cfabar1

Parker Meridien is a corrupt hotel. This has been well documented.

The W is okay... but you have to be firm with them. They will try to screw with you if they think they can get away with it.

SHLTP

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spgplat21

In February you can probably get the Chatwal or maybe even the Ritz Central Park for under $400/night if you look hard enough for best rate guarantees (or look no further for the RC). I have upcoming stays at both between $350 and $400, and I would highly recommend them over your current choices, unless the Le Meridien pool is a huge plus. The JW Marriott may also be a good choice since you'd get lounge access as a gold member.

EDIT: Never mind, just saw you need a one bedroom suite at a minimum so the above options would end up being well above your budget with the exception of the JW Marriott where i have seen junior suites and occasionally one bedroom suites fall into that price range.

All that said, SPG gold may get you a higher floor or keep you out of a closet room, but otherwise you won't get much.

SHLTP

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scubadu

Indeed, but the price point of Central Park Ritz is vastly different than the two hotels the OP is choosing between and it is possible pricing has something to do with the their choosing from these two properties.

Regards

svo242

Looking for some recommendations with the new Marriott options...I'm looking at the St. Regis, Ritz Central Park, or JW Essex House for a weekend stay. Hope to be platinum at the time of stay. Thanks!

bgriff

You'll probably have more luck finding information on the Marriott properties over on the Marriott board, but keep in mind that Ritz offers almost no elite benefits, so if upgrades/breakfast are important to you, that's not the best option.

If you're planning to use points, the Ritz and JW will be a much better value (or, at least a much lower price) than the St. Regis.

I believe the JW does have a lounge which would be available to you as either a Gold or Platinum member. The St. Regis does not have a lounge and the Ritz does not allow access to the lounge unless you specifically book a club room (no upgrades), so if lounge access is of interest the JW could be a good option. I can't vouch for how good of a lounge it is, the Marriott board might be more help in that regard. I haven't stayed there but the public spaces of the JW are very nice.

If you make Platinum and are hoping for a suite upgrade, SPG properties are a better bet than Marriott properties, though in New York suite upgrades aren't all that common even at SPG properties, so may not be worth booking somewhere just in hopes of one.

Score8

Yes, there are a series of nagging issues with this hotel. Aside from the stupid resort fee, there is also the fact that they will not give you a lobby wireless password as a platinum while you are waiting for your room to be ready. I also find the austerity of the rooms to be charmless rather than chic. I do like that its a bunch quieter people-wise than being in TS. I sometimes really miss the Westin Essex house (now the JW), which I suppose is now back in the fold!

Yul_voyager

The JW is a good value. The breakfast in the lounge is good and the evening offering could substitute a meal if you are not too much hungry. Don't expect any kind of upgrade however (even a better view). That's said, the basic king room is already quite big for NY standard.
Definitely not the same level of luxury as the StRegis or the Ritz, but for about the same amount of point as the sheratons (15k spg vs 12/16), the value looks better.

PBQ

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
Mr. PBQ didn't want to be near Times Square and the reviews of LPM make me re-think.
We booked a jr suite at the JW Exxex House. It's not ideal as our two kids will be on a pull-out, but the suite will give us more space and we are not in our room for much othen than sleeping.
As Gold, the reservationist confirmed lounge access with complimentary breakfast which is great!

Flews

I think you've made the right decision. Let us know how it goes. I haven't stayed there, but I am looking at a similar situation, with a couple kids, and was wondering about the JWEH.

Cheers,

SHLTP

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scubadu

Mr. PBQ sounds like my kind of guy ^

Regards

PTahCha

Other options you might want to consider are the properties in downtown Brooklyn - specifically the Marriott, Aloft (which has a few suites with king size bed and pull out couch), and Sheraton. While it's not in Manhattan, it's right next to the subway station and close to the Manhattan Bridge, making them readily accessible to head to Manhattan.

controller1

I see from one of your earlier posts that one of your children is over the age of 12. You may want to review this thread (beginning with Post #126): http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...nhattan-4.html

There seems to be some issues with this property allowing more than the Marriott-prescribed Gold/Platinum benefit of lounge access for the member plus one guest. It appears the property allows additional guests, above the prescribed amount, if under the age of 12. I don't want you to be surprised and disappointed.