View from Nolitan room

A visit to New York City often leaves even the most wander-lusting among us fantasizing about settling down in an apartment in the sky. Perhaps it’s the realization that you will  never be able to do, see, and eat everything the city has to offer during a single vacation, or maybe it’s the assertion that making it here is evidence of being able to make it anywhere. Whatever the draw, the dream of at least feeling like a New Yorker for a short period of time is definitely an attractive one. At The Nolitan, New York City’s newest luxury boutique hotel, that dream comes as close to a reality as possible without signing a lease.

Location, Location, Location? Welcome to Nolita

The Nolitan is located in “Nolita”, a neighborhood name you’ll only find on Google maps and in the property’s hip marketing materials. It is “north of Little Italy” or, more accurately, smooshed up to the eastern border of Chinatown. It’s a short walk to one of the seedier neighborhoods of Manhattan, the Bowery, but an equally short walk in the other direction to super hip and generally safe SoHo. Whether anyone outside of the tourism industry has heard the name or not, Nolita is clearly an “up and coming” neighborhood and a surprisingly convenient location for a New York City visitor looking to experience the city from a more local perspective. Just don’t let the graffiti scare you off as you walk Kenmare street looking for your hotel; you’ll soon find a sleek, contemporary oasis in The Nolitan.

Hip Edge with a Soft Touch

Lobby at The Nolitan

The lobby of The Nolitan says “welcome, Hipsters!” loud and clear with it’s concrete surfaces and IKEA-inspired decor. The lounge sofas appear better suited for a SoHo loft than a hotel lobby, which may be why you’ll actually find people working on them during the day and drinking wine on them at night. The large, wooden bookcase separating the lobby space from the restaurant echoes the loft vibe, a theme that continues upstairs in the guest rooms.

Manhattan hotel rooms are notoriously short on space, and The Nolitan rooms are no exception. However, these rooms make clever use of design elements to make the small space both useable and beautiful. Clean lines add to the hip atmosphere, while a cashmere throw and plush robe invites you to actually relax. What would normally be considered a tiny bathroom – another staple of NYC hotels – is instead a luxurious retreat featuring body products from a local boutique and a stunning view of the city available from inside the shower. Can’t get enough of the view from the shower or bed? Step onto the balcony.

Yes, a hotel room with a balcony you can actually get onto in a modern hotel. No locked doors and windows here, perhaps hipsters aren’t consider a jump risk. And oh, boy, the view. The morning and evening glimpses of the city alone make the price of a night at The Nolitan worthwhile.

Felix - one of the happy staff at The Nolitan

In addition to the cashmere and slippers, the urban edge is softened further by an accommodating staff with only 55 rooms of guests for which to account. The staff to guest ratio must be atypically high, and I’m certain every Nolitan employee has gone through extensive hospitality training. It’s the only explanation for such eager, pleasant, back-bending service from every staff member I encountered. The doorman doubles as concierge and the elevator operator and lobby security could just as easily be considered “Official Welcome Wagon.” While I’d normally be put off by an uber-contemporary hotel, I felt welcomed and at home at The Nolitan, thanks in part to a happy staff and a complete lack of thumping club music.

And that’s the real charm of The Nolitan. The free skateboard and laptop rentals are interesting, the in-room yoga mats and free wifi are nice, but it’s the feeling that you’re living in a cool New York City neighborhood during your stay that makes The Nolitan worth recommending – and at the top of my list for hotels worth revisiting.

All photos by Britt Reints

Sept 11, 2011 is the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. It’s about time the 9/11 Memorial and Museum opens, and they are indeed about to open their doors to visitors on Sept 12, 2001 – after its dedication on Sept 11, 2011.

9/11 Memorial Preview Site

NYC is expecting millions of visitors and tourists will be coming to Ground Zero. If you’re going to be there, it’s best to find a place to stay in Lower Manhattan, preferably in close proximity to the World Trade Center site.

The Downtown Alliance recommends 17 hotels which provide easy access to the 9/11 Memorial.

Out of these 17 hotels, eleven are taking part in the “Get More NYC: Lower Manhattan” promotion, wherein guests staying at these hotels get a complimentary Downtown Culture Pass and late checkout.

The complimentary pass offers 3 days of admissions and discounts to nine cultural attractions downtown, including the 9/11 Memorial Preview site and the Tribute WTC Visitor Center.

