Hotel Review: Conrad New York Midtown

A couple weeks ago, the folks at Hilton invited me to a media event to preview some of the rooms and tour the new Conrad New York Midtown (formally The London, also Hilton).

The all-suites hotel is centrally located on 54th street between 6th and 7th Avenue in vibrant midtown Manhattan, featuring iconic Central Park and NYC skyline views. Not to mention, it’s in close proximity to Rockefeller Center and 5th Avenue, right in the middle of all the action this holiday season.

The Conrad New York Midtown features oversized suites, thoughtful amenities, and a residential aesthetic. If you’re familiar with Hilton’s top-tier Conrad brand, Conrad strives to setting a new standard for hospitality by offering intuitive service and completely customized travel experiences.

Good Use of Hilton Honors Points

Perhaps the biggest takeaway of this post is that a night here is a great redemption for a guaranteed suite. As you would expect, space comes at a premium in New York City, and a suite in a midtown luxury hotel will cost you a pretty penny.

The good news is that a free night at the Conrad New York Midtown is often priced at 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night (and no resort/destination fees) for a standard suite with a king bed or two queen beds, offering plenty of space for families to enjoy a comfortable stay.

With that being said, the Conrad New York Midtown is a great place to use Hilton points or a weekend award night from a co-branded card such as the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

 

The Suites

The suites themselves are nicely-appointed, functional, and well laid out, offering sophisticated residential-style living. A standard suite spans 525-square feet and features a separate sitting room (enough space and privacy for a rollaway if needed) with a couch, lounge chair, and TV. The beds are ultra plush and comfy, and the there’s a large closet stocked with Conrad’s signature plush robes.

I found the bathroom in the standard suite to be a bit narrow, but it was modern, and fully equipped with everything you’d expect (including Shanghai Tang amenities).

 

Elite Benefits

For breakfast, the Conrad New York Midtown offers $30 per guest credit to Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members that can be used towards a choice of breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, Dabble, or for an in-room breakfast. Additionally, if you choose not to use this credit for breakfast, you can elect to use it for something else such as small evening bite or drink at the bar instead, for example.

Retail price for the full hot buffet would be $39 ($30 for the continental breakfast), and prices for individual, made to order breakfast options vary. I personally did not have breakfast at the hotel, but I think that the flexibility of how the credit can be used is a friendly and nice touch

FAO Schwarz Suite

Offered during the holiday season from November 18 – January 5, the FAO Schwarz toy-filled suite features plush toys, nutcrackers, trains, dolls, toys, musical instruments and more. Guests who book this suite are also treated to breakfast for 4, receive a $100 gift card to FAO, “FAO Schweetz” gift basket featuring goodies, private shopping tour with the iconic Toy Soldier prior to the store’s opening and the opportunity to “shop†the room and have items shipped direct to home.

You know your family is in for a treat if you find out you’re upgraded to room 5001 ;), but don’t get too excited because rates start from $3,000 per night. The FAO Schwarz-themed suite is definitely as “extra” as it gets, but it could be a festive treat for those who feel compelled to splurge on a special trip.

Bottom Line

Overall, The Conrad New York Midtown is a rather new hotel and a great place to stay in the heart of all the action. It’s a great use of weekend reward nights or Hilton Honors points (especially during the holidays when cash rates in the city can soar past $,1000 a night).

The standard rooms suites are much bigger than the standard rooms you’ll find at any comparable chain luxury hotel, and you can actually look forward to staying in true suite right at booking.

Have you stayed at the Conrad New York Midtown before?