Hitting the Hot Spots in NYC
The winners of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine's Behind-the-Scenes Hot List Experience at DB Bistro Moderne in Manhattan, April 17, 2008.
by Wendy Perrin
Three great travel tips came out of my lunch earlier today with Mike and Paula Hlastala, the charismatic and incredibly nice Seattle couple who bid for, and won, this year's Behind-the-Scenes Hot List Experience. The Hot List Experience is a trip to New York City that includes two nights in your choice of Hot List hotel (one of the properties on the magazine's annual Hot List in our May issue), dinner at your choice of Hot Table, entry to the magazine's Hot List party happening tonight at Mansion--including access to the party's VIP area, where the celebs hang out--and lunch with yours truly.
The hotel Paula and Mike chose? A new Kimpton property called 70 Park Avenue in Murray Hill, where they checked in earlier today. The restaurant they chose for dinner tomorrow night? Market Table in Greenwich Village. As for lunch with me today, we chowed down on chef Daniel Boulud's signature $32 hamburgers--sirloin burgers, actually, filled with braised short ribs, foie gras, and black truffle--at his not-so-new but still hot (and close to my office) midtown bistro.
Of course, I had to ask Mike, who runs a Seattle real estate development firm called Othello Partners, and Paula, the stay-at-home mother of their two children who plans all the family trips, what travel secrets they've gleaned so far during this New York City jaunt. Three excellent tips came up:
1. Flying JetBlue? Get one of the seats up front with extra legroom.
The magazine paid $25 extra per flight so that Mike could get one of JetBlue's Even More Legroom seats, with a pitch of 38 inches. On some flights these seats cost only $10 extra. Mike says they're well worth it: He's six feet six, and the extra legroom is the reason he was able to sleep on his red-eye last night. (Paula flew into town a couple of days earlier.)
Read on for the two other tips.
2. When you check into a hotel, if you don't like the room they've assigned you, ask for a different one.
When Paula and Mike arrived at 70 Park Avenue at noon today to check in for their two-night stay, the bellman took them to room 801, a queen deluxe. When he asked how they liked it, he must have sensed they were disappointed and felt sorry for them--it's a small, dark, stuffy, viewless room, Paula says--because he then said, "Let's see if we can get you a room with a view." He called down to the front desk and proceeded to show them to room 610, a king deluxe that is larger, nicer, and overlooks Park Avenue. Why the hotel assigned them first to one of its worst rooms is a mystery, especially since at check-in Paula had shown the front-desk clerk her American Express Platinum Card and provided her Kimpton frequent-guest number (both of which are supposed to afford special status). Perhaps it's because they checked in early in the day and the hotel wanted to save its better rooms for guests checking in later??? (Why do YOU think they were taken to a lousy room first? Would love to hear anyone's input. Just click below to post a comment.) The moral of the story: You won't always get such a caring bellman so, if you don't like the first room a hotel shows you, ask to see another. Perhaps you'll get a free upgrade the way Mike and Paula did. Paula also recommends that anyone heading to any hotel sign up in advance for the hotel chain's frequent-guest program. Being a member can't hurt and can sometimes help very much. (Do YOU agree, dear reader?)
3. Check out the unique travel experiences you can bid for at charityfolks.com.
Paula found out about the Behind-the-Scenes Hot List Experience through an auction site that she raves about, charityfolks.com. It's where the Hot List Experience was auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting the Conde Nast Traveler Five & Alive Fund. Paula says the site offers an "ever-evolving and endless variety of unique travel experiences" that you cannot find anywhere else.
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Signing up for Kimpton's InTouch program is key in NYC: You need a membership to access the in-room wifi at 70 Park and at The Muse.
Posted by: PaulBrady | April 17, 2008 at 06:57 PM
I'm a member of Omni Hotel's "Select Guest" program. It doesn't cost a dime to join and once you've filled out your guest preferences such as room type, feather pillows, daily newspaper,complimentary Wi-Fi and morning beverage service, all future stays are tailored to your preferences.
Wendy, you'll appreciate this next perk. If you are traveling with kids, request the turn down service with complimentary milk and cookies. Don't forget to brush your teeth!
Nancy
Posted by: WhataTrip | April 18, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Hi Wendy, Thanks for such a fab time in New York! We really, really enjoyed lunch with you. The whole Conde Nast behind-the-scenes experience was just wonderful!
I have a follow up to item number two in the post above, regarding Kimpton's 70 Park Avenue.
I always take the time to fill out post-stay surveys, and this stay was no exception. Sometimes surveys are postcards to mail in or drop in a lobby box, and sometimes, as in this case, the survey was online. I expressed displeasure with the check in and first room assignment, wondering why they would assign such a dreary post to a first time customer. The manager, both at the hotel, and as a result of the survey, were apologetic that we were unhappy with the first room. The manager that responded to the survey mentioned that the hotel had been sold out the night before, and we had checked in very early, so supply was limited at that hour. And even though it was not apparent, an upgrade had been honored, as the first room was still a king deluxe despite it's tighter quarters. Sometimes rooms in the same category are like apples to oranges, but nonetheless it had indeed been an upgrade. I'm happy with how they handled our complaint, both on site and with the survey. I love how this chain really strives to make each stay a great experience. I'll definitely consider Kimpton again.
Posted by: paulala | April 21, 2008 at 10:27 PM