill), and I will stay again, even though I actually live in New York.

If you want to feel like a star, then the Hotel (The Mercer) is perhaps one of the best choices. First, it is located in the heart of SoHo, so you can partake in some high-end shopping and dining. Second, you are very likely to actually see more than one famous person. While we were sitting in the guest-only lounge area, we saw several famous movie stars. The Hotel does a great job of creating a space for guests only and making you feel special. Third, the rooms are amazing. Let's forget about the price for a second, because our room was one of the coolest places I have ever stayed. It had about 1,000 square feet, which included a sitting area, a huge bathroom, and an ultra-cool bed area that was separated from the other rooms by a massive, leather, sliding curtain. When my girlfriend saw the room, she was speechless for about two minutes (no small feat for her). The weather was pretty horrible, so we holed up in the room and had a truly decadent weekend.

The food at the hotel is amazing. In and of its own right, the Mercer Kitchen is one of the nicer restaurants in SoHo. I have eaten there several times, and the room services provided access to the same great food.

A few nice touches:
- the hotel provides nice umbrellas for all guests when it is raining
- the flowers are amazing
- the library is super-cool
- the access to cool CDs and everything you need for a romantic, sexy stay

I definitely highly recommend this hotel as an ultra-cool, decadent place to stay. The price was off-the-charts (and fortunately my company was paying), but it is worth a splurge for a special occasion.