Watching the Waterford Crystal Ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve is a drop in the bucket list for people from all over the world. The dream-come-true event should be celebrated in luxury as only The Plaza hotel can provide. Ring in the New Year staying at one of New York’s best 5-star hotels.

Situated in the heart of Manhattan on the southern end of Central park and just blocks from Times Square, The Plaza and its timeless elegance welcomes guests into opulence at the entrance.

A New Year’s weekend set in luxury is available at one of a select room types from the Plaza King with a street view or inside courtyard view, but even with this quaint room, none of the splendor is spared. As with all of the guest rooms a The Plaza, even the Sherle Wagner faucets are plated in 24-carat gold. It is extravagance at its finest in New York City near Times Square.

A glimpse into the King Plaza room at The Plaza Hotel, New York

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Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington D.C.

Like Eloise at the Plaza, Malia and Sasha Obama get to make a hotel their home, at least for their first two weeks in Washington D.C.

The girls started their new school, Sidwell Friends, this week, so the family needed a place to stay until the inauguration on January 20th. The Hay-Adams hotel, just across the street from the White House, was selected as their interim lodgings.

Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington D.C.

The Hay-Adams is a beautiful property with a long and storied history. The hotel gets its name from Secretary of State John Hay, and presidential descendant Henry Adams. The close friends built their homes on the original site in the 1880s and their families lived there for many years.

In 1927, developer Harry Wardman bought both homes and replaced the original structures with architect  Mirhan Mesrobian’s Italian Renaissance-style apartment-hotel. The luxurious hotel boasted many modern conveniences, including steam heating, circulating ice water and Washington’s first air conditioned dining room, which must have been packed during those humid summers!

Hay-Adams Hotel View

In 2001 the Hay-Adams went through a major renovation, emerging as one of Washington D.C.’s premiere luxury boutique hotels. There are 145 guest rooms, 20 suites, and some of the best views in the city. You can select from rooms with a White House view, St. John’s Church view, Lafayette Park view, or an “interior” view, which is is just as lovely as the other rooms, but as the name implies, no view. All 20 of the suites have stunning views, including the Federal Suite from which you can watch the entire panorama of the neighborhood.

Hay-Adams Hotel Room

In terms of amenities, travelers will not be disappointed. The Hay-Adams provides guests with exclusive Etro toiletries, custom Italian bed linens and bath towels, and robes and slippers for adults and children, which I’m sure Malia and Sasha are enjoying right now. Every room has wifi, and a Bose CD system — with assorted CDs, in case you forgot to bring any. Thoughtful!

Of course, this kind of luxury comes at a price. Depending on availability, interior rooms start around $400 per night. Suites are upwards of $1,000 — in some cases well upward! Hay-Adams does offer special packages, which start at $399 and include breakfast, valet parking and local attractions.

Probably the Obamas are spending their time at the Hay-Adams getting used to a new school routine, doing homework, and working on a special speech. But it’s a good thing they don’t have a dog yet, because it doesn’t seem like the kind of place that takes pets!

The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

When you think of a luxury hotel in New York City, there’s no doubt The Plaza Hotel is one of the first to come to mind. But, for many of us, spending between $700 and $5000 a night on a room room in a six-star hotel just isn’t feasible. At least, not most of the time.

However, if you’re ever going to go a little over the top, Christmas is the time to do it, and The Plaza has the splurgiest of all splurges with their “Christmas Spectacular” package. The guest experience includes Premiere seating for two at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a Christmas Spectacular-themed holiday dessert served in The Palm Court, and, of course, wonderfully luxurious accommodations at The Plaza.

Rates begin at $875 per night, so it’s probably not for everyone, but it certainly would be a fabulous surprise gift for your sweetheart. You can take advantage of this package through December 30th of this year, but seven days’ notice is required, so you might have to get cracking. And, you’ll need to make this reservation by phone — it’s not available online.

The Plaza at night

If this package doesn’t quite work for you this year, there are still some other opportunities to celebrate the season at The Plaza, especially if you don’t mind celebrating sometime after New Year’s. With the Advanced Booking Special Offer, if you book with at least 14 days notice, you’ll get 30 percent off the best available rate. And when the best available rate is several hundred dollars, 30 percent really adds up.

Want to know what other deals you can score at New York’s most prestigious address (perhaps to give a hint to someone who’s struggling to find your holiday gift this year)? Check out The Plaza’s packages right here.