A Suite NYC Adventure
For a lot of Ambitionistas, travel is often a mix of business and pleasure. And so choosing the right kind of hotel that can accommodate your packed and varied itinerary is crucial. And you probably have noticed via my Instagram that I have been traveling quite a bit.
While I’ve been lucky enough that my travels take me to places (read: cities) that I wanted to go to anyway, a great hotel often makes or breaks the stay. So what does an Ambitionista need to pay attention to when choosing a hotel that caters to both work or play?
When Picking a Hotel for Business :
Always consider the location: Where you will be spending the majority of your time? If attending a specific conference for the duration of your trip, it’s best to stay at the hotel where it is being held (or as close to the venue as possible). If however, you have multiple events/meetings to go to throughout your stay, pick a central location that makes it easy to go to different parts of the city much like I did during my latest trip to NYC, where I stayed at the London NYC which is located smack in midtown Manhattan, and enabled me to zip all around the city quickly as needed.
Check out the cafes and restaurants in the hotel before booking if you are going to have lots of coffee, lunch or dinner meetings - Depending on your industry, the image you want to create and your location, staying in a hotel that has both a chic yet laid-back cafe and bar , and a fine dining restaurant is a godsent. In my last New York trip, I was able to pack in 6 meetings in a whole day in style ( I am working in the fashion industry) because I was having the meetings all from my hotel's cafe. In between meetings, if I needed to freshen up, all I needed to do was go back to my room. So yes, even though my hotel is a little bit more expensive, the time saved (and deals closed) is priceless.
When Planning a (Mostly) Vacation Trip:
Think of what you want to do during your business trip. Are you going to be doing a lot of shopping, sightseeing and exploring, or will you staying in one area? Pre-booking, get your google map out and pin your must visit spots as well as your tentative hotels. In a city like NYC or LA where traffic is heavy at best and hideous at its worse, choosing your hotel's location is not something you want to leave to chance.
A standard room, a grand suite or something in between? Will you be in a situation where your hotel room also doubles as a pre-event prep and gathering spot or just a place to crash? When I am in town for an event, a larger room is always necessary as I tend to have makeup and hair people, a photographer and a couple of friends in my room all at the same time.
Other questions to consider :
Do you work out or want to work out, and at what kind of hours? Is having an outdoor jogging/walking trail something you really care about? Be honest now.
What is the total cost of stay - look at the add-ons, that $199 per night hotel might seem cheaper, but the $299 hotel might have complimentary wifi, is nearer to my clients ( so I save on taxi fares, time and energy), has wonderful on-site restaurants and cafes I can host meetings in, has an excellent business center, complimentary shuttle to and from the airport and/or parking, daily breakfast and pressing service. If you can do more work and achieve more if staying at a better hotel, I always consider that a priority.
Thank you The London NYC for hosting my stay. All indoor photos are taken at the all-suite The London Hotel, NYC while all outdoor photos are taken right outside the hotel. The opinion and thoughts in this blog post are strictly my own.
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Oh gosh.. You’re so beautiful Heidi. I hope I’m not gushing but I am, you fit right in anywhere you go!
NYC is a great bustling city.. they say if you’ve been to New York, you’ve seen them all. You look so gorgeous with your coat and those silk pajamas and especially that blue dress although you aren’t facing the camera, but that’s okay, I know you look great in everything!
You look absolutely stunning with the NYC backdrop. I gotta hand it to you, whether it’s business or pleasure, you look gorgeous every way.
I’ve been to London NYC once and I agree, it’s such a nice gorgeous hotel and I loved every minute of my stay there. Now if only I could get a dress like that and be as stylish as you… hmm..
You’re so beautiful! I wish you would have looked at the camera on your last picture, I love the blue dress on you!
Great suggestions to consider Heidi! I have been traveling a lot of business lately, and have found that the right hotel room definitely makes a difference! I stayed in a really chic hotel in boston located centrally in the city so it was a great location to meet up with different people! xo
Andrea
http://www.phdfashionista.com
Your welcome Andrea ! When I travel I am all about the hotel experience .. lol .
I would love to book a room there and stay as long as I want. I liked your view from the top, NYC looks great from there.
Wow, so London NYC appears to be the one of the best places to be when in the Big Apple. Great experience you had there 🙂
Been there, it’s a great place, love the ambiance and people around. You look stunning, by the way, Heidi!
I wish I could go there someday, not just in the hotel but in the whole of New York. A great bustling place, indeed! You totally fit in there, gorgeous and stylish and all.
