Leading up to chic with ties to past

In New York City, The Bowery House , one of Manhattan’s newer lodging options, gives a nod to the city’s mixed bag of gentrification, history, scruffiness and chic. By Manhattan’s standards, a night here is cheap.

Opened in 1927 as the Prince Hotel, the Bowery House, like The Jane hotel, has served as a landing spot –think flophouse–for people in transition. At The Jane, sailors frequented the place after it opened in 1907. During WWII, soldiers stayed at the Prince Hotel.  On the bottom two floors, tenants live here still. The Bowery House is on the top two floors.

Accessed by a separate entrance, the Bowery House has been rennovated to combine elements of the building’s original purpose–the rooms are teeny tiny–with boutique upscale. Think marble floors, hipster colors and lighting and artwork made by independent artists.

The Bowery House’s lounge serves as a common area for hotel guests and also combines the aethetics of the Prince Hotel with an upscale eye for detail. The hotel’s  Bowery Bodega are where snacks, toiletries and drinks can be purchased. For those seeking a bit of space, head to the landscaped roof garden.

A cabin bunk

Lately, the Bowery section of New York which has a history that includes the freed slaves that first settled there, wealthy mansion dwellers, and those down on their luck, has seen a surge of interest in its development as a trendy destination.

Within walking distance to the art galleries and boutique shops of SoHo and the great eats of Chinatown, as well as easy access to the ferries that go to Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and Governor’s Island, it’s no wonder developers have turned to The Bowery. The Bowery House is just one indication of the changes that have arrived.

If you go: A  bunk starts at $42 and cabins at $54. Bathrooms are shared. Wifi is free and bicycle rentals are available.

The Bowery House
220 Bowery
New York, NY 10012
Ph: 212.837.2373

Photos courtesy of The Bowery House

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Club Quarters is furnished in what I'd like to call "Business IKEA."

The location of might be troubling for some.

Club Quarters, World Trade Center is  literally next door to Ground Zero.

But if you can separate yourself from the grim spectre of violence and terrorism, this outpost of the Club Quarters chain is a tidy and affordable choice with great amenities geared toward the business traveler.

Club Quarters is a 4-star hotel that offers free Wi-Fi, a gym and 24-hour concierge services. Guest rooms include flat-screen televisions, coffee makers, and desks and feature floor-to-ceiling windows. Currently on their website, prices for a single/small double room start at $139.

One outstanding feature of the hotel, which is largely furnished in “Business IKEA,” is the View of the World Terrace Club with year-round indoor/outdoor dining and spectacular views of downtown Manhattan.

Some other complimentary niceties include:

• High-Speed Internet
• Chilled, Purified Bottled Water
• Coffee/Tea and Newspapers
• Use of Workstations and Printer
• World Trade Center 9/11 Memorial Passes — an exclusive member service, the concierge will request passes to the Memorial.

So, if you aren’t creeped out to lay your head down to sleep on the site of the mass grave of 2,595 victims of terrorism, Club Quarters is an affordable, amenities-rich, and pleasant option in lower Manhattan.

Club Quarter, World Trade Center

140 Washington Street

(Between Albany and
Cedar Streets)

New York, NY 10006

Phone: (212) 577-1133

Fax: (212) 577-2133

Photos by Dan Dion

In the midst of New York City hotels worthy of note,  London NYC is one for folks with cool cash to spend.  Located in Midtown Manhattan, London NYC is close to about everything grand in NYC. The Museum of Modern Art, Carnegie Hall, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park, and Times Square are within walking distance if you’re wearing the right kind of shoes. This is where New York City hums with energy.

Luxury, glamour and equality at the London NYC

London NYC is also humming with equality. In celebration of New York  becoming the latest state to legalize same-sex marriages, London NYC has a package to honor the occasion.

The package is not cheap, but does it sound divine.  For $855, a couple can partake in “Celebrate  Love” that includes: a couples 60 minute massage in the privacy of your suite, a signature London Cocktail for each person, canapes by the hotel’s culinary team under the tutelage of Gordon Ramsay, and two plush robes the couple can keep.

Whether you stay with this package –or another like the “Picnic in the Park,”, or no package at all, London NYC offers the opportunity to add luxury into your living.  The 561 suites of this hotel include: custom-designed rooms, Egyptian cotton bedding, free WiFi, and adjustable mood lighting. Plus, there’s the best of Manhattan calling to you just right outside.

London NYC
151 West 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019 1-866-690-2029

Photo courtesy of London NYC

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Perfect spot for enjoying the 4th of July

Today’s official opening of the Z New York Hotel in Long Island City, a short subway ride from Manhattan caught my attention. First of all, a party for the 4th of July is involved. Today (Friday) Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m.  there are happy hour specials at the Z Roof, the hotel’s 5,000 square ft. rooftop patio lounge. On Monday the 4th, the happy hour is 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and there’s a BBQ with live music as well.

Secondly, I’ve been to Long Island City so I know that for those looking for an affordable, but interesting  New York City visit, should consider staying here. According to the hotel’s description, this 100 guest room establishment was designed to incorporate Manhattan’s skyline into the ambiance with floor to ceiling windows. The views are stunning.

A queen-size bed guest room with a view--and how!

Along with rooms with views, the Z New York Hotel has a fitness center, free WiFi, free local to international phone calls, AND the best thing–a free shuttle to midtown Manhattan and back that leaves every hour on the hour. The going to shuttle is from 8:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. The coming from goes from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For those on a different schedule getting in and out of Manhattan from here is easy.

The hotel also offers airport transfers.

As a person who travels to New York City frequently and is often on the prowl for great deals, I’d say this one fits the category of hotels on the definitely worth a try list. Next time I’m in Long Island City, maybe this summer, I’m heading to the Z Roof. Savoring a glass of wine while overlooking Manhattan sounds like a perfect summer evening. For more info on Z New York Hotel, check out P. Ling’s post from UpTake’s Hotel Blog. He also offers other NYC  hotel suggestions.

By the way, Happy 4th!

Z Hotel
11-01 43rd Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101
info@zhotelny.com
Main: +1 212-319-7000
Reservations: +1 877-256-5556

Photos Courtesy of Z Hotel, Photo Credit: Reuben Negron Photography

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