I ended up at the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel by accident, since I was originally slated to stay downtown for a conference held in the same area. The only thing that the conference didn’t know about was that the Tribeca Film Festival was happening at the same time which resulted in sell outs of nearly every single hotel in SOHO, the Village, Tribeca and Chelsea — even mid-town hotels were fairly booked and their prices were roughly double what they normally are because of increased demand.
I got lucky to score a last minute deal with the Park Lane the day I checked in. It was a lucky find since the hotel faces Central Park and given that my room was on a high floor, the noise level was half what it normally is when I stay in Manhattan. In other words, I was able to sleep in on my last day.
The hotel is a 46-story luxury hotel with panoramic views of the park and beyond it, an iconic New York City skyline. If you’re on a high enough floor as I was, you’ll have stunning views of both the park and the city.
The décor in our Central Park Hotel reflects grand European style, from the majestic ballroom to the intimate lobby. From on-site dining at the renowned Park Room Restaurant to cocktails at Harry’s New York Bar & Lounge, there are options if you want to have a night in; they also boast a fitness center as well although I didn’t have time to try it out.
Located directly on Central Park, in the Midtown Manhattan Business District, the hotel is just steps from Fifth Avenue Shopping, Broadway Theaters, Museum Mile, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center and many other activities and attractions.
The restaurant sits on the second floor of the hotel and while you don’t think there will be much of a view because of it, the restaurant’s all glass windows facing Central Park doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s a relaxing way to enjoy breakfast or lunch.
I had dinner plans downtown and a conference in Tribeca so didn’t really spend much time in midtown for dining, however I did have lunch at the Helmsley on the day I checked out. I kept it simple and ordered a chicken caesar salad but it was delicious and the proportion was generous.
From my table, I was able to watch people passing by all while taking in the Big Apple’s glorious Central Park in the background.
Details:
Helmsley Park Lane Hotel | 36 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019 | 212.371.4000
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
