Evening with Children at Hotel Elysee

Written by Carol Cain on 22 August 2010

Hotel Elysee, located in the neighborhood of Midtown East on 54th St, between Park and Fifth Avenue, has an old-world, romantic feel to it. From the marble floors to the chandeliers located both in the main foyer and in the elevator, to the paintings located throughout the hotel, you can’t help but feel transported out of the urban jungle and into a place much more serene.

And it was here that I bought my two very active, very rambunctious boys for a night.

Because as often is the case, we would love to enjoy hotels such as these as they appeal to our standards, but can’t very well leave the kids home alone when traveling.

I walked in with my two boys, 3.5 and 5, as my husband was still at work and my 12 year old is away. The gentlemen at the front desk were courteous not only to me, but to my children, which as any traveling parent knows, is always a huge plus.

We stayed in a one-bedroom suite. The decor was reminiscent of a French chateau, with its fine china, ornate furnishings, and marble accents. Yet, there were also plenty of modern amenities such as two flat screen televisions and free Internet access available via Ethernet cable.

My boys quickly settled in on one of the comfortable sofas in the living room area and watched their favorite cartoons while I walked around the large suite. A corner room, it had plenty of windows and a lot of sunlight. The view wasn’t much to look at (on the 11th floor we could only see the bare and boring tops of other buildings next to us), but it was quiet. It was a proud room with sturdy walls and nice solid floors, things I always take into consideration when staying with my kids and their often “not-inside” voices.

The bed was like butter, soft and yummy to lay in, as was the sofa bed for the kids. I never once heard our neighbors and felt at ease while my kids played around and made themselves at home.

The suite also included a small kitchenette with a microwave, a small fridge and gas burners, but it had no utensils, plates, or glasses that I could see, nor was there a coffee maker.

On weekdays guests can delight in a nightly wine and cheese reception from 5:00pm -8:00pm and mornings include a Continental breakfast in the lounge from 7:00am to 10:30am. Coffee, snacks and juices are available throughout the day as well, all of these free of charge. Also included in the hotel amenities are daily passes to the nearby New York Sports Club featuring a full range of cardio and strength-training equipment and aerobic, cycling and body-sculpting classes.

I wanted to partake in the wine and cheese experience, but had no one to leave my kids with so I took them along. Of course I had “the talk” with them ahead of time, but some how all was forgotten by the time we exited on the 2nd floor, where the lounge is located.

Excitedly they entered the lounge, looking at all the fruits, cookies, cheeses, crackers, juice, and lemonade. The lounge is a nice size, with not too many guests at the time I was there, and no other children but mine, which always makes me a little nervous. There were a few members of the staff that seemed concerned with my youngest obsession with a spoon as he sat next to a glass table, and this in turn made me even more nervous to the point where I wondered if I had made a mistake. Then came a lovely hostess approached me calmly just as the stress that we parents put on ourself came over me and I sat my kids down for a snack.

“Would you like some wine?” she asked.

I looked up and saw a young woman smiling and looking at me endearingly, or was it compassionately – I couldn’t tell. Either way it was a relief.

“Yes! I would like some wine very much please!” I responded, wanting more to hug her then anything else.

And it was there, in the very civilized, not-so-kid-occupied lounge on the 2nd floor during wine and cheese reception, that I had the best Hotel Elysee experience.

As my children ate strawberries and cheese and I drank a nice smooth glass of wine, I held on to that woman’s welcoming smile in my memory. There were no stares or glares and no one was annoyed. The whole 20 minutes or so that it lasted set the tone for the rest of my stay. Just as the kids were ready to move on, I grabbed a plate of treats for myself and we made our way back to the room, content.

The hotel is located on a few blocks away from many favorite spots such as Central Park, Fifth Avenue shopping, or window shopping if you are like me, and the very kid-friendly FAO Schwarz. There are also plenty of wonderful eateries and bars, as well, and right next door and adjacent to the hotel is the Monkey Bar and Restaurant.

We had a wonderful evening at the hotel and walking around its vicinity beforehand. The overall feel of the hotel is very romantic and relaxed. Overall, I consider this a better recommendation for couples or singles, though the many free ammenities, location, late check out (1:00pm) and space of suites is are things that appeal to families as well. The total cost of my stay for one night in a one-bedroom suite is approximately $464.00 a night.

To make reservations at the Hotel Elysee please visit their www.elyseehotel.com or call 212.753.1066.

Hotel Review

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Accommodations were provided courtesy of HKHotels and Hotel Elysee. The views and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. For more information please refer to the disclosure page.