The Lombardy Hotel located just off Park Avenue in New York is unique as a conveniently located block of 159 individually owned luxury serviced apartments.
It also offers something special in terms of space and cost in a city where rooms can be small and pricey.
An 83 square metre one-bedroom apartment with marble floors, kitchen and bathroom will set you back by US$469 a night and a studio from $339. Compared to a five-star hotel, this is twice the size for about two thirds of the price.
For the best of the rooms, go for the $1,100-a-night penthouse with 139 sq m of opulent luxury and three bedrooms. Long stays are available by negotiation.
There is no compromise on service either. The uniformed lobby staff and doorman meet the highest standards and the lobby is fit for film stars, who do come: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were once residents.
The building was built in 1925 by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst to accommodate his actress-friend Marion Davies.
Lombardy’s spacious apartments are now individually upgraded by their current owners, although the decor can be a little flamboyant for some tastes.
My small kitchen came with a large American-sized Samsung cooker and microwave, even a dishwasher. The large lounge featured a marble-top table, leather sofas, flat-screen cable TV and LED lighting.
The huge bedroom had a super-king bed and twin walk-in closets, one with a safe, iron and ironing board. There was also a work desk with free 4.4 Mbps internet connection and two US electric plugs.
The internet failed for a couple of hours one morning but that might have been for security reasons as Donald Trump chose that moment to return to his New York apartment, a couple of blocks away, for the first time since becoming US president.
The housekeeping twice a day was a match with the best five-star hotels, with fresh fluffy white towels, bathrobes and slippers bearing the hotel logo. The bathroom is kept well stocked with luxury toiletries.
q&a breakfast is included
Peter Cooper expounds on his experience at New York’s The Lombardy:
How about room service?
There is no room service but ask the concierge for a list of restaurants that deliver in the area. From US$6.99 for a pizza to the best fine dining.
And breakfast?
Breakfast is included in the room rate and taken in the American Cut steakhouse in the building’s basement. Its buffet line-up never changes in this slightly dingy, windowless saloon. It was more convenient to buy a few breakfast items for the apartment in the Wholefoods store a couple of blocks away.
Other business facilities?
You might not expect serviced apartments to offer a business centre but look just to the left of the check-in and there are two Lenovo large-screen computers tucked in an alcove with a printer. A recently renovated fitness room is also available with two running machines, two step machines and free weights. However, meeting rooms are not available.
Airport access?
The concierge can arrange a limousine to the airport but the standard $52 taxi fare to John F Kennedy is still the cheapest option.
Any complaints?
My only gripe would be the construction site on the opposite side of the street; the work started early and continued into the evening. If you are looking to rest during the day it would be a problem. Otherwise this is a comparatively quiet location by New York standards with only the occasional lorry unloading in the night.
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