CONRAD NEW YORK MIDTOWN
ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: Upon walking into Conrad New York Midtown, I was immediately drawn to a large sculpture depicting Leda and the Swan by contemporary artist Carole Feuerman and impressed by the slick and stylish yet inviting lobby. Several of the staff warmly greeted me. Although I arrived mid-morning, understandably too early to get my room, the staff allowed me to check in, store my bags and freshen up in the restaurant restroom. The process was amazingly quick and easy.
When I asked the doorman for directions to the Javits Center, he wisely suggested I walk to the Hudson River, which allowed me to see the USS Intrepid, among other sites.
GUEST QUARTERS: My three most important requirements in a hotel room are bed comfort, shower quality and noise control. All three proved superb in my spacious City View suite. The king bed provided a fantastic night of sleep. The strong water pressure combined with steamy water to make my shower seem like a massage, with the showerhead offering other spray options, too. Perhaps most important, especially in a bustling area like Midtown, the room seemed soundproof. I did not hear any noise from the halls or outside. In place of a mint on the pillow, a box of decadent chocolates greeted me.
The other room of the suite held a sofa, dining table and refrigerator. Both rooms offered beautiful views of Midtown and had large flat-screen TVS.
SERVICES/AMENITIES: The property houses an art collection featuring 37 artists, including an original Henri Matisse lithograph, two original Andy Warhol silkscreens and two limited-edition photographs by Amy Judd. At 1,500 square feet, the 24-hour fitness center was surprisingly large. My favorite part was the heavy bag, which I have not seen in a hotel fitness center. I got plenty of use from the bag and other equipment, providing some of the best hotel workouts I have ever experienced. Other pluses were the speed of the elevators and Wifi. Although I did not eat at Dabble, the on-site restaurant, it exuded a lively, casual vibe. The property also includes seven customizable venues for meetings or events. Conrad Serenity, a refreshing but subtle scent, wafts through the property through a partnership with Air Aroma.
ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: My husband and I arrived at Port Royal Wildwood Crest on a Friday evening in mid-september. Even though it’s outside of the traditional “season” at the Jersey Shore, we actually prefer to visit the area in September. We were blessed with wonderful weather the weekend we went and were able to spend all day Saturday on the beach. Despite being off-season, there was a firefighters’ convention in town the same weekend, so we still experienced check-in and parking at a busier time, and both were as easy as could be. Parking at the beach can be difficult to find and expensive, but Port Royal offers on-site parking and a below-ground parking garage, and parking was simple and painless all weekend.
GUEST QUARTERS: All guestrooms at Port Royal have private balconies and ocean views — calming and peaceful from the second you arrive.
Our Ocean Suite was massive, and it would be perfect to host families with children. The room opened into the bedroom area, with two queen-sized beds, a nightstand between and a dresser opposite with a television. Just off the bedroom and to the right of the entrance was a dressing area with a closet and sink/ mirror/vanity. The bathroom, with a shower, toilet and second sink, lay just off of this nook.
Walking through the bedroom, the suite opened to a kitchenette, dining table and living room area. The sofa could be converted into a queen-sized bed. Another TV hung above the dining table, across from the couch. Sliding glass doors led to the balcony, with seating, overlooking the beach.
SERVICES/AMENITIES: In addition to being perfectly located to the beach, Port Royal sits near two parks and is surrounded by green space. In Wildwood Crest, it’s not directly near the boardwalk, but we did walk and bike between the hotel and the boardwalk. The rest of the areas of The Wildwoods lie within an easy drive.
On-site Royal Grille serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with indoor and outdoor dining options. The seating options were expanded in 2021. We had breakfast at the hotel on Sunday morning before our departure — great coffee, and I enjoyed my breakfast burrito with chorizo.
Other on-site amenities include an outdoor pool, game room, maritime library, outdoor fire pit and guest laundry.
ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: After a short flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Norfolk International Airport, I enjoyed a 20-minute ride to my hotel in Virginia Beach. When I told my driver I had never been there before, he decided to take the scenic route instead of the highway so I could see more of the destination. When we got to the hotel, the friendly staff greeted me and led me inside to the front desk to check in. My room wasn’t quite ready, so I took the time to check out the stunning beach chic-themed lobby. I received a call when my room was ready, and the rest of check-in went smoothly.
GUEST QUARTERS: My room was located on the 22nd floor, the highest floor of guestrooms. When I entered my room, I was in awe. To the left I noticed plenty of closet space, with a decent-sized bathroom with a full walk-in shower to the right. As I continued into the room, a king-sized bed sat to the right and a smart TV to the left with a screen saying, “Welcome, Mary.” Other amenities included a desk, a chair for relaxing, storage drawers and a coffeemaker with a selection of decaf and regular coffees and teas. Although the room itself was great, the main feature, the balcony, provided a stunning view of the beach and ocean. I didn’t spend much time in the room, but I was glad it had a smart TV so I could watch Netflix each night before I went to bed.
SERVICES/AMENITIES: The hotel, much bigger than it looks, offers plenty of guest services and amenities. Two adjacent pools include an indoor/outdoor pool (most of it indoors, but not fully enclosed) and an outdoor infinity pool located right off the beach and surrounded by lounge chairs. Although it was a little cool, people were swimming. I didn’t get a chance to take a dip, but I did test the water, and it felt like a heated pool. If you aren’t into swimming, a lounge area offers turf and lounge chairs where you can sit and relax and enjoy the warm weather.
Located off the lobby, Tulu Seaside Bar & Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as cocktails, wine and beer. This restaurant is a laid-back place where you can order appetizers, burgers and more. For a more sophisticated dining experience, the 23rd floor features Orion’s Roof, where we enjoyed an amazing dinner our first night. Our table had an incredible view of Virginia Beach as well as the beach and ocean.
Guests can rent bikes from the hotel to explore the surrounding area and boardwalk. Virginia Beach is a big bike-riding destination where people cycle all over. It is the perfect way to explore the town.