Hi all

I am planning to be in NYC for a few days in late november and want to get opinions on The Plaza. Is it still one of the great hotels ?. If not can you recommend an alternative ?

Not really very great. The larger rooms facing the park are supposed to be great but, much more expensive. The hotel is much less personalized than some of the really top tier hotels.

Depends on your preference for location and style, as well as budget. If you just want one of the best places, I'd recommend the St. Regis or Peninsula (midtown). On the upper east side, I'd recommend the Carlyle or Mark. The Plaza Athenee is also supposed to be quite nice (I had dinner there last night but, haven't seen the rooms since renovation...some are small).

Tell more about what you are looking for and perhaps I or others can make more specific recommendations.

Overated and overpriced.

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speedbird001

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jtrader:
Not really very great. The larger rooms facing the park are supposed to be great but, much more expensive. The hotel is much less personalized than some of the really top tier hotels.

Depends on your preference for location and style, as well as budget. If you just want one of the best places, I'd recommend the St. Regis or Peninsula (midtown). On the upper east side, I'd recommend the Carlyle or Mark. The Plaza Athenee is also supposed to be quite nice (I had dinner there last night but, haven't seen the rooms since renovation...some are small).

Tell more about what you are looking for and perhaps I or others can make more specific recommendations.</font>

I agree - the Plaza is long sincer over with - I agree with these options, but would caution on the Mark - since the MO take over, things have gotten very bad there. I actually left during my last visit.

I've heard nothing but great things about the Regent Wall Street. They have huge rooms. Their weekend rates are around $299 with breakfast. You can also purchase two weekend nights at www.luxurylink.com (http://www.luxurylink.com) for $350.

The Plaza Athenee also have good weekend rates.

The Pierre, a Four Seasons hotel, also have good weekend rates and an excellent location.

What's your budget?

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speedbird001

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Looks like we will give the Plaza a miss - might try the Four Seasons or one of the boutique hotels

The Four Seasons is wonderful and probably the top hotel in NYC in my opinion. However, very pricey.

--The Regency is another hotel you may wish to consider--Excellent location quite near the Plaza. They used to offer some outstanding weekend rates; perhaps they still do. Although the Carlyle would always be more first choice, I have had many many fine stays at the Regency. --(and it is really in a more convenient location than the Carlyle)--actually, quite close to both Four Seasons.--

I would head to the Four Seasons on 57th. It is (I think) by far the best in NYC. I stayed at the Peninsula last week and was not impressed and moved for the second night to the Four Seasons, which is my usual choice.

It is expensive, but you get what you pay for. For a less expensive option, I would go with the Regency...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by B Watson:
I agree - the Plaza is long sincer over with - I agree with these options, but would caution on the Mark - since the MO take over, things have gotten very bad there. I actually left during my last visit.</font>

B Watson, Curious about what was wrong at the Mark. I hadn't heard this (and since I live in NY don't regularly stay NY hotels). Guess I'll have to revise my standard recommendation...too bad since I always thought The Mark was great in the past.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JNelson113:
The Four Seasons is wonderful and probably the top hotel in NYC in my opinion. However, very pricey.</font>

Many hold this opinion and I think it is a fine hotel.

However, and this is just personal preference, I find it kind of cold and sterile. I don't really like the atmosphere of the public spaces or rooms. My personal taste runs much more to the Carlyle, St Regis, or Peninsula. I also hear the Lowell is nice but, have no personal experience.

Regarding location of Carlyle, it isn't great for business but, for leisure it is much better than the others if your interest is museums, park, and other upper east side stuff.

I live in New York and often ask myself where I would stay if I didn't live here. The Carlyle, The Four Seasons or The Lowell are my choices. The Carlyle is being renovated and it's beautiful and classic in a wonderful neighborhood. The Lowell is small and personalized but does not have a restaurant. They do have a breakfast room and it is connected to The Post House Restaurant next door which will provide room service. The Four Seasons was originally built to be The Regent New York and designed by IM Pei. When Regent and Four Seasons merged it became the FS. Also just completed a renovation. It all depends on style. The Mark is a notch or two below these.

The Plaza is a VERY overrated hotel. We spent three nights in New York City, and the ONLY unfriendly people we found in the entire city were those that worked at our own hotel. We definitely won't be back there, and I'm honestly a little down on the whole Fairmont brand right now, even though they've done us well in other properties in the past.

We were there for leisure, we are younger than most Plaza guests, and we had a discounted rate ($279 for a "Fairmont Deluxe" room). However, that shouldn't change the treatment we get from the hotel staff. If Fairmont can survive with ONLY the business traveler, then don't offer the discounted rates to begin with. I got the sense that we were second-class citizens at the Plaza.

Funny thing is: we were actually impressed with the room. It was HUGE by NYC standards - even had a little sitting area. Still, the overall attitude of the staff was too much to overcome, and we won't be back. Next time, we'll take a 4-star closer to the Village off of Priceline for $100/night...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jtrader:
Many hold this opinion and I think it is a fine hotel.

However, and this is just personal preference, I find it kind of cold and sterile. I don't really like the atmosphere of the public spaces or rooms. My personal taste runs much more to the Carlyle, St Regis, or Peninsula. I also hear the Lowell is nice but, have no personal experience.

Regarding location of Carlyle, it isn't great for business but, for leisure it is much better than the others if your interest is museums, park, and other upper east side stuff.</font>


I STRONGLY agree

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jtrader:
B Watson, Curious about what was wrong at the Mark. I hadn't heard this (and since I live in NY don't regularly stay NY hotels). Guess I'll have to revise my standard recommendation...too bad since I always thought The Mark was great in the past.</font>


My last two trips were both disasters - plus the second one was on the house to make up for the first! The basic issue is a general decline in the desire to please and I am convinced they have also reduced the amount of staff. This may well still have been Sep 11 fallout at the time, but I find this was the case with other Rafflael hotels bought by MO - Munich has fallen as well.