The Algonquin - Before and After
Jul 17, 2012 | 10:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: Marriott LT Gold, IHG Club, Hertz Gold, Aeroplan, Avios, SkyMiles, Thrifty, AMEX
Posts: 989
The Algonquin - Before and After
My trip report following our stay at the Algonquin Hotel New York last week. For those who don’t want to suffer through my prose, the last 2 paragraphs have the facts.
Some context to my report: I am exclusively a leisure traveller, and not a particularly jaded one at that. Therefore, I’m relatively easy to impress – although I do not suffer fools well.
MamaTwick and I originally stayed at the Algonquin last fall for one night pre-cruise. We just happened to arrive in NYC during the freak snowstorm of October 2011, thus the Algonquin became our lovely refuge from the ugliness outside. The lobby was a lovely eclectic warren of comfortable seating, tables and wood panelling, the Round Table restaurant comfortable, the elevators quaint and the rooms old-fashioned, with charming, if antiquated, bathrooms. The room we had was a comfortable twin room. At the time, the employees told us that the hotel was closing for 4 months starting in January to do a complete refurb, mainly to address much-needed modernization of the hotel’s bones (plumbing, electrics, that sort of thing). By shear coincidence, we met a lady on our cruise who’s husband was an architect whose firm was working on the Algonquin refurb – she assured us that it would be sensitively done.
Fast-forward to this July, and our anticipated return to the Algonquin. First, relief: while the carpet in the lobby had been changed (a good thing), the mosaic tile floor at the entrance remained, as did the wood panelling. The seating had been replaced, but kept the same comfortably crowded and haphazard feel. The lighting had been changed, the only original wall sconces being in the Round Table restaurant section of the main floor. But the general feel of the place remained.
Our room was on the second floor this time – same elevators as before – and one sad casualty was observed: no more New Yorker comic wallpaper in the corridors. They did have a piece of it framed beside the elevators. Inside our room, and it was even more ‘bijou’ than the last: just enough room for a queen-size bed, side tables and desk (note the bed: they no longer have any twin-bedded rooms after the renovation. This is a BIG minus for me – I love my mother, but not enough to share a queen-sized bed with her for an extended stay). Above the desk was a large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall (a big plus here: HD channels!). Overall, I love the new decor of the rooms, with one exception: while I think it basically looks cool, the large, illuminated picture over the bed seems strangely tacky (fortunately, there’s an off-switch). The small pull-down reading lights are very cool, however. The newly-renovated and very modern washroom is also beautiful, although truth be told I rather loved the hexagon tile in the old washrooms. There were actually 2 steps to climb to enter our washroom, with a very short but effective little railing. One thing that has remained unchanged: the light that turns on when you open the closet door. A robe is provided, as is a proper iron and board. Free wi-fi was available to all in the rooms, and was very easy to access.
The second floor is also home to other public areas: a business centre, with computers, printer and various office supplies; a gym, with a fridge stocked with bottles of water; a discreetly hidden ice machine; all of which come off a central ‘coffee lobby’ with 2 Keurig coffee machines for guests’ use. There is also freshly-brewed coffee offered in the lobby in the morning for all guests.
We dined both in the main Round Table restaurant and in the Lobby area (they have a fairly substantial ‘bar snack’ menu that includes things like sandwiches, omelettes and crab cakes), both were good, with gusts to excellent. We recognized most of the staff from our previous stay, and they remained as helpful and efficient as before. We poked our noses into the Blue Bar, which is about as far as we could go: the place was packed, and it isn’t that big to begin with. It is a pretty cool space, however.
The front desk was very gracious – and handled my multiple gift cards without issue (indeed, if anyone dares tell me that using the new gift cards is difficult, my new go-to answer is ‘the front desk at the Algonquin says they’re much easier to use than the old ones’...). However, I had to call down to have the feather duvet and 2 of the 4 pillows changed, even though I had requested no feathers (tiresome, but at least the head housekeeper was a dear).
In terms of elite benefits: they have reinstated the free cocktail coupon for gold/plat members, and the old Oak Room has been turned into a ‘lounge’. I put the term in quotes because it is only open for breakfast, from 7-10 am (we didn’t actually get kicked out at 10 am, but they did clear the food). Not open at night, and zilch on weekends (not even breakfast coupons, which is a change from last fall). Basically it’s a very exclusive breakfast room for elites.
So, in summary: beautiful hotel, comfortable if small rooms, good service, and breakfast for elites during the week. Considering we were on a very reasonable LNF rate, I would say we got our money’s worth, but not sure I would want to spend $400+, especially if I couldn’t get at least a king-sized bed.
Some context to my report: I am exclusively a leisure traveller, and not a particularly jaded one at that. Therefore, I’m relatively easy to impress – although I do not suffer fools well.
