Visiting New York City is often fraught with sticker shock when trying to find a hotel ($500+ for a Four Points anyone?) as the prices vary wildly during the year with the cheapest options in the winter months of January – February. For a last minute trip to New York City in March for a networking event, I decided two days before and having the Hotel Tonight app made my trip both possible and reasonable by finding me a boutique hotel in the middle of it all – between Times Square and Rockefeller Center. The find was the Sanctuary Hotel, a hotel I’ve never heard of or read much about. The cost was $100 (plus $23 tax) for a Sunday night! The other rates I found online were $250-300+! This was an easy decision to book on my phone. Once done, I started sharing this find with all of my friends “can you believe this find!?” It was like winning the NYC hotel lottery.
Location – The Sanctuary Hotel Near Times Square
The hotel is in the middle of W. 47th Street literally ½ block from the madness of Times Square and two blocks from Rockefeller Center. Despite it’s location, it really was a sanctuary escape from the outside world. The stairs leading up to the heavy doors were manned by a doorman. The location is fantastic for the tourist to New York as well as the business traveler who has to meet clients in Midtown. If you need anything, it’s only steps away from the hotel 24/7.
Hotel Arrival
I almost missed the hotel when I was walking on 47th street as the entrance stairs were not what I was expecting. When I saw the Sanctuary Hotel sign, I was then greeted outside by the bellman who took my small suitcase inside to the front desk.
When you entered inside, it took a few moments for your eyes to adjust as you literally entered a new world Sanctuary with darkened lobby, fireplace and décor that wasn’t quite hotel but more relaxing spa. The front desk welcomed me and told me of all the hotel amenities included (wifi, continental breakfast) as well as the elevator to use to whisk me up to the rooftop bar (a lovely secret spot). I forgot my toothbrush and toothpaste and the front desk had extra to share. I was given a map of the area and would visit the front desk a few times during my stay. The Concierge desk is opposite the Front Desk.
The Sanctuary Hotel Lobby
I would be remiss not to mention the lobby. With two distinct seating areas and fireplaces, this is small but relaxing spot to meet people or just be. The hallway to the second set of elevators and the adjoining building where my room was located was lined with statues in a sanctuary theme.
Behind the front desk is a door to the hotel lobby bar which was opened for those wanting a drink or to have a work space.
My Queen Room at The Sanctuary Hotel
The hotel has 113 rooms decorated in colors like cognac, orange and chocolate. I couldn’t find my room on the hotel website, so understandably, my room was tiny for the price. Hotel Tonight is often the place for hotels to sell those small rooms, extra inventory and my odd no view room. I expected tiny, not small so I was quite surprised by the use of space. It was for one night only so I really only needed a clean, quiet spot to sleep. The hallways were darkened and my hallway (wing?) had only seven rooms on the floor. My room faced an interior fire escape so zero view which was fine but that also meant it was really quiet.
When I opened the door, I immediately saw the bed and chandelier! The room was tiny but for those of us who have sailed in the inside cabin, small is relative. The room utilized the space quiet well by removing bathroom wall and having a shelfing unit to showcase in room minibar snacks (reasonably priced) and a good closet space. The tv is mounted above the no view window and easy to control from the bed (your only seating option). It’s a good size for one, two might be snug.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro7R0ZLqjgM[/embedyt]
The oddity for some but design focused to others was the glass enclosed shower in room. For those traveling with others (this would be a small room to share), there is a curtain that can be pulled to shield the shower view. The bathroom is open whereas the toilet room has a door.
The Continental Breakfast at Sanctuary Hotel
The hotel includes a continental breakfast in the room price which guarantees folks will eat in the on-site restaurant. For most, including me, the additional breakfast menu is a lure to complement the breads and fruit. The prices are relatively cheap compared to nearby breakfast options and prices so stay onsite. The staff were friendly and the food was good start to the day.
The Sanctuary Hotel Rooftop – The Haven
I rode the elevator to the rooftop bar, The Haven, to explore the options. As it was still a very cold winter night, the bar had plastic walls up to keep the heat inside (making for awful photos). There were two distinct areas with tables, bars and music tables. It was a quiet Sunday night with about ten people. The winter theme was ski chalet hence the blankets at each table and the food/drinks menu. I can only imagine in warmer months that this is a pretty busy place with DJ spinning music and people spread throughout the tables, bars and seating areas.
