insideKENT Magazine Issue 50 - May 2016 | Page 125
Touching down at JFK, we emerged into the
crisp, cool air to hail our yellow taxi to take us
across the water to Manhattan Island, our
destination (like many first-time visitors) for this
trip. New York is the most densely populated
city in the USA and with people come traffic! So
be prepared for your first experience in the city
to involve blaring horns, busy streets and an
often longer than anticipated transfer, albeit one
made bearable by the looming iconic buildings,
the glimpses of recognisable street signs and
landmarks and that heady aroma of street food
and city air that lets you know you have arrived
in this bustling metropolis.
Notorious as the ‘city that never sleeps’, I
have to confess that I quite like a bit of z-time to
go with my hedonistic city experiences, so it was
reassuring to be met with an immediate sense
of calm and tranquility when departing the bustle
of the city through the sleek revolving doors of
the WestHouse Hotel, our base for this adventure.
Greeted at once by the concierge, the front
of house staff and a pleasing aroma (later
discovered to be the hotel’s own signature scent),
I was checked in; not as a guest or customer
but as a ‘resident’ – and this is what sets the
WestHouse apart.
Rather than being yet another luxury city
hotel, the WestHouse aims to create a more
homely (albeit with a pure thread of luxury) feel.
Accommodation here in one of the 172 bedrooms
and suites is more Uptown Manhattan apartment
than standard hotel room, and residents (and
their guests) have exclusive access to the hotel,
its amenities and resident privileges.
Ascending the elevator, my guest and I
arrived at our far-from-humble abode for the
weekend, a 25th-floor, one-bedroom city-view
suite, with vistas of the city beyond and the
dancing lights of Times Square and Broadway
reflecting off every surface. It is easy to see why
images from this hotel regularly feature on online
inspiration boards for sleek, chic, hotel-inspired
bedroom decor, for the WestHouse has got this
just right. Combining the right level of functionality
– comfortable sofas, desks and tables, luxurious
king size bed and a handy gap in the sleek glass
shower screen to allow you to set your rainforest
shower to the right temperature without getting
wet (genius!) – with style: cool grey walls, art
deco inspired decor, contemporary lighting,
DayNa Decker toiletries and GHD hair appliances.
Yes, this would do just fine.
And then there are the Resident Privileges
such as the daily breakfast buffet served in the
23rd floor Terrace. Delights during our stay
included fresh bagels, continental cheeses and
meats, American breakfast and sweet pastries.
Also included is a full Barista bar and non-alcoholic
drinks service throughout the day, High Tea from
2-4pm, and as if that were not enough, enjoy
Hours of Indulgence when, between 5pm-8pm
light snacks and alcoholic beverages (including
Champagne) are served in the Den. This is not
forgetting complimentary Wi-Fi, free local calls,
in-room bottled water, a 24-hour business centre
and a 24-hour fitness centre!
It was tempting just to ‘live’ here for the
weekend, but of course the city was calling and
from its W55th Street location, just around the
corner (or block) from Central Park, Carnegie
Hall and walking distance to 5th Avenue, the
WestHouse proved to be the perfect base.
Never has the adage ‘so much to do, so
little time’ been more apt than in a fleeting
weekend trip to NYC. It’s almost hard to know
where to begin, what to do and when to do it,
which is where CityPASS New York City came
to the rescue. Contained in one handy little
booklet was our key to the best attractions at a
discounted cost, and often with queue jump
entry! From this we planned our whole sightseeing
adventure…
Avoiding the traffic and costs of cabs we
knew one of the best ways to get around was
to walk (but bring sensible shoes – my guest and
I covered 30km in three days!). The block systems
are actually really easy to use; ‘Streets’ with W
is everything West of 5th Avenue and E everything
East, and the vertical ‘Avenues’ are mostly
numbered ascending from East to West although
downtown is more complicated. For longer
journeys use the subway which is easy with a
Metrocard, and begin your day at an attraction
to avoid the queues and then have time to stop
for brunch, lunch, coffee, dinner or whatever
else, whilst hitting the shops on the way back,
meaning you don’t have to be laden with bags
whilst sightseeing.
Head uptown, take in 5th Avenue, walk
through Central Park to The American Museum
of Natural History, wander around Bloomingdale's
and then pit-stop at Serendipity3 for their famous
Frozen Hot Chocolate. Take a subway to Grand
Central Station, walk up to The Rockerfeller
Centre for Top of the Rock’s glorious Central
Park and city views (if you are really short on time
my advice is to do either Top of the Rock or the
Empire State Building during the day and the
other at night), go to Radio City, grabbing a
cupcake or Banana Pudding from Magnolia
125
Bakery on your way. Walk through Times Square
at night, but also venture back early morning for
a whole new less crowded perspective.
Head downtown, you can catch an English
soccer match at Smithfield Hall (much to my
guest’s delight) and grab some amazing pancakes
next door at Johny’s Luncheonette (much to
mine!), before heading to Battery Park to catch
the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
(remember to stand on the starboard side – that’s
right to you and me – for the best photos). Back
on dry land you can walk to the 9/11 Memorial,
an oasis of calm and reflection. Take the subway
to midtown and immerse yourself in Macy’s
before ascending the art deco elevators of the
Empire State Building for those iconic nighttime
vistas and hitting Broadway for a show.
Make sure you take time to walk the High
Line, this park along an old railway line gives you
some great views of the city and if you walk south
along it from W34th to Gansevoort Street, you’ll
end up in the Meatpacking District where industrial
warehouse architecture meets hipster creativity;
sights, sounds and tastes not to be missed!
And of course shop till you drop and eat
as much as you can; from the delicious street
food to the amazing fine dining restaurants, the
options are endless (see our handy guide on the
next page for our favourites); and take in as much
as you can before coming home for a long rest!
201 West 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
[email protected]
www.westhousehotelnewyork.com
CityPASS
www.citypass.com/new-york
Holiday Extras offers a wide choice of holiday booster
options including UK airport parking, airport hotels,
worldwide airport lounges, destination car hire and
holiday insurance.
Located in Kent and established in 1983, Holiday
Extras makes travel easier for over 7 million
holidaymakers each year. The company has been
listed ten times in The Sunday Times 100 Best
Companies to Work For and reached number twenty
in 2016.
www.holidayextras.co.uk