By Eileen Ogintz
NEW YORK — Hot chocolate anyone?
Those touring The Big Apple over the holidays certainly could use some after a day of ice skating in Central Park, checking out the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and all the holiday lights and/or hitting the museums – New York’s famous Museum Mile is just a few blocks away.
Loews Regency New York decked out for the holidays
At the Loews Regency New York Hotel, not only will there by hot chocolate for the kiddos and plenty of stronger libations for the adults, but there will specially flavored marshmallows from the West Village Bakery Mah Ze Dahr—all part of Loew’s “Flavor” effort that partners with local purveyors to give guests a sense of place.
For Theater lovers, you can’t do better than The Time New York on 49th Street just west of Broadway and next door to where the Book of Mormon is playing—we scored last-minute seats an hour before the performance. Yes, there is a complimentary wine happy hour and continental breakfast in this small hi-tech boutique hotel—even the do-not-disturb signs are digital and the Smart TVs are embedded in a mirror. Guests get passes for the nearby TMPL fitness club too.
Loews loves kids, but it also loves your pets with house made dog and cat food.
And for those who prefer to kick back and relax after all that sightseeing, there are suites with kitchenettes. At under $1,000 a night for a luxe hotel, that’s not bad for Manhattan, though of course an vacation rental could be a lot less.
You can’t beat this location on 61st Street and Park Avenue—a few blocks to Bloomingdale’s, Fifth Avenue, Central Park and more—and there is a courtesy car service that will take you anywhere you need to go within a 20-block radius of the hotel, if available.
I like the little touches—complimentary coffee in the morning, a fitness center that’s open 24/7 for those who are jet lagged, a full-service spa, gifts for the kiddos and the pooches (although we left our doggo behind in Denver).
Queen bedroom at TIME Hotel NY in Times Square
Of course, if seeing as much theater as you can, you can’t do better than the 167-room Time — a “revitalized” property that apparently draws its design inspiration from contemporary art. I like that there is a comfortable lounge like area on the second floor where guests can work, catch up on email. There is video art and photography throughout the hotel. The rooms are small but there are also 25 suites.
And if you are too tired to go far for dinner or just want an after-theater bite as we did, there’s Serafina restaurant downstairs with Italian favorites.
Pizza anyone?