Overall Thoughts – The Sanctuary Hotel
Wow, did I get lucky, really lucky, with this Hotel Tonight find in New York City. I was able to try this hotel out for only $100 + tax when the regular pricing is often $250+ a night. Hotel Tonight is a wonderful way to save you money and expose you to a few really good hotels you’d probably never find on your own. The Sanctuary hotel tends to attract international guests based on my conversations at breakfast with folks from Europe and South America. So if you are in the mood to try a new boutique hotel in New York City, do look into The Sanctuary Hotel, it really was a lovely escape from the streets of New York City despite being in the center of it all.
Disclaimer: I’m not sure that Hotel Tonight $100 will appear again but you can try your luck (download the Hotel Tonight app). Use my Hotel Tonight discount code (SWOLKO1) to save $25 on your first booking.
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Like everyone else, I dream of winning the lottery. I grew up watching the television show “Lifestyles of the Rick & Famous” and while I thought the mansions might be a bit too big, I loved the idea of being able to afford to live wherever I wanted in a million dollar home. Over the years of travelling to London and mulling the idea of moving there permanently (anyone want to sponsor my Tier2 visa?), I’ve always wondered what it was like inside the large stately homes in the posh neighborhoods like Kensington, Chelsea and Knightsbridge as well as the hidden Mews streets that I’d stumble upon during my explorations. In particular, I wanted to live in the a Mews Home in London and my booking with OneFineStay London let me live out that dream recently.
The London Mews House
A Mews House is generally a former stable/barn (now garage area for coveted parking) with living area above. They would be located behind the big fancy homes or close by. Today, the Mews home is generally smaller than other homes but the uniqueness, location and privacy can’t be overlooked in a busy city like London. Over the years, these centrally located charming homes have become the place to live and with that command price tags over one million pounds which in U.S. dollars can range from $1.4 – $2.0 million and above. So how would I get inside? I don’t know anyone rich in London that lives in a Mews House or friends of friends but I did know about OneFineStay. So I was going to pretend I hit the lottery and live like a (wealthy) London local. Our home was on a cobblestoned street off of Kensington High Street mixed with residents, businesses and other renters.
OneFineStay London
OneFineStay, OFS, is the luxury, curated equivalent of Airbnb which started in London and has expanded to luxury cities like Paris, New York and Los Angeles – cities with million dollar homes, locations and views. Unlike Airbnb, every property is centrally managed by OneFineStay and each property is individually vetted before it can join the program. Real people live in these homes, some only occasionally, and rent out their spaces when they are away. You’ll never meet the owners as you might with Airbnb. A representative greeter of OneFineStay London met us to go over the house rules and hand over the keys. OneFineStay handles the bookings, (usually done via a travel agent), cleaning of the property, supplying linens, towels and toiletries as well as all additional needs that arise during your stay. What additional needs might that be? Well, of course, every millionaire homeowner needs a private chef to cook for their dinner party or needs an in home massage to get rid of the daily stresses of life.
Maybe you want your bags picked up and taken to the airport without having to lift a finger – there’s a service that does that – Airportr (offered in London only). It’s all seamless and stress free. No stress, no worries (until the credit card bill arrives once you get home of course) that’s what living a rich life seems to suggest – there’s someone to take care of all the little things so you can enjoy living life and in London this means you can enjoy your travels that much more. OneFineStay London provided us an iPhone to use during our stay – it was loaded with home information, helpful local apps and a quick button to contact OFS front desk for any questions or issues.
Staying in Kensington (London)
On my last visit to London, I loved discovering South Kensington when I stayed at the posh Airbnb property – the small cafes, the residential feel and the absurdity of the wealth evidenced by the high-end car dealers and the many expensive cars parked on the street as if they were Hondas. So I looked for a property that Mom and I could enjoy – a two bedroom, two bath that was on par with what I would have paid a hotel for two rooms. The area was close to the tube with many restaurants, shops and markets so we didn’t need to wander far.
At the time, there was a sale ongoing on some properties so the cost of the flat was slightly higher than a hotel but the perks more than made up for the extra. The perks included a large living room to relax after out long days of touring the Tower of London, Stonehenge and Buckingham Palace. We also had a fully stocked kitchen (pots, pans, dishes, cooking utensils and spices) and a large refrigerator we could stock with goods from M&S and Whole Foods, each a short walk from the flat. OFS supplied a welcome basket with milk, cookies, tea and water. Mom would enjoy her own bedroom on the ground floor, while I had the second floor bedroom – we would meet in the middle each morning to enjoy breakfast.
So while I work on my review of OneFineStay London service and the Drayton Mews House in High Kensington, enjoy the sneak peek of