Live Blogging Gramercy Park Hotel :: The Room

August 14, 2006 at 10:21 AM | by juliana | Comments (0)

After checking in to the Gramercy Park Hotel, another model-esque young man takes us to our room on the 9th floor. Model/Staffer #2 is extremely outgoing and helpful and gives a good tour of our deluxe room which has two double beds.

We walk in and are first met with a simple desk and a fabric and tassled desk chair (we are sure Julian Schnabel is cursing our rudimentary decor critique). Next to that is an antique armchair upholstered in deep deep blue velvet. A little gothic-looking but we kinda like it. Above is simple light bulb screwed into what we think is original light fixture molding left over from the old GPH. There are two giant windows with simple red velvet curtains (we imagine should Scarlett O'Hara ever stay here and need a dress, these would do just fine.) There's also dark wood blinds on the windows to shut out the light, or the view of the other GPH rooms across the way. One cool thing about the view is that you can tell which rooms are GPH rooms--the red velvet curtains are the giveaway--and which rooms are GP residence rooms--the unfinished apartments with no window treatments or furniture.

More on the room amenities after the jump

The room features a black, wall-mounted flat-screen LG TV that swivels from side to side and pulls out. There's a mirrored English bar underneath the TV where you can pour your little nightcap. The bar also has an iPod stereo that comes complete with a personalized GPH White Nano iPod which features 10 playlists custom-created for the hotel. Our bellhop/GQ cover guy told us the Nano is yours for the duration of your stay and you can take it anywhere you want to go while in NYC. But should you take it home with you, a $750 charge will be added to your bill. Damn, that is one expensive Nano.

Underneath the English Bar/iPod stero is a mini-bar and snacks as well as a DVD player with over 300 titles in stock at the hotel for you to choose from. Just call the front desk for whatever you need--movie-wise.

The beds are plush and comfy--Schrager didn't skimp here--with giant red velvet headboards. There's also more velvet in the form of deep blue velvet blanket laid on the end of the bed (almost the same blue as the goth chair.)

Our favorite part of the room is the bathroom. Since NYC bathrooms are typically very small, and Schrager hotel rooms are even smaller, we were expecting the hotel bathroom to be very claustrophobic, however this one is a good-size. It is not spacious or roomy, but there is a vanity area with a large sink and at least 10 towels, although the light bulbs are frightening, but don't worry there is a dimmer. Oh, and the velvet doesn't end with the main room, there is a red velvet shower curtain (same as the window curtains.) Everything was brand new, of course. We are talking towels straight out of the packaging new--and there is something about that new car smell....

The entire room is deep wood paneling and the fixtures have a bit of a turn-of-the-century charm. In fact, the entire guestroom, despite is modern amenities feels rather like an English castle than 2006 Manhattan hipster hotel.

Is it game-changing? We will go over all that in a bit, for now, let's just say this is definitely a place for international jetsetters who can afford the expected $550 rack rate and is comfortable with posh. But it's not a great hotel room for the run-of-the-mill business traveler. The WiFi costs $14.95 a day and you won't find an available power outlet by the desk--form over function, right?

More on the GPH bar scene to come shortly.

How could we not live blog the Gramercy Park Hotel in its opening week? Last night we spent the night at Ian Schrager's place. This morning sit back and enjoy an extended live blogging session on our stay, live from GPH. Best place to catch up with the action is probably on the Gramercy Park Hotel page -- look for the "Live Blogging" stories.

Related Stories:
· Gramercy Park Hotel Coverage [HotelChatter]
· Gramercy Park Hotel reviews [TripAdvisor]

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