Date Night at The Affinia Shelburne

Recently, I was a lucky winner of the Affinia Hotels “$24 Stay During 24 Premiere“. Formerly The Shelburne Murray Hill, Affinia Shelburne has undergone a 2 year, $23 million dollar renovation, focusing in great part with providing their guests with a sense of comfort, access to functionality, and top of the line customer service and attention.

When I walked into the hotel I was immediately impressed with the warmth and welcoming aura of the space. The lobby area, filled with assorted couches and lounge chairs, has a living room feel to it, not at all sterile or cold as most hotel lobbies can be. Equipped as well with a flat screen t.v., a collection of books, and computers for guests use, it invites you to sit, get comfortable, and stay.

The artwork and designs by the reception area are from designer Shelly Klein of K Studio, and it accurately depicts the feel of the city, it’s people, the crowds visitors will surely encounter in their travels here. Her art is also displayed on pillows in every guest room, which are available for purchase.

I really can’t say enough about the space. That first impression, so key to any hotel experience, is right. But it didn’t stop there. New York City hotels have the reputation of being small. And expensive.

The rooms at the Affinia Shelburne are not at all small and are reasonably priced. My husband and I both loved our room and we were both incredibly surprised with the amount of space.  We stayed in the one bed guest room. The colors were warm and soft, the spa-like bathroom was wonderful, and the view of the Empire State building from our window was breathtaking, even though it was partly blocked by the fog. I loved the little details, like the individual reading lights on each side of the bed and the sound machine, which you can set to different environmental sounds such as ocean, chimes, among others.

Though they have an award -winning restaurant right downstairs, Rare, I really wanted to check out what the surrounding area had to offer visitors.  Some consider this area of the 30s on the Upper East Side a “no man’s land”, but I completely disagree. My husband and I walked a total of 40 blocks (in the rain, because we are two crazy kids in love and had no idea what to do with our temporary “no kids” freedom),  but no visitor will have to walk that long or far to find something to do. Walk to the lower 30s (33, 34, 35) and towards the West (Park, 5th, Broadway) and you will find a great selection of bars, cafes, restaurants, bistros. 34th is a huge shopping area, and the walk to the West side on a good day is easy, pretty, and pleasant. Walk East and you are directed right onto the East River Pathway with an entrance in the mid 30s.

After having dinner at Union Square, we walked from 10th Street and 1st Avenue back to the hotel on 37th and Lexington and although for most visitors who may not be used to walking that much this may seem like a lot, for us it was an awesome time, and it helped ease the guilt from having eaten so much during dinner!

We sat at the lobby with other contest winners and hotel guests and watched the season premier of 24. General Manager David McManus was there to greet us and take care of us. A wonderful man, he is approachable and friendly and also concerned for your utmost comfort and well-being. But we found that to be the case with all the staff we encountered there from beginning to end.

Don’t miss out on the Affinia Experience kits and make sure to advantage of their fitness and spa service. Sign up to My Affinia and further customize your experience there. These are the extra details that one can find at Affinia Hotels that really help set them apart from the rest. Also, mark you calendar! Cause in May the rooftop bar and grill opens up at the Affinia Shelburne. Words can’t describe the breathtaking views, a true New York City experience for both visitors and residents a like.

The space, the services, and the location are wonderful for traveling families as well. Though we didn’t have our kids this time, the Affinia Shelburne offers several room sizes, including a 6 room suite for larger traveling groups, though after seeing all the rooms, I would say that even just the 2 bedroom suite, with its full kitchen and convection oven, would be perfect for our family of 5! Soft lighting, warm colors, and lots of natural light make their meeting and events area inviting and different from standard event space one finds in other spaces.

During our “Jack is Back 24 Premier Party” in the lobby, I won another $24 dollar stay at the Affinia Shelburne! However, we enjoyed our experience here so much that we decided to give one lucky winner a chance to enjoy the experience as well.

Thus I am hosting the following giveaway:

One $24 Stay at The Affinia Shelburne in a One Bed Guestroom on any MON night during the 2010 “24″ Season.

To Enter:

Leave a comment sharing what service you feel best compliments your hotel experiences.

Tweet about the giveaway for an extra entry. Please use #AffiniaHotels hashtag and @nycitymama

Winner will be selected on Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010.

GOOD LUCK!

Your email:

 

Tags: Date Night, nyc hotels
Posted in Date Night, Hotels/Camping/Resorts/Cruise | 19 Comments »