Travel Agent - March 31, 2008 - (Page 138) HOTELS TOP: Guest rooms offer comfortable amenities LEFT: Some accommodations have great views of the city Hotel Gansevoort, NYC’s Downtown Option Trendy to the max, this hotel is tops for delivering highly personalized service BY LAUREN PRICE OPEN SINCE APRIL, 2004—THE 12STORY HOTEL GANSEVOORT (www. hotelgansevoort.com) is on Ninth Avenue at 13th Street in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Guest rooms boast plush feather beds dressed up in 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and hypo-allergenic duvets—and all have iPod docking stations, large flat-screen TVs, cordless phones, roomy desks, WiFi and safes big enough for laptops. About one-third of the rooms have walk-on balconies and Superior Rooms 300 to 304 (third floor) have small terraces with tiny tables. The best rooms to book include the 300square-foot Grand Deluxe Kings on the 11th or 12th floors, which provide the best views of the Hudson River and New York’s skyline. Other noteworthy accommodations are the one-bedroom Gansevoort and Manhattan Suites. At 450 square feet, they feature living rooms with dining tables for two, state-of-the138 | TravelAgent March 31, 2008 art, surround-sound systems and walk-out balconies. Manhattans have the largest bathrooms and sport soaking tubs and separate glassenclosed steam showers. Gansevoorts have the largest bedrooms (but no steam showers). Both suite types convert to two bedrooms via connectors. For families, we suggest any one of the corner suites (the ‘12’ or ‘17’ series) because they are actually two separate suites with separate doors off of one main entrance—and suite doors can be left open or closed. The one-bedroom Duplex Penthouse measures 1,400 square feet. On the 11th and 12th floors, views of the river and cityscape are beautiful, be it from the floor-to-ceiling windows or the terrace. A working fireplace and pool table are featured in the living room, which is also equipped with surround-sound. In addition, there’s a home office and master bath with a Jacuzzi and separate steam shower. The penthouse can convert to two bedrooms via a connector. Everything but the Duplex Penthouse can be booked over the GDS. For special guests, contact Director of Sales & Marketing Suzi DeAngelis (212-660-6745, suzi@ hotelgansevoort.com). The Gansevoort Spa & Lounge features three treatment rooms, and the most popular treatments include the “Hit the Spot” massage and the Reveal Yourself Facial. Limited in-room treatments also are available, including hairstyling. Definitely book ahead. The lounge has three soaking pools and a full-service bar. From Thursday to Saturday after 10 p.m., this space morphs into a cool club, replete with dance floors (the pools are covered with plexiglass) and a DJ spinning hit tunes. The Fitness Center is open 24/7. For special requests, contact Spa Director Alexandra Argyros (212-660-6733, Alexandra@gansevoortspa.com). The rooftop has a gorgeous guests-only outdoor pool, the happening Plunge Bar and food service courtesy of the hotel’s popular indoor/ outdoor Japanese restaurant, Ono, which is open to the public. There is a private cabana for VIP seating or spa treatments, but you must reserve ahead. Ono is a major draw for New York’s foodies—particularly when it comes to the restaurant’s grilled wasabi-marinated tuna porterhouse. Reservations should be made at least one week ahead. The hotel’s Pet Program features a doggie bed with a cover embroidered with the dog’s name, a welcome basket with cookies in the shape of taxis, the Statue of Liberty and “I Love New York” logos, food and water bowls, paw wipes, a special water bottle and a knitted sweater. (The bed cover, welcome treats and sweater are yours to keep.) A non-refundable fee of $100 is added to the bill, but there are no weight limits for dogs. Advance notice is necessary. Chief Concierge Jean Francois Tremblay (212-206-6700, jeanfrancois@hotelgansevoort. com) and his team will happily arrange airport pick-ups. I http://www.hotelgansevoort.com http://www.hotelgansevoort.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.