MamaTwick and I originally stayed at the Algonquin last fall for one night pre-cruise. We just happened to arrive in NYC during the freak snowstorm of October 2011, thus the Algonquin became our lovely refuge from the ugliness outside. The lobby was a lovely eclectic warren of comfortable seating, tables and wood panelling, the Round Table restaurant comfortable, the elevators quaint and the rooms old-fashioned, with charming, if antiquated, bathrooms. The room we had was a comfortable twin room. At the time, the employees told us that the hotel was closing for 4 months starting in January to do a complete refurb, mainly to address much-needed modernization of the hotel’s bones (plumbing, electrics, that sort of thing). By shear coincidence, we met a lady on our cruise who’s husband was an architect whose firm was working on the Algonquin refurb – she assured us that it would be sensitively done.
Fast-forward to this July, and our anticipated return to the Algonquin. First, relief: while the carpet in the lobby had been changed (a good thing), the mosaic tile floor at the entrance remained, as did the wood panelling. The seating had been replaced, but kept the same comfortably crowded and haphazard feel. The lighting had been changed, the only original wall sconces being in the Round Table restaurant section of the main floor. But the general feel of the place remained.
Our room was on the second floor this time – same elevators as before – and one sad casualty was observed: no more New Yorker comic wallpaper in the corridors. They did have a piece of it framed beside the elevators. Inside our room, and it was even more ‘bijou’ than the last: just enough room for a queen-size bed, side tables and desk (note the bed: they no longer have any twin-bedded rooms after the renovation. This is a BIG minus for me – I love my mother, but not enough to share a queen-sized bed with her for an extended stay). Above the desk was a large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall (a big plus here: HD channels!). Overall, I love the new decor of the rooms, with one exception: while I think it basically looks cool, the large, illuminated picture over the bed seems strangely tacky (fortunately, there’s an off-switch). The small pull-down reading lights are very cool, however. The newly-renovated and very modern washroom is also beautiful, although truth be told I rather loved the hexagon tile in the old washrooms. There were actually 2 steps to climb to enter our washroom, with a very short but effective little railing. One thing that has remained unchanged: the light that turns on when you open the closet door. A robe is provided, as is a proper iron and board. Free wi-fi was available to all in the rooms, and was very easy to access.
The second floor is also home to other public areas: a business centre, with computers, printer and various office supplies; a gym, with a fridge stocked with bottles of water; a discreetly hidden ice machine; all of which come off a central ‘coffee lobby’ with 2 Keurig coffee machines for guests’ use. There is also freshly-brewed coffee offered in the lobby in the morning for all guests.
We dined both in the main Round Table restaurant and in the Lobby area (they have a fairly substantial ‘bar snack’ menu that includes things like sandwiches, omelettes and crab cakes), both were good, with gusts to excellent. We recognized most of the staff from our previous stay, and they remained as helpful and efficient as before. We poked our noses into the Blue Bar, which is about as far as we could go: the place was packed, and it isn’t that big to begin with. It is a pretty cool space, however.
The front desk was very gracious – and handled my multiple gift cards without issue (indeed, if anyone dares tell me that using the new gift cards is difficult, my new go-to answer is ‘the front desk at the Algonquin says they’re much easier to use than the old ones’...). However, I had to call down to have the feather duvet and 2 of the 4 pillows changed, even though I had requested no feathers (tiresome, but at least the head housekeeper was a dear).
In terms of elite benefits: they have reinstated the free cocktail coupon for gold/plat members, and the old Oak Room has been turned into a ‘lounge’. I put the term in quotes because it is only open for breakfast, from 7-10 am (we didn’t actually get kicked out at 10 am, but they did clear the food). Not open at night, and zilch on weekends (not even breakfast coupons, which is a change from last fall). Basically it’s a very exclusive breakfast room for elites.
So, in summary: beautiful hotel, comfortable if small rooms, good service, and breakfast for elites during the week. Considering we were on a very reasonable LNF rate, I would say we got our money’s worth, but not sure I would want to spend $400+, especially if I couldn’t get at least a king-sized bed.
Jul 18, 2012 | 5:29 am
#2
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NC
Programs: Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,881
Great update, thanks. Absolutely agree with you on 2 points...
1) insane not to offer any double bedded rooms. too many people visit New York with "friends and family" rather than "couples" ....
2) restaurant and food. We stayed at the CY on 3rd once, and ate here a couple times before it was even a Marriott. Great historical atmosphere with pretty food.
1) insane not to offer any double bedded rooms. too many people visit New York with "friends and family" rather than "couples" ....
2) restaurant and food. We stayed at the CY on 3rd once, and ate here a couple times before it was even a Marriott. Great historical atmosphere with pretty food.