This past August we made a quick trip down to New York City where we stayed at the Library Collection of hotels. In three days we managed to see a lot. I would say this was in large part because we chose accommodations that were central and close to a lot of the main tourist attractions. I book all of my vacations with proximity in mind. While it’s always good to save money where you can, you have to remember that public transportation costs more than walking (obviously). Always do a cost comparison and see if staying a bit outside of the city is worth it. For us on this trip it wasn’t, travelling back and forth would have just wasted too much time than I was willing to give up so the Library Collection of hotels were the perfect compromise.
The other best part of the trip? We got to stay in a different hotel every night. Sure, to some people this may sound exhausting but if you’ve ever travelled with me, you know that’s just the way I roll. Getting to stay in three different hotels allowed us to not only see different pockets of New York City it also got us to experience the different types of accommodations.
We decided to stay within the Library Collection of hotels because of their popularity, price, ratings and location. All three of the hotels we stayed in were located in Manhattan making it very easy to walk (mostly) everywhere we needed to.
Hotel Elysee
Our first of the Library Collection of hotels was Hotel Elysee. Because of a terrible delay with Porter Airlines we didn’t actually get to the hotel until about 2 in the morning so we couldn’t do too much exploring at the time. Even arriving as late as we did, the front staff at reservations were very polite and friendly. Definitely appreciated considering my mood from being delayed for so many hours.
I must say though first impression of the hotel is that it’s dated, almost stuck in time. Reminds me of an old country inn you’d find somewhere in the outskirts of rural New York. That theme is echoed throughout the entire building. You almost feel nostalgic for a time you never knew.
The room was also much bigger than I expected it to be. We had a little hallway, plenty of closet space and the room even had a ‘seating area’. From everything I heard about New York real estate, I couldn’t believe we had so much room in the hotel!
We woke up the next morning with a delicious buffet breakfast at Hotel Elysee. This wasn’t the typical hotel breakfast either, there was so much to choose from, especially with a big bowl of fresh fruit.
Best for: Those looking to be close to the major shopping areas of New York City and travellers who like elegance and simplicity.
Nearby: The hotel is located very close to the southern part of Central Park as well as the major luxury shopping areas like Bloomingdales.
Average Price: $300USD
Hotel Giraffe
Second stop on our New York City tour was Hotel Giraffe. I have to say we were incredibly impressed with this hotel. The decor seemed very modern and chic. As soon as we checked in we made our way up to our room to refresh before going for dinner and out for the night.
The hotel room was much smaller than Hotel Elysee but was very comfortable and felt upscale. The large bed was one of the comfiest hotel beds I had slept in in a very long time. My favourite part of the room? the little balcony with double doors that opened onto the streets below. I couldn’t help but taking a picture of myself there, it was too good to resist! Oh, also – the bathroom walls were all mirrors, definitely a plus when getting ready!
Before dinner we enjoyed a drink up on the rooftop. I have no idea why it wasn’t busy because it was such a cute little spot but it was kind of nice to have it all to ourselves. With basically our own private bartender and amazing views, we were pretty content sitting up there for an hour or so.
That night we had dinner at Bread & Tulips restaurant which is located in the bottom of the hotel. The restaurant looks unassuming from the outside but as you make your way down the winding steps into the main area you can’t help but be pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is Italian chic and the decor is as comforting as the food. If you’re staying in Hotel Giraffe you really can’t miss out the chance to eat here. The good was very filling and reasonably priced. I would recommend the pasta as I found the pizza had a bit too much cheese for my liking .. unless you’re into that than go for it!
Hotel Giraffe also had a lovely complimentary breakfast for us to devour before heading out for another day in New York City. Honestly finding a hotel that provides free breakfast is definitely a plus. It helped us to save quite a bit of money touring around because we made sure to fill up as much as we could our days adventures.
Best for: This hotel is best for travellers who enjoy a bit of luxury, great views and modern decor. If you don’t want to travel far during your stay then Hotel Giraffe‘s ideal location is perfect for you.
Nearby: The Hotel Giraffe is located very close to a few of New York City’s most iconic landmarks including; the Empire State building and the flatiron building.
Average price: $350USD
Library Hotel
Last but not least on our Library Collection tour, we stayed at the Library Hotel. I’m going to be a giant nerd here for a second and say that this was the coolest hotel I’ve every stayed in. Seriously. The whole hotel was dedicated to books, books and more books! Located on the ‘library walk’ of New York City the name and theme of the hotel was only too fitting.
The theme of the hotel is quite simply, the Dewey Decimal system. Every floor in the hotel is dedicated to the 10 different categories of that system. Each room is then dedicated to a specific category you would find in your floor’s category. The category of that room is adorned with books suiting the theme. During our stay we had the Computer Science room. Can’t say it’s my favourite topic but I was too excited with the actual theme of the hotel to care. With over 6,000 books, this was like my mini heaven.
To make it even better, the hotel had a complimentary food and wine session during happy hour for the guests. In the reading room we could sip all kinds of wine and have mini snacks. Ben of course found solace with his favourite book, Where’s Waldo. I on the other hand enjoyed flipping through a Roald Dahl classic.
Best for: Travellers with a passion for the written word and can appreciate a good book. The close proximity to a few of New York’s famous landmarks makes this hotel ideal for travellers wanting to see the city’s top tourist attractions.
Nearby: Appropriately, the hotel is located closest to the New York Public Library. A short distance away you’ll also find, Time Square, Rockafeller Centre and the Chrysler Building.
Average Price: $400USD
All in all there are so many great places in New York City to stay at. I only stayed in a small portion. While it can be quite expensive staying right in Manhattan it’s definitely worth the price. Being able to step outside your door and see everything within walking distance is such luxury.
Additional Notes
NEW YORK CITY TRAVEL BOOKS
*Our stays in the Library Collection of hotels and dinner at Bread & Tulips were sponsored. As always, all opinions were my own and I only collaborate with travel companies that you guys will love!
[…] started our day coming from the South side of New York City as we were staying at the Library Hotel. For the sake of this itinerary and your knowledge we entered Central Park at the corner of 5th […]