I recently enjoyed a three-night stay at this hotel with my family, including two children under six. As a Platinum member, we didn't have access to breakfast or the lounge, but we had a comfortable room with two full-sized beds on the 24th floor. The highlight was the view of the Empire State Building, which the kids loved, especially during the nighttime light show. Fortunately, street noise was minimal.
Check-in was seamless, taking about five minutes at 1pm on a Thursday. I did the advance check-in via the app. The hotel accommodated our request for early check-in and a 1pm late checkout. The room was cleaned daily, complete with fresh robes.
Our room had a table and chairs, perfect for the kids to enjoy snacks without any mess. We missed having a mini-fridge (the room had a minibar). I'm sure I could have asked for one, if it was urgently needed.
The hotel's location was a plus. It was incredibly convenient, being close to the R/W subway lines, which allowed us to easily explore The Battery and Central Park Zoo. The area had many dining options, although we stayed in most evenings as the kids usually wind down by 7pm. We had a pleasant dining experience at Zaytinya and enjoyed some drinks at the hotel bar. However, as expected, prices were on the higher side.
The staff was kind and attentive, engaging the kids with a special "Ritz Kids" check-in and rewarding them with a high-quality fabric backpack for completing a coloring book - a thoughtful touch that went beyond our expectations.
Overall, our stay was enjoyable and met our expectations of a Ritz-Carlton. The service was as I imagined it would be, especially the thoughtful engagement with our kids, adding a personal touch to our stay and a nice souvenir. We don't have a baseline for comparison with other luxury hotels, the comfort and attention we received here certainly set a standard for future stays.
I would consider staying here again, especially if it is just the wife and me, though I suspect it would be another award stay due to the extremly high redeption rate (~3c/point).