Here’s looking at you, Casablanca Hotel

In the heart of Times Square, Casablanca Hotel is the perfect location for anyone visiting New York City. It doesn’t matter what you want to do in the area.. find something to eat, catch a broadway show or sightsee, it is all within a few minutes walk of the hotel. If you do decide to venture out of the immediate area, there are plenty of cabs and subway stations just steps away. It is little wonder that Times Square is referred to as “The Center of the Universe”!

Not only is the hotel is an ideal location, but it also has plenty of complimentary perks that you can enjoy such as a continental breakfast in the morning, cookies, pastries and beverages all day and wine and snacks every evening. Since I arrived there in the evening, I was just in time for some lovely wine! After a crazy day of traveling and sightseeing a glass of wine goes down perfectly. Everything is served in Rick’s Cafe, which was decorated to compliment the holiday season since my visit was in December. There is even an outdoor porch area incase you want to get some air.

The suite we stayed in was a really nice size and had a living room, plus a separate bedroom with two beds, which my friend Jeanine and I were relieved to see, so we did not have to share a bed. There was also a complimentary bottle of prosecco waiting for us when we arrived. After we came back from dinner, we watched a movie in our living room and popped it open!

In the morning, we went downstairs to enjoy the breakfast. I wanted to stay on the healthier side, so my plan was to just have a yogurt with some fruit, however I have to admit my that sweet tooth and love of carbs got the better of me! I ended up having a bagel with cream cheese and almond croissant along with my coffee. The breakfast pastries were calling my name so I had to have one of those, which was truly delicious! I MIGHT have gone back later and taken a chocolate croissant. You have to try them all right? 😛

Thank you to Casablanca Hotel for providing our stay. All opinions are, as always, my own. 

A book lover’s dream – The Library Hotel

Located a couple blocks from the New York Public Library on “Library Way” is a one of a kind boutique hotel that any book lover would love to stay in. The Library Hotel as you might have guessed is a hotel with a library theme, which helps to make it a memorable experience for guests. Each floor is dedicated to a specific category within the Dewey Decimal System such as Social Science, Literature and Languages. I stayed in the Technology floor and therefore all the books in my room were related to that topic!

There is also a Reading Room that contains an abundance of books to choose from. Since the hotel offers complimentary snacks all day long, it is a great place to take a break from a busy day of sightseeing and relax with a pick me up and a good read. Every evening between 5pm-8pm they also provide complimentary wine/Prosecco and assorted snacks such as crackers, cheese and pastries. It is the perfect pre-dinner delight!

If you are looking for a place to socialize over delicious cocktails then you don’t even have to leave the hotel (which believe me is a definite plus during one of the Big Apples notoriously chilly winter nights), as Bookmark’s Lounge on the 14th floor has everything you would need for a fun night. There is a poetry room, writers den and a terrace to accommodate whatever you are in the mood for. I went on a very cold New York City day so we decided to stay indoors, however there is a room that has a glass top so even though we were inside, we could still look up at the stars as we sipped on cocktails.

There was a nice long list of speciality drinks to choose from, so I decided to venture away from my usual Jack Daniels and Diet Coke. My friend Melissa and I both decided to try drinks from the seasonal list of cocktails. Melissa got a Pumpkin Spice Latte which reminded me of an alcoholic version of the incredibly popular Fall Starbucks coffee drink. It was served warm as well, so it was an ideal choice after spending a long day outside in the cold. I had a Peach Cobbler which basically tasted like a peach cobbler, but did not have an overwhelming dessert flavor. It was the perfect mix for an evening drink.

The next morning we went down to the Reading Room to eat at the complimentary breakfast buffet which included bagels, cereal, fruit, yogurt, tea , coffee and a variety of pastries. After having a late night at Bookmark’s Lounge, I was happy to be able to stroll downstairs for breakfast instead of hunting around the freezing streets of New York to look for a place to eat. Since checkout time is at the unusually convenient time of 1pm, we ate our breakfast and went back to our room for a little extra sleep before heading out for the day. Now that is an ideal morning!

Thank you to Library Hotel for providing our stay. All opinions are, as always, my own. 

Hotel Elysee: Pure Elegance

Not only is Hotel Elysee in a fabulous location (it is close to Central Park), but it also screams luxury and elegance. As soon as I walked into the hotel I was cheerfully greeted by staff and checked in right away. “Welcome, I see you have the Presidential Suite. You have a great room.” He was not lying, it was a great room, indeed! As I opened the door to the room, I was taken aback by the gorgeous design of the room and the beautiful furniture that filled it. I can only describe it as old New York meets Paris.

Greeting me in the room was a lovely bottle of wine and box of chocolates. How did they know that wine and chocolates is the way to this girls heart? Walking around the main room, I realized it had everything that you’d ever want in your own home. There was a long dining table, couches in front of a fireplace, a writing desk, flat screen television, chairs that were as comfortable as a couch and beautiful paintings around the room. This place is (considerably!) better than my apartment. To top it off there was even a grand piano! I don’t think my child like rendition of Chopsticks was really what it was made for. There was also a full kitchen in case, I felt the urge to cook, which I must admit is a rarity.

The beautiful decor continued into the bedroom, which was as equally stunning as the main room. Attached to the bedroom was a full terrace with a table and chairs, making it a perfect spot to sit and eat your breakfast, as you watch all the morning hustle of Midtown Manhattan.

After I got settled in my room, I headed down to the Club Room where guests are offered complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres every night from 5pm-8pm. The Club Room did not disappoint. The room itself was huge, so there was plenty of room for guests to sit and relax at tables or couches while also being able to keep a level of privacy if you so wish. That being said, it is a fantastic area to socialize with other guests. My friend Julia and I sat by two guests of the hotel and ended up exchanging stories while enjoying our wine and food.

In the morning, guests are also offered complimentary breakfast. It had a great variety ranging from bagels, pastries, cereals, fruit, yogurt and coffee, as well an impressive assortment of tea. Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious. I had to run out early, so thankfully they had “to go” cups, so that you are able to take your tea or coffee on the road. During the day, the Club Room has coffee, tea, fruits and cookies incase you want to grab an afternoon pick me up or hangout and relax as there is also a library filled with books, magazines and newspapers along with a computer which is conveniently connected to a printer incase you need anything.

If you don’t want to lose out on your workout routine, guests receive complimentary passes to the New York Sports Club which is only a few short blocks away from the hotel! Each room has a couple of bottles of water included so you will be all set for the gym!

Thank you to Hotel Elysee for providing our stay. All opinions are, as always, my own.