10022 Travel Guide - Page 2
Hotel News / Hotel Honey / Hotel Bees / Manhattan Hotels / Hotel Restaurants / Hotel Food / Hotel Amenities / Waldorf-Astoria Hotels / → All Tags
Find Out The Latest Buzzz At Waldorf-Astoria By Heading Up To The Roof
We thought we heard some funny noises coming from the Waldorf-Astoria last time we visited, and it turns out the hotel does indeed have some rackety new residents who have set up shop on the roof. The NY Post reports that 48,000 honeybees have been installed to make Waldorf-Astoria-branded honey, which will then be served to guests during meals as well as packaged and sold.
We would normally expect this from other, balmier destinations (like, for instance, Grand Wailea, whose honey we've tasted and enjoyed), but we guess there's no reason why New York can't get in on the fun. Come to think of it, this is something that's been done for a while now—we spotted this emerging trend back in 2010 in places like Toronto, Chicago and Charlotte. And as the saying goes, if bees can make it honey in New York, they can really make it anywhere.
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The Sleep Concierge At The Benjamin Shows Off Her Favorite Pillows
The Benjamin Sleep Concierge, Anya Orlanska
Have you ever flirted with a hotel concierge? In our series, Concierge Interviews, HotelChatter goes behind the Front Desk and gets chummy with the men—and women—whose job it is to never say no. Filmed inside various lobbies, courtyards, and bar lounges, each video will offer a glimpse into the world of hotels from the people who know them best. Got a burning question you'd like us to ask? Or have someone in mind for us to interview? Email us your requests!
Hotel Love Stories / Manhattan Hotels / Historic Hotels / Waldorf Astoria Hotels / Cheap Hotels / → All Tags
Couple Celebrates 60th Wedding Anniversary At the Waldorf-Astoria. For $16.80 A Night
Here's a tale that's sure to warm your hearts on this dreary Friday morning, and then perhaps make you a little jealous: a New England couple that's been married for 60 years just celebrated their anniversary at the Waldorf-Astoria, the same place they spent their wedding night in 1952. The price they paid back then? $16.80. The price they'll pay this weekend on their anniversary visit? $16.80.
Apparently, old lady Waldorf has a policy of charging only the original room rate for returning guests who are celebrating a special event. According to the NY Daily News, who wrote Wednesday's piece on the New England couple, about two or three couples make use of the perk every year.
Which tells us there must be plenty of happily married couples out there who have a super cheap stay waiting for them at the Waldorf-Astoria, and who aren't making use of it. But we know someone who might be interested in taking the reservation off their hands...(us!)
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The Kimberly Will Send You Sky High For Breakfast This Month
We've never known a hotel to be modest about showing off its awesome views. Still, we usually reserve our best window-gazing for later in the evening, when skylines are a-twinkle and sunsets are killer. But guests at the Kimberly Hotel in Manhattan get to enjoy awesome views of the city first thing in the morning, with free breakfasts in the rooftop lounge, Upstairs.
A buffet spread will offer French toast, pancakes, oatmeal, pastries, omelets, bacon and hash browns. Though the usual cost of the meal is $25 per person, all guests will get it for free through the end of the month. Turns out February isn't such a bad time to stay in hotels after all.
POTUS Hotels / Hotel News / Hotel Bathrooms / Bathroom Tuesdays / Hotel Snapshots / Historic Hotels / Manhattan Hotels / Waldorf Astoria Hotels / → All Tags
The Veil Has Been Lifted From Waldorf-Astoria's Presidential Suite. Now What?
Barring the possibility that you're a former President—or that you don't mind spending $10,000/night—then you've likely never caught a glimpse of the Waldorf-Astoria's Presidential Suite. Why? Because until recently, the hotel has never allowed photography inside the suite.
Lucky for us, the NY Daily News has taken on the oppressive task of video touring the entire space—from gleaming top (the crystal chandelier in the master bedroom) to well-polished bottom (the black-and-white tiled bathroom floor).
Now, the goods are out in the open for all to see. So, what do you think?
Hotel Christmas Trees / W Hotels / Christmas Hotels / Manhattan Hotels / Holiday Hotel Decorations / → All Tags
W New York's Christmas Tree Spells It Out
...And the award for most literal Christmas decorations in a hotel goes to the W New York. Walking into the lobby, it's a little tinsel tree and a few metallic mosaic tchotchkes all around, but go straight ahead and you'll see it: a TREE. No, really.
