Andaz 5th Avenue, Entrance

The Andaz brand is Hyatt’s newest, offering travelers an alternative to classic luxury.  While some may dub the new brand as Hyatt’s “W Hotel” alternative, we think it’s totally different, and in ways that you’ll really like.

Don’t get us wrong, we admire the W Brand in many ways, but Andaz takes a fresh take on modern luxury, without the hype of loud nightclubs and sometimes attitude laden staff. 

Our editors got a first look at Andaz 5th Avenue recently, including an introduction to their on property restaurant: “The Shop”.  Wow was the overwhelming sentiment (a rare one from our sometimes picky editorial staff)  The Shop features a casual yet elegant setting on 5th Avenue with an open kitchen format and a fun yet relaxed atmosphere.  “The Bar Downstairs” (that’s literally its name, honest) is definitely a must visit.  The cooking continues downstairs in perhaps an even more casual setting, and the list of unique cocktail offerings is nothing short of amazing.  Try the Velvet Spice: a mixture of Sailor Jerry Spice Rum, Punt e mes, Velvet Falernum and House Orange Bitters… tasty!

The Shop

The Bar Downstairs

Trip Kick will soon be providing a full overview of the Guest Room Experience at Andaz 5th Avenue, so stay tuned.  We hear they have some pretty exciting guest room options!

King Suite, Living Room Area  (Room Number 60)

We had a chance to experience 6 Columbus, a Thompson Hotel, while in NYC last week and we have an exciting report to share with you.  When visiting Manhattan, location is always paramount.  What we truly love about 6 Columbus is both its location, and not-so-conventional hotel feel.  6 Columbus is a quaint gem located at the doorstep of the Time Warner Center as well as Central Park.  With only 88 Guest Rooms & Suites in total, you’ll feel as though you’re living in a posh NYC apartment with one of the best location’s in town.

6 Columbus features an inviting, albeit small, lobby space with a staff that aims to please.  Absent are the hundreds of patrons you’ll often find in most NYC hotel lobbies; we were off to a good start.  As most other frequent travelers will note, enjoying a quick yet friendly check-in process is always preferred.  You certainly won’t find check-in lines at 6 Columbus, nor will you find the hustle bustle stress of a convention hotel.

Pod Room, 1 Double Bed  (Room Number 92)   (02 rooms have desk, 07 rooms are slightly larger but have no desk)

Studio Suite, 1 King Bed + Balcony  (Room Number 103)

6 Columbus (Six Columbus) offers several different room categories ranging from “Pod Rooms” to “Columbus Loft & Thompson Penthouse Suites”  Pod Guest Rooms are ideal for individual business travelers, or those guests staying only 1 or 2 nights.  Measuring in at around 175 Sq. Ft., Pod Rooms feature 1 Double Bed, and are extremely quiet.  Other Room Categories include Queen Rooms, Queen Deluxe & King Deluxe Rooms.  All Guest Rooms are outfitted with tastefully appointed furnishings with a retro flare.  Our favorite room type is the “Studio Suite”, particularly those located at the back of the hotel (Room Numbers 103 & 104)  Studios feature outdoor terraces, hardwood flooring and are located on floor 10 & 11 of the hotel.  Room Numbers 103 & 104 also come equipped with larger bathrooms with both Walk-In Glass Showers as well as Bathtubs.  As a side note, all standard Guest Rooms on the 9th Floor feature hardwood flooring.

A Sample of 6 Columbus’ In-Room Amenities:

• Bigelow Bath Products
• In Room Snacks by Dean & Deluca (Mini-Bar Offerings)
• Flat Panel Televisions & iPod Docking Stations
• Shower/Bathtub Combination (Separate Showers & Bathtubs in Select Studio & Loft/Penthouse Suites)

Lobby Area, 6 Columbus

Many travelers often stick with larger scale hotels for fear of choosing a boutique hotel that might disappoint.  Admittedly we’ve often had similar fears, as some boutique’s don’t quite deliver what they advertise.  We say with confidence however that 6 Columbus exceeded our every expectation, and offered every bit of convenience that we would hope for in a larger hotel.  6 Columbus offers residential style luxury along with city sophistication, making it an ideal Midtown Manhattan hotel choice.

Find the Best Rooms at 6 Columbus Here

The W Times Square is located in the heart of Times Square, and has become known for its playful design and fun atmosphere. It was however time for a rooms renovation, and the W Times Square has done a nice job with their newest room enhancements.

We’ve had the pleasure of staying at the W Times Square in the past, and my first reaction was “Wow, are these rooms larger than before?” No, they couldn’t be. Apparently this is a common reaction to the new renovation, as W has done an amazing job at reorganizing the furnishings to make the rooms appear larger and more comfortable. In a city where space often comes at a premium, we think this was a wise move. Guest rooms are still contemporary in design of course, but use more Tan & Pink tones which make the rooms appear a bit friendlier in the past, and far more inviting. Minor enhancements have been made to the bathrooms, and the addition of a Glass Shower Door in rooms with 1 King Bed was a thoughtful change. (Now the bathrooms won’t fog up so quickly!) The W Times Square has also added an “All-in-One” magazine holder rack slash glass rack for the Mini-Bar. The beds frames have also changes, and these small changes add up to making the room just feel a little bigger. Naturally the views haven’t changed, and guests can continue to enjoy view of Times Square, The Hudson River and The NYC Skyline.

Spectacular Room, 2 Double Beds (Room Number 3202)

Cool Corner Room, 1 King Bed, Times Square View (Room Number 3201)

Fantastic Suite, 1 King Bed, 1.5 Baths (Room Number 4411)

The W Times Square has evolved nicely; new guests and repeat guests alike will most definitely appreciate the new changes.