These 11 hotels are listed below:

01. Andaz Wall Street (Promo code: GETMOR)
02. Best Western Seaport Inn Downtown (Promo code: GETMORE)
03. Doubletree by Hilton NYC – Financial District (Promo code: PK7)
04. Gild Hall – A Thompson Hotel (Promo code: MORE)
05. Holiday Inn Express NYC Wall Street (no late checkout; Promo code: ISHD1)
06. Holiday Inn New York City – Wall Street (no late checkout; Promo code: ISHD1)
07. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park (Promo code: EB6)
08. Millenium Hilton (Promo code: 2755717)
09. New York Marriott Downtown (Promo code: ES7)
10. W New York – Downtown (Promo code: SETNYCCO)
11. World Center Hotel (Promo code: GETMORE2011)

Of these, the hotels nearest Ground Zero are the last four in the list above, of which two are new and two have been fully renovated post-9/11. They’re all likely to be full up for the 9/11 Memorial dedication and opening dates, but it’s something to keep in mind when visiting on a later date. In case you need it, here’s UpTake’s database of Manhattan hotels.

Don’t forget to reserve your free visitor pass online at 911memorial.org. Photo – kjarrett

Related posts:
9/11 Memorials U.S.A.
World Center Hotel Opens at Ground Zero
The Rebuilding from 9/11

Marriott and Granite Broadway Development have announced a plan to build a super-tall 68 story hotel complex in Manhattan that will house two distinct hotels.

Courtyard & Residence Inn, Manhattan/Central Park

The Courtyard and Residence Inn Manhattan/Central Park complex at 1717 Broadway (54th Street) will include a 378-room Courtyard by Marriott and another 261-room Residence Inn.

The project is slated to open in 2013 and will be managed by Interstate Hotels and Resorts. The building will rise up 752 feet and nine inches high, which makes it the tallest stand-alone hotel in New York, not counting those with residencies and commercial space.

As per the building plan, both hotels will share the same entrance and lobby on 54th Street. The Courtyard’s guest rooms are located on floors 6 through 32, while Residence Inn guests will get rooms on floors 36 through 64.

Each hotel will have its own elevator banks to take guests to their guestrooms and to the public areas for each hotel – the Courtyard’s public area is on the 4th floor, while the Residence Inn has its own public area on the 3rd floor.

The hotels will be sharing some common facilities, including a a 5th floor lounge and terrace with outdoor seating overlooking Broadway, a restaurant on the 2nd floor and a fitness center on the 34th floor.

The innovative twin-hotel building concept has been designed by architect Nobutaka Ashihara.

Ronnie Gross, vice president of Granite Broadway Development, said that “The building will be absolutely stunning, and the hotels are the right lodging brands for this wonderful location.”

The Courtyard will offer its signature new lobby with a 55-inch LCD interactive touch screen offering maps, weather, news, business and sports headlines.

The Residence Inn will feature suites with kitchens, daily complimentary breakfasts, free high speed internet, grocery delivery, laundry facilities and weekly manager social hours.

Photo – Marriott International

Related posts:
World’s Highest Hotel Opens in Hong Kong
Think Tall, Think Trump
Some of the World’s Highest Bridges
The Highest Bar in the World is in Hong Kong

After a long wait, The Nolitan hotel in Manhattan officially opens its doors on August 1. The 55-room boutique invites you not just as a guest staying in a room, but to come and be a part of its neighborhood.

The Nolitan, NYC

When you stay at The Nolitan, you’re becoming a Nolitan, at least for the duration of your stay. That’s because the hotel is located in Nolita (North of Little Italy), and the people here are ‘Nolitans.’

The location, filled with landmarks like Lombardi’s Pizza and the old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, allows you to explore everything from Little Italy to the Bowery, SoHo, Chinatown, Greenwich Village and TriBeCa.

As for the hotel guest rooms and services, it’s a quaint little hotel which puts a premium on personalized care and attention for guests.

They’re willing to go the extra mile and arrange for everything from a bath for your dog to organic groceries delivered to your room.

“We’re a place where we welcome your friends, your pets and your quirky requests,” explains The Nolitan Hotel general manager Patrik Horstmann. “We’re your home when you’re here, and we treat you like family.”

The Nolitan has a thing for oak and glass. Lots of glass, actually, which keeps guests in touch with Nolita, from the wide open lobby to the two walls of glass at the Ellabess restaurant, and the floor-to-ceiling windows in some of the guest rooms.

Guest room at The Nolitan, NYC

Speaking of which, guests have a choice of eight different types of rooms. There are neighborhood rooms and Cityscape rooms, and some with a private balcony while others offer floor-to-ceiling windows. Read More »