Hotel review: Park Hyatt New York (USA)

Wednesday newsletters always feature a luxury hotel and/or flight review.

Today (November 25, 2015): Review of the Park Hyatt hotel in New York (USA). 

• Location: Google Maps
• Address: 153 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019, USA
• Hotel website: Park Hyatt New York
• Tip: enjoy exclusive VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso

Park Hyatt’s new flagship hotel opened last year (2014) and occupies the lower 25 floors of a towering, brand new skyscraper in midtown Manhattan. It features 210 generously sized guest rooms including 92 suites that combine luxury furnishings with high-tech amenities. Raising the standards for New York luxury hotels, Park Hyatt New York delivers style and sophistication in every detail with beautifully articulated spaces that are functional and fashionable.

Park Hyatt New York features in my lists of the best new luxury hotels of 2014, the top 10 best luxury hotels in New York, and the top 10 most stunning indoor hotel pools in the world.

In this review (more info below my Youtube clipe and slideshow):

• Pros & things I like
• Cons & things to know
• My verdict
• Tips for future guests & save money
• Best time to visit
• How to get there

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PROS & THINGS I LIKE

• With its premier address on West 57th Street, Park Hyatt New York is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, directly across the street from Carnegie Hall, one block from Central Park, and within walking distance of the Museum of Modern Art.

• The brand new hotel opened in 2014 in the lower floors of One57, a 75-story (marketed as 90-story) supertall skyscraper designed by world-renowned, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Christian de Portzamparc.

• The luxury hotel reflects the unparalleled elegance of the Park Hyatt brand, one of the most exclusive hotel brands in the world, ensuring a sophisticated and enriching experience for business and leisure travellers alike. In fact, it is the new flagship of the global Park Hyatt brand, taking that title from its Chicago sister property.

• Park Hyatt’s signature sophisticated, minimalist design throughout the hotel (lobby, restaurants, rooms, & spa) creates a high-end residential atmosphere rather than a traditional hotel environment.

• The hotel has two very elegant and ultra-chic lobbies. Guests are greeted in the ground-floor lobby on 57th Street, and then escorted to the hotel’s main lobby on the third floor, where check-in is done. The main lobby area features the reception desk, the concierge desk, a sitting area, a lounge with bar, and a restaurant. Four elevators shuttle guests in a record time between the two lobbies, so you never have to wait too long to enter or leave the hotel. Separate elevators take guests to the guestroom floors.

• The hotel features 210 generously sized and state-of-the-art guest rooms, including 92 luxury suites, designed by Yabu Pushelberg. The rooms combine luxury furnishings with high-tech amenities, and are among the largest in New York City averaging 530 square feet (50 square meters). They come in 11 categories. During my visit, I stayed in a lavish Park Deluxe King, which featured a beautiful entrance, natural stone flooring, handsome dark-wood closets, contemporary artwork, a desk, a well stocked minibar, and one king bed topped in the finest Italian linens. The bathroom, connected to the bedroom by sliding doors, was equally impressive with a two-sink vanity, mirrors with built-in TVs, walk-in rain shower, signature Le Labo products and a luxurious, semi-freestanding soaking tub. The room, located on the 12th floor, offered a view of 57th Street and Carnegy hall.

• Located on the 25th floor, the hotel’s 65-foot (20 meters) indoor lap pool features underwater speakers streaming music from Carnegie Hall. It’s one of the nicest pools in Manhattan, and it has a large jacuzzi and some loungers on the side. The high ceilings (where tens of glass panels are pieced together to create a cloud-like sculpture) and the floor-to-ceiling windows transform the pool area into a sun-drenched sanctuary, where one could easily spend a couple of hours to chill down.

• The state-of-the-art fitness center overlooks the naturally lit waters of the indoor pool, and features Technogym cardio equipment, full body workout stations, and an extensive wellness platform, so you can stay on track and in tune with the NYC lifestyle.

• Next to the pool and the gym is the luxurious Spa Nalai, which features six treatment suites, a spa terrace, Eucalyptus Steam Room and a hydrotherapy pool. Treatment experiences are created from ancient traditions from across the globe. Some treatment rooms have outdoor terraces.

• The hotel’s signature restaurant, The Back Room, features excellent American inspired cuisine made from regionally sourced meats, seafood, fruits and vegetables – all prepared in the lively open kitchen.

• The hotel offers all guests free use of its chauffeured Mercedes-Benz S550 for trips to anywhere within a 10-block radius of the property.

• Wireless internet is complimentary for all guests (regardless whether you book through an official Hyatt channel or not).

• The dedicated and knowledgable staff offers excellent service.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Park Hyatt New York is a wonderful addition to Manhattan’s thriving luxury hotel scene. Although it is the new Park Hyatt flagship hotel, there are some drawbacks that you need to know when considering a stay here.

• While the hotel is located in a towering skyscraper, it occupies the lower 25 floors, so views from the rooms are less than stellar and anything but the ‘breathtaking views of the New York skyline’ as described on the official hotel website. Only a few rooms on the upper floors enjoy some kind of a city view or partly obstructed views of Central Park.

• While the rooms are soundproof regarding street noise, you can hear very well the sound of closing doors of nearby rooms, which I found rather disturbing.

• The room rates are insanely expensive, but that is the case with every other luxury hotel in Manhattan. Standard rooms (‘Park King’) start at a whooping $795/night.

• While the hotel’s location is very convenient, it is the not the most lively part of the Big Apple at night.

MY VERDICT

• Location: 8/10
• Design: 9/10
• Rooms: 8/10
• Food: 8/10
• Service: 8/10
• Overall experience: very good: 8,2/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

• Save money: read my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like the Park Hyatt New York. Book a room at the cheapest price and/or receive many free perks.

• Save money: enjoy complimentary VIP amenities when booking the Park Hyatt New York via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast (for 2), $100 USD hotel credit, early check-in and late check-out).

• Save money: make use of Hyatt’s best rate guarantee. If you find a better rate, the Hyatt Hotel Group will match it and give you $50 toward your next stay.

• Elite members of Hyatt’s loyalty program, World of Hyatt, are well treated, with – amongst other benefits – complimentary room upgrade (when available), early check-in or late check-out  (when available), and free breakfast. Click here to read my review of the World of Hyatt program (with pros & cons).

• Request a room on a higher floor if you don’t want to be disturbed by street noise.

• Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT NEW YORK

Anytime! Each season in Gotham offers visitors plenty of reasons to visit. Early fall offers crisp breezes, bright sun and comfortable temperatures (indian summer) , and may the best time for a visit.  Winter can be cold, but that also means better hotel rates. Spring is glorious and New Yorkers celebrate the thaw by taking to the streets, shopping at outdoor markets, frolicking in Central Park and dining outside. Summer can be unbearable hot, so try to avoid July and August.

HOW TO GET THERE

For those coming by plane, New York City is served by 3 airports:

• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the primary international airport serving the greater New York City area. Check the Wikipedia page of JFK Airport for an updated list of airlines that have direct flights to this airport. 

• Newark International Airport (EWR), located in the state of New Jersey, is about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Manhattan. Check the Wikipedia page of Newark Airport for an updated list of airlines that have direct flights to this airport. 

• LaGuardia Airport (LGA), located in the borough Queens, is the busiest airport in the United States without any non-stop service to Europe. Check the Wikipedia page of LaGuardia Airport for an updated list of airlines that have direct flights to this airport. 

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