Wow Suite, Dining Room Area, W New York

The W New York was the very first W property, and over the years it’s often been forgotten because of the many other W choices in the city. On our trip to NYC last week, we decided to meet with the folks at W New York to see the progress they’ve made with their newest renovation. Although I’ve never actually stayed at this W, I’ve often heard criticism of the small rooms and dated W Decor. I’ve seen many pictures of the old rooms, and let me tell you- the W New York has really done wonders with the renovation. Because space was such an issue (as it is with most NYC properties) the W had to be clever with their furniture placement and design. After an extensive tour of the new product, I can tell you that even the smallest categories offers a refreshing room layout with light colors, efficient use of space and a new more luxurious bathroom design. Clever additions such as Pole Mounted Flat Screen Televisions, and MiniBar/Closet Combos, all make these rooms seems larger and more inviting. One of my biggest criticisms of NYC hotels is space and room layout, but I was ready to check-in to the W New York after my tour.

Wonderful Category Room, Glass Shower, Pole Mounted TV & Desk Area (Room Number 1627)

The suites have also been meticulously re-designed with utmost attention to design and detail. White linens, purple furniture tones and retro NYC style artwork & trinkets are all standard features in Suite Category Rooms. Specialty suites including the “Wow Suites” are truly dynamite and feature large Outdoor Terraces, which are an absolutely rarity in NYC.

Fantastic Suite (Room Number 1634)

Wow Suite (Room Number 1725)

From one hotel aficionado to another, give the W New York a try on your next visit, you won’t be disappointed. The W New York has a stellar Midtown Manhattan Location, a wide variety of room types, and some of the most comfortable beds in the city.

Well, we tried our very best to stay at the new Smyth Tribeca, soon to be one of New York City’s newest Thompson Hotels. To our dismay however, Smyth informed us that their opening had been delayed until late January. The good news however is that Smyth is well worth the wait.

Smyth Tribeca was kind enough to offer TripKick.com a first look at their new property despite the delayed opening, and we can tell you with confidence that Smyth is something entirely new for the Thompson Hotel collection of properties. Smyth embodies a “Four Seasons meets Thompson Hotels” look and feel, as it is both sophisticated and luxurious in style and appeal. Firstly, Smyth offers a location that is ideal for leisure and business travelers alike, as it’s just minutes from both SOHO and Wall Street. Smyth also has the privelige of being a new build property, allowing for flexibility with room types and common areas.

We saw over 5 different room types, varying from Superior Rooms to Studio Rooms to Suites. All are designed to impress with Manhattan elegance, Thompson contemporary touches and finish work that would even make the likes of some Four Seasons hotels jealous. Rooms at the Smyth offer clean lines with utmost simplicity and style- not too much, not too little. Bathrooms are equally tasteful with Glass Enclosed showers (some frosted with exposure to the bedroom areas) and Cultured Marble finish work. Generously sized bathrooms are always a welcomed feature in NYC hotel rooms, and Smyth has done a wonderful job with their bathroom design. Some room categories (including select Studio Rooms) offer bathrooms with windows which provide excellent natural light along with separate Showers & Deep Soaking Tubs.

King Deluxe Room

Typical Smyth Bathroom Setup

Queen Superior Room

Smyth Tribeca is not your ordinary Boutique Hotel. Smyth is a product that is both Bold yet Simple, elegant and energetic. We are excited about Smyth’s offical opening which will include the unveiling of its finished lobby space, Fitness Center and Restaurant (Note: Restaurant Opening Date is TBD) Smyth is expected to open up officially later this month, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted on an exact date.

Studio King Room (Room Number 905)

Thompson Hotels has established a great portfolio of Boutique Hotels and Thompson LES is one of their newest additions. As the name implies, Thompson LES is located in New York City’s Lower East Side. We originally planned to try Thompson’s Smyth Hotel in Tribeca, but the hotel wasn’t quite finished in time for our arrival. We decided to give LES a try, and weren’t at all disappointed with the change of plans.

Upstairs Lobby Area

We were pleasantly surprised by Thompson LES’s stellar location. SOHO is just a short walk from the hotel, affording utmost convenience to some of New York’s best Lower Manhattan attractions, restaurants and shopping. LES was grandfathered as one of the last High Rise buildings in the area, which allows for great views of Downtown from some of the guest rooms and suites. Also, LES is a new build property built from ground up, something that is rare for Manhattan Hotels. Consequently, guests will enjoy new accommodations along with a wide variety of services including an on property Spa and Gym.

Thompson LES is clearly contemporary, and utilizes an industrial design theme in guest rooms and common areas. We had an opportunity to see a large number of guest rooms, and regardless of your room category, you’re likely to enjoy the ultra modern residential feel. Exposed concrete ceilings, ebony hardwood flooring and designer furnishings are all standard features, from Superior to Suite Category Rooms. Also standard are generously sized bathrooms with large Glass Showers which feature Rainforest Shower Heads and Wands… and the water pressure is truly outstanding. Some guest room categories feature outdoor balconies and views of Downtown Manhattan. The Thompson Suite at LES is something that every NY apartment aspires to: lofty ceilings, dynamite views and an amazing residential feel.

Studio King Room (Room Number 905)

Superior King Room w/ Terrace (Room Number 1000)

We’re often let down by New York Hotels, as they have a well deserved reputation for offering small accommodations at high prices. The Thompson LES however clearly delivers value in a high end package: generously sized rooms, luxurious amenities (Like Kiehl’s Products and Fine Linens) and a fabulous location for those wanting to be in Lower Manhattan.

We got a rare first look at LES’s sister property Smyth, so stay tuned for our full report. Smyth is expected to open in late January.