Andaz Fifth Avenue (NY) REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Feb 11, 2011, 7:09 pm
#496
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
Great rate at this hotel, found in sticky promo thread. I returns a $266 rate on dates I'm looking at:
Smartly keep your siblings/ parents/ mistress out of your place, and book them in style at the Andaz 5th Ave; the hotel boasts 184 huge rooms plus the perfect spot to reconvene: the bar downstairs, which slings liquor made in “small batches”, also just about the right amount of time to spend with your siblings/ parents/ mistress. Now til 3/31, score 20% off by typing “THRILL” into the special offer section at andaz5thavenue.com or call and ask for the Thrillist rate.
Feb 12, 2011, 4:27 am
#497
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
You should get upgraded to either the Andaz Xtra Large View King or Xtra Large View Twin. I've believe that this is one of those properties (like the Hyatt Waikiki) where the issue of Diamond guaranteed bed preference can get in the way of your upgrade. On two occasions when checking in and discussing upgrade options, the host has asked my preference, in both cases the twin rooms were the nicer rooms b/c they had views.
Last edited by bdemaria; Feb 12, 2011 at 4:40 am
Feb 12, 2011, 4:39 am
#498
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
I would think very carefully before using a lot of points for a suite at this property. There have been a lot of complaints about the entry level "suites" (which is what your award would book into).
I would probably book a standard room, and be sure to book the free suite night for the night of your arrival. If you are lucky, they might just let you stay in the suite for the entire stay, without paying the extra points. If not, it`s no big deal because you`ll at lest get an upgraded room as a Diamond.
The Andaz Suite is only 48 square meters, and the "Large Loft" is a bit smaller- so a suite category would only be marginally larger than the rooms you should be upgraded to anyway as a Diamond- not worth forking over an extra 11k pts per night IMHO.
I would probably book a standard room, and be sure to book the free suite night for the night of your arrival. If you are lucky, they might just let you stay in the suite for the entire stay, without paying the extra points. If not, it`s no big deal because you`ll at lest get an upgraded room as a Diamond.
The Andaz Suite is only 48 square meters, and the "Large Loft" is a bit smaller- so a suite category would only be marginally larger than the rooms you should be upgraded to anyway as a Diamond- not worth forking over an extra 11k pts per night IMHO.
I've used suite upgrades twice since January and both times rec'd excellent rooms, esp. earlier this week when we ended up in an Andaz Large Suite, w/a wall of windows directly overlooking the Library/5th avenue. Both the Andaz Suite and Large Suite have kitchenettes, separate living room and bedroom. The Large Suite includes an dining area between the kitchenette and living room. Our Large Suite didn't have a tub, only a shower.
My only complaints about this property:
#1: the oft discussed lighting, but for me it isn't the issue of reading light, it is the bathroom lighting. I had to carry the hand held mirror over to the windows in order to have adequate light to put on my lipstick.
#2: the mugs w/no handles. If they insist on remaining w/this "streamlined" design, then they need to invest in thermal/insulated cups b/c the current cups are simply too hot to hold when filled w/coffee.
Feb 12, 2011, 7:00 am
#499
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
This alone would be a deal breaker for me. In a proper hotel, something called a "Large Suite" should have a bathtub.
New York hotels seem to be really bad in this regard. GH has many rooms with no tubs, and surprisingly even at the Four Seasons the entry level "moderate rooms" have only showers.
New York hotels seem to be really bad in this regard. GH has many rooms with no tubs, and surprisingly even at the Four Seasons the entry level "moderate rooms" have only showers.
Feb 12, 2011, 1:48 pm
#500
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
This alone would be a deal breaker for me. In a proper hotel, something called a "Large Suite" should have a bathtub.
New York hotels seem to be really bad in this regard. GH has many rooms with no tubs, and surprisingly even at the Four Seasons the entry level "moderate rooms" have only showers.
New York hotels seem to be really bad in this regard. GH has many rooms with no tubs, and surprisingly even at the Four Seasons the entry level "moderate rooms" have only showers.
Feb 12, 2011, 5:26 pm
#501
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
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Posts: 102,095
I was surprised by the shower only, esp. since the toiletry set included bath salts. It is a very large shower, with a small built in area upon which one can sit -but not a bath. The "splash suite" definitely has a tub - but I don't believe is an option for the suite upgrade.
Of my hotel bookings in Manhattan, the only hotel properties where ending up with rooms without tubs is common are the two Andaz properties. Everywhere else -- Grand Hyatt included -- I've always gotten rooms with bathtubs.
Especially as the use of a tub over a large shower is just not that attractive to me (more so when I'm unlikely to use the bath aspect of the bathroom instead of the shower aspect of the bathroom), I very much like large showers of the size the Andaz Wall Street and Andaz Fifth Ave have as the standard over a standard tub.
Feb 12, 2011, 8:10 pm
#502
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Especially as the use of a tub over a large shower is just not that attractive to me (more so when I'm unlikely to use the bath aspect of the bathroom instead of the shower aspect of the bathroom), I very much like large showers of the size the Andaz Wall Street and Andaz Fifth Ave have as the standard over a standard tub.
Ideally, I look for rooms with bathtubs and separate shower stalls. Also, ideally the toilet should be behind a door, or at least have an enclosure around it. This can be difficult to find in places like New York.
Feb 13, 2011, 12:51 am
#503
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At this Andaz, I haven't yet been assigned a room that has a separate bathtub from the shower; but my stays at this Andaz were all in rooms that had toilets physically segregated from the rest of the bathroom.
Feb 14, 2011, 11:43 am
#504
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 2,927
Feb 15, 2011, 8:15 am
#505
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Northwest NJ
Programs: Starwood Platinum,Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 2,313
Does anyone know if this hotel ever accepts Hyatt Stay Certificates? Entered some mid-December dates and the only message I got was that this code was unavailable for my dates. Never indicated if other dates are open.
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
Feb 15, 2011, 12:00 pm
#506
No longer used by Hyatt; use World of Hyatt Concierge
Join Date: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,628
Sincerely,
Nick B.
Feb 16, 2011, 2:21 pm
#509
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NAPA
Programs: MARRIOTT LIFETIME TITANIUM ELITE, HYATT LIFETIME GLOBALIST, UAL SILVER, AA EXECUTIVE PLATINUM
Posts: 476
I am thinking that we have lost Jonathan the GM on this forum.
He has not posted since Dec. 20 and I have sent him two pm's in the last 3 weeks that were not acknowledged.
Too bad...
He has not posted since Dec. 20 and I have sent him two pm's in the last 3 weeks that were not acknowledged.
Too bad...
Feb 16, 2011, 5:28 pm
#510
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: On the road, 24/7/365
Posts: 3,467
And I haven't seen him (not that I had any particular reason to...) at the hotel in the past three weeks (minus a few days I was away).