Luxury Hotels - Palace or better less than $300/nite?

I am heading to Manhattan for 8 nites to celebrate the sale of our company with my wife, right after xmas. Currently I have a exec club room @ the palace for $280/nite which seems like a decent deal. I don't have much experience with higher-end hotels in NYC. We like the exec. club thing, free food and drinks and all...

One place I'd like to try is the 4 seasons but it seems to be much more expensive. Tips on discounts would be welcome too!

We'd like to get the very best we can find but don't want to spend much more than $300 or so a night.

Any comments/suggestions/thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance, I'll be sure to post a report after the stay.

[This message has been edited by jbehrens (edited Dec 13, 2003).]

I haven't stayed at the Palace in over 15 years, but some people really like it, and it sounds like you got a great price. There's no way you'll get close to that price at the Four Seasons (cheapest is usually in the $500 neighborhood), on top of which they don't offer any sort of executive floor. Although I am sure there are some I am not aware of, the only executive floors with lounges offering free food I know of are the two Ritz locations and the Waldorf Towers. Of the two Ritz locations, I have seen rates below $300 at the Battery Park location, but not the Central Park location. But the Palace is far better located than the Battery Park Ritz. As for the Waldorf Towers, the basic rooms might be in the $300 range, but unless you can get one of the suites, you're probably better off at the Palace.

[Edited to point out to jbehrens that I grew up in Newton, MA]

[This message has been edited by Blumie (edited Dec 13, 2003).]

Me again. I did a little research, and saw your rate (you got a 25% discount for staying four nights). It looks like you could get a club floor room at the Ritz Battery Park for $329, but I think you're much better off at The Palace. I suspect it's a comparable quality hotel and in a far, far better location. The other places -- Four Seasons, Ritz Central Park, Waldorf Towers -- will all run you north of $500.

[This message has been edited by Blumie (edited Dec 13, 2003).]

I didn't realize the Palace had a "club floor". The website alluded to the fact that it is a lounge for Executive Club rooms on the 30th-39th floors. I would assume it is blocked off to others who do not get that "amentity." So 30-39 (! floors!?) are all Executive Club Room at the Palace?

I had only thought it too was the two Ritz's and less so knew of Walforf Towers section of the Waldorf-Astoria (in the 5 star/Leading Hotel of World/AMEX Plat/Cent realm for NYC) that had club lounges with food an beverage.

I often think The Palace, The Plaza Athenee, The Mark, The Carlyle (although on a return) and in some cases The Pierre and The Peninsula are all overlooked as part of the "old-world" 5-star New York hotel realm. In some respects they may be abit dowdy in terms of renovation and updates to the aesthetic, but service is way upthere and I bet those places might be in the range you are looking for. Good Luck.

P.S. Just to do some research on, ther eis also The St. Regis, Essex House (Is this part of Starwood, I consider it up there as it used to be some other good place I though and of course it hs the Alain Ducasse Rest. and I have heard only good things about it), the two Ritz Carltons, The Plaza that are all in that 5 star realm...am I missing any there are soo many. All the hotel I mention are really well-know with international traveller, i.e theire primary residence is in other countries, and if they do not have their own residences in NY when they come to NY, they typically are reminded of these all...that sort of set------jusy to run your midn when checking things.

[This message has been edited by STAM4NICK (edited Dec 13, 2003).]

Eight nights at the same hotels is quite a long bit of time. Perhaps you can split your eight nights at two hotels, if you don't mind the move.

Almost all the rooms in the main part of the Palace are pretty much the same, although higher up is quieter and the west side overlooking St. Pat's cathedral has a nicer view than the east side looking at "the bricks" of the adjacent building. They can give you club access with any room if they want to. So-called club rooms don't even have upgraded amenities (even Tower rooms didn't have upgraded amenities last time I stayed there).

$280/night is a good rate for a really good hotel. Location is great, service is great. You should be very happy with what you have.

If you're splitting time, you might want to consider a downtown upscale hotel (if you're into that part of town). Either of the Grand hotels are nice, and the Mercer Hotel is great. Just a different, more relaxed feel than the midtown upscale hotels.

BTW, I'm not talking about the Battery Park Ritz as a downtown hotel - it is in a useless location. The rooms are nice, but it's an island in the middle of a ghost town on weekends and late nights.

The Palace Hotel is very nice. Great location. I would try to get a room overlooking St. Patricks Cathedral and Rockefeller Center.

However my first choice would be to try to get a room overlooking Central Park. The best views are from Central Park South. In the same price league as the Palace you can try the Helmsley Park Lane, Ritz Carlton, Essex House and Intercontinental (there are 2; make sure you specify the one on Central Park South).