The Peninsula, NY
Where? At one of the most posh addresses, Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, or halfway between Central Park and department store heaven.
Have I heard of it? Maybe not. It attracts the quietly rich, not the 'bling-bling' crowd: those who inherit their furniture, not buy it.
Contemporary or classic? Definitely classic. Built at a cost of US$2.25 million in 1905, The Gotham Hotel, as it was known, was the city's tallest skyscraper. Its beaux-arts exterior remains intact and features intricately carved balustrades. The entrance lobby's crystal chandelier and grand staircase could be off a Hollywood film set.
Tell us more. The Peninsula Spa is one of New York's finest. It's a three-tiered oasis featuring a glass-enclosed swimming pool with views of Central Park, wraparound sun deck and skincare treatments.
Prefer relaxation in livelier surroundings? The Pen-Top Bar on the 23rd floor is another must-do. Its utterly fabulous tiramisu Martini lightens your wallet and tightens your clothes for US$17. But the real draw is the amazing view: imagine floating on a raft dwarfed by passing ocean liners and you get the idea.
Anything else we should know? Its 185 rooms and 54 suites are decorated in a chintzy, old-world style. State of the art technology signals an end to noisy fax machines and the desk area is generous. More whizz-bang gadgetry controls lighting and temperature, all from the bed. The room-service menu is limited yet accommodating.
Superior rooms cost US$595, deluxe rooms $695, grand luxe rooms $760, junior suites $960, junior executive suites $1,170 and the 3,300 sq ft Peninsula Suite $10,000 a night. Rates are based on single or double occupancy and are subject to 13.6 per cent sales tax, as well as a US$2 occupancy tax per room per night.