Their faux Christmas tree vertically spells out "T R E E." Sure, at first we just thought it was an awkwardly cube-shaped tree as W's attempt to be edgy, but it's so much more than that. It's...letters. Hmm.
Hanukkah Hotels / Hotel Christmas Trees / Christmas Hotels / Manhattan Hotels / → All Tags
The Waldorf-Astoria Lights Their Lobby Menorah
Although there's still several more days to go until you can rip through the presents underneath the Christmas tree, Hanukkah started last time, meaning gifts are already being opened as the candles of the menorah are lit, day-by-day. And although almost every hotel lobby wouldn't be caught without a massive Christmas tree, it's actually pretty rare to find a hotel menorah.
One standby for finding a menorah is the Waldorf-Astoria—the original on Park Avenue in New York City. Enter through the Park Ave doors and head up the stairs, past the Christmas trees and underneath the chandelier. Keep going and just before you hit the main reception area with its classic art deco details, you'll see this 5' tall gold menorah.
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As The NBA Lockout Ends, The Waldorf-Astoria Breathes A Big Sigh Of Relief
After an almost four-month-long stand-off, some sort of agreement has been reached between the owners and teams of the NBA. Though not without some damage to the morale of a few New York City hotel staffers. According to this NY Times piece yesterday, most of the talks took place inside various conference rooms of hotels, whose lobbies turned into waiting rooms for the reporters covering the proceedings.
While stacking up empty pizza boxes, plugging in countless laptops, and pulling frantic, cookie-bingeing all-nighters, the reporters managed to get a first-hand glimpse of life in the lobbies of the Waldorf-Astoria and the Lowell. And while they weren't technically breaking any rules, we're guessing they won't be getting invited back anytime soon.
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How To Catch The Snowflake Princess In Action
If you have any desire to catch a glimpse of the New York Palace's Snowflake Princess this month, you better plan your visit well. Her majesty will only make appearances on Friday evenings (3–5pm) and on Saturdays and Sundays during brunch (noon–3pm)—but even then, you'll still have to pin her down.
Modeled after the princess at Disney World, the Snowflake Princess will routinely flit between balconies and windows in the lobby—appearing one minute, disappearing the next—to make her presence all the more magical. Flanking her will be two rosy-cheeked Palace Guards (above), who add some testosterone color to the whole holiday fantasy. The fanciful trio made their debut at the hotel's tree lighting ceremony on Tuesday night, and thankfully, the Princess stood still long enough to pose for pictures outside in the hotel's courtyard.
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What Is This At The Omni Berkshire Place?
We like to keep it fun but informative here at HotelChatter so our newest series, What is This? is devoted to odd-looking items in hotel rooms that upon first glance look as if they serve only a decorative purpose. But everything happens for a reason, right? And we're here to tell you what these things really do.
It took us a while to figure out what the heck this miniature doodad was, though several factors in the room (a malfunctioning safe, for one) distracted us from the mystery at hand. And anyway, the Omni Berkshire Place is a pretty classy joint, so we weren't about to throw a tantrum when we had delicious cocktails and pink-accented bathrooms to enjoy.
But it turns out it's not so much what this thing does than what it stops from happening.
Too cryptic? Click below to see what we mean.
Sweet Suites / Fashion Hotels / St. Regis Hotels / Dior / Hotel News / → All Tags
Move Over Tiffany, The St. Regis Has Now Opened a Dior Suite
We thought the astounding Tiffany Suite at the St. Regis New York was a genius fashion+hotel partnership but the hotel is now one-upping the suite success by partnering with fashion house, Dior.
The Dior Suite, room 1203, is now open to guests who want to pay $8,500 a night to sleep with their favorite designer fashion.
Womens' Wear Daily reports:
Consisting of a bedroom, one-and-a-half bathrooms, a dining room and living room, the suite’s design details were inspired by the house’s Parisian ateliers. The decadently designed, 1700-square-foot space is almost entirely “whispering” gray, the house’s signature shade. This is the hotel’s second go-around with the Parisian house, having opened an original Dior Suite in 1991.
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How Many Pianos Does The St. Regis Need?
What do businessmen and businesswomen look for in a conference room? Good coffee, a strong wi-fi signal, and probably some comfy chairs. What about an antique Steinway piano? We're guessing not.
Back in July, we happened upon this neglected beauty in the mezzanine level of The Algonquin, where one hotel staffer admitted the piano had sat unattended for the past three years. Now, we know large, unwieldy pianos have a way of becoming part of the furniture—but surely there's got to be a better place for a lonely Steinway than next to the fire exit?
