My cozy stay at Hotel Giraffe

If you look up the symbolism of a giraffe, you will find that they are represented with beauty, elegance, grace, resourcefulness and perception. It is no wonder that Hotel Giraffe mirrors all of these qualities as well. Do not be fooled by the name when it comes to the decor though, as it does not resemble a safari! It has a sleek, modern design that will appeal to anyone. As soon as I walked into my suite I was immediately drawn to the two huge vertical windows in the living room that were covered by beautiful red sheer curtains, this was the entrance to a balcony overlooking the streets of Manhattan’s Flatiron District.

It was 6pm when I arrived so once we were settled into our room, my guest and I headed downstairs to the Grand Lobby for the evenings complimentary wine and cheeses. We sat and listened to the pianist that was playing soothing music to a number of the hotel guests. It really added to the experience and was exactly what I needed to wind me down after a long, hectic day.

Since we both had a busy day, we decided to stay in and take full advantage of the beautiful suite we had. When we first arrived we were greeted in the room with a bottle of wine and later came across bathrobes in the closet, which is all we needed for a perfect night in. We changed into the incredibly comfortable bathrobes, popped open the bottle of wine, hung out on the couch in the living room and watched some movies. It was the ideal laid back night that I was in the mood for.

In the morning, we headed downstairs for the complimentary continental breakfast. There were was a wide range of choices such as hard boiled eggs, bagels, fruit, breakfast pastries, coffee and an assortment of teas. I settled on a bagel with butter and a bowl of yogurt mixed with some fruit. It was the perfect sized breakfast, as I do not like to overstuff myself in the morning. Since the hotel is located right by Madison Square Park, we were able to start off the day with a stroll through the park before exploring more of the city, making it a great start to the day.

Thank you to Hotel Giraffe 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.