Thanks for sharing your tips about looking for hotels in NYC. I really appreciate that, especially since I’m bound for the Big Apple this coming summer. It’s really helpful 🙂
Glad to have stumbled upon this post. I need more infos about hotels and places when I decide to travel from one state to another. I would love to go to a hotel with a grand suite, but I don’t think I can’t afford it, so a standard room will suit me fine. Maybe I’ll just have to work hard to get what I really crave for. London NYC sounds promising and I’ll always remember you and this post and your photos when I finally step foot there. Thanks!
Thanks for this recommendation, Heidi. Been thinking of a great place to stay when I get there in NYC to visit some old colleagues. We’re planning to get together somewhere i n a suite that is cozy and chic and yes, have strong wi-fi! So, London NYC it is!
What a beautiful gal! Heidi, you are lovely, as always. And thank you for sharing with us your tip on finding the right hotels or cafes to stay in when travelling somewhere. Really helps. I get to save a lot from my allowances thus allowing me to splurge in hotels from time to time..
I actually have business trips to make in NYC and Boston in the next few weeks and I have been booking some flights and looking for perfect accommodations. Thanks for suggesting London NYC, I will definitely try this place.
My dear, you are absolutely stunning!!
Gosh Heidi you look spectacular in everything, even in pajamas! I can see you enjoyed your stay there in NYC! That city really never sleeps!
My family and I are actually headed to NYC this summer vacation for some fun and relaxation and a little bit of chaos that only the Big Apple brings. We’ll be checking out London NYC that;s for sure!
Heidi, I’m so grateful for all the tips you share here. Thanks for these hotel hunting tips, it really helps someone like me who’s been thinking of gallivanting the world, one hotel room at a time!
I also want to make sure I get the best accommodations when I travel and sight-see. I’ve read great things about London NYC so I might have to check it out then.
Wow, I absolutely love that blue ballgown, it looks fantastic! Can you share us more pictures of you wearing it? I bet you look amazing in it!
You’re really stunning, all your pictures bring out the beauty in you!
You look every bit comfortable and at home there. Maybe I better book a room for my early summer vacation in NYC. As always, you look great!
It’s summer and it’s time for much needed vacation and relaxation. When my family decides to go to another state to have fun, we stay in hotels that can accommodate all our basic and demanding needs. I’m part of a big family, so a big suite or a couple of rooms is required. As much as possible, we want a full view of the ocean, so it’s a big plus if the hotel has that. These are what we always look forward to when we hop from one hotel to another.
Delectable food, luxurious pool, really wide and spacious suite and yes, ever reliable & approachable service are what I really look for when I decide to stay in hotels. Will check out your hotels of choice when I go to NYC this fall. For now, I’ll be staying in SoCal for the sun and sand and hopefully find posh hotels like The London
My friends and I are planning a road trip this summer and we thought we could just sleep at the back of our pickup truck at night. But this changed my mind. I want to go on hotel-hopping (like bar-hopping) and explore the different hotels that we’ll be able to pass by on the road. We’ll take note of your tips and suggestions so we can have the best hotel stay experience!
I was just here a week ago. London NYC indeed is spacious and very accommodation. Plus the view from my floor was spectacular! I tried their cafes too, the food are amazing!
Usually, I stay on hotels when I go on business trips, but I could never get the experience I want because some hotels don’t really impress me. But I heard so much about The London and it’s really something. Thanks!
Most of the time, my colleagues and I go on business trips, but we want to also incorporate a little fun when we get to our hotel suites. On our last travels, there were some hotels that were astute and highly minimalist that we preferred staying out than sleeping in. Will check out stylish and accommodating hotels in our next outings.
Wow! Now that’s a gorgeous view! Plush seats, window access to the world, cozy ambiance, a perfect hotel stay and getaway! Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience in NYC.
Most of the hotels I’ve been to are at par or if not greater than the ones that I’ve been into. I like posh hotels, with fabulous comfy amenities, strong wi-fi connection and a dining place filled succulent dishes. Of course, a room with a video is a definite bonus point!
Thanks for the review and for recommending London NYC. Would love to spend sometime there in my upcoming nuptials. 🙂
Been there lately, that hotel is massive! I love every nook and corner of the place, I feel like a celebrity whenever I stay there.
Your face glows, it only means you really had a fantabulous time during your visit there! I would love to go there and visit the New York City in its entirety too, soon!
Oh, you can officiate 6 meetings in just one day? Wow, you’re incredible. Me, I don’t think I’d be able to stay awake with one meeting, imagine if I have to stay for at least 5 more! I admire your stamina and dedication to work. You really deserve to stay in nice hotels like this in order to keep up with your activities.
I could never afford a hotel room that costs about $250 a night. I wish there’s other hotels that are as elegant as this one but costs much lower. Thanks for the tips on choosing the perfect hotels, by the way.
Great hotel, great stay, great service, worth every dollar. I’ve got 2 thumbs up for London NYC
I agree… the first thing I actually consider whenever I choose hotels to stay while on business trips is the location, location, location. I want the one the is easily accessible and isn’t traffic-infested.
Oh, you look so gorgeous even when you’re just wearing pajamas!
Thanks Heidi, for these great hotel-hunting tips. Perfect for me and my family who are on the look-out for the best hotels we’d love to stay in during our summer vacation
I think as long as we can afford two nights in a hotel as grand as London NYC, I say, why not? It sure looks beautiful and tempting!
My family stayed there (The London NYC) for 3 nights and it was quite an experience. Dining in a high-class restaurant, staying at the roof deck with the beautiful view below, comfy pillows and spacious beds, we certainly enjoyed our stay there.
Can I just say, that was a really lovely evening dress!
Thanks for the tips, I am currently searching for hotels with relaxing view and sumptuous food! Hopefully we’ll get the best hotels when my family and I go on a trip this summer.
Great tips, Heidi. The photos are great. Also, thanks for the inspiration. I have been trying to do a post like this on my own blog.
Now that’s really a breathtaking hotel, all your pictures look fantastic!
Oh Heidi you look really really amazing and gorgeous!!
Ahhh… I’m jealous of your work 🙂 I wish I could trade places with you even just for one day. I’d love to travel to places and check in on stunning hotels like this one in NYC. Too bad I can’t.. You look really gorgeous Heidi, even if you’re just wearing your PJs..
Thank you for your kind words! If you want to travel, then I believe you can make it happen! Chase your dreams 🙂
Oh I bet you look gorgeous in everything, even with just short denims or coverall.
Wow, even with your back view, I know you look exquisite in blue!
Oh Heidi, you look perfectly stunning in everything! I wish you were facing the camera so we can further see your beauty..
Magnifico! I know that even though you are not facing the camera on your last photo, you still look gorgeous with that blue number. You were probably the Belle of the Night!
Thank you so much, Jadine! I loved the outfit so much 🙂
My, my my… This hotel is one of the best, I’ve just been there a week ago and I had the most relaxing experience there, ever!
Gosh! You seem to find all the exciting places and beautiful hotels in New York!
Thank you for the tips on checking out the best hotels especially in NYC. I’ll be spending New Year’s eve in the Big Apple and will make it a point that I don’t miss this out.
It’s time to party! And what best way to do this but to spend time with friends! Although we have our hands full this holiday, I’m still hoping for great NYC adventure and be able to spend it here even for just one time..
Did you know that the lucky color for 2016 is blue? like the gown you’re wearing above! It looks great on you even though you aren’t facing your audience. It would surely be great to be there in NYC to meet the New Year with a bang!
Every shot you have here are gorgeous! Even in silk pajamas, you are stunning Heidi. A grand hotel like London NYC is like a palace and you are the queen!
Thank you Rebecca! 🙂 xx
Was here last New Year’s eve. They do great parties here, everyone were giddy and rambunctious! The fireworks were surreal. I’m glad I read this post a few months ago, I told my friends this is the hotel we need to stay on during holidays. And we certainly enjoyed London NYC, every minute of it!
This hotel is grand. Perfect for a Valentine’s date rendezvous with my husband. Thanks for suggesting this. And for the tips, too!
Wow, you are so beautiful!
I wish you were looking at the camera on your last photo. That blue dress you wore is absolutely captivating!
I went to Suite NYC when I visited the Big Apple a week ago. YOu were right, it was such a spacious and marvelous hotel!
You look absolutely divine, whether you’re wearing pajamas or an office attire or that blue gown!
Oh girl, you’re rockin’ that number!
I would love to experience this too one day. London NYC is now in my bucket list.
Love this feature on London NYC and thanks for the tips for hotel hunting and sightings. I’m all for a pleasant hotel experience, too, when I travel with my family.
Wow Heidi, that blue down looks radiant! I wish you were facing the camera too. Lovely!
Why so stunning Heidi!?? Even in your PJs, you look beautiful!
That’s a gorgeous blue gown Heidi!
My, my, my Heidi… You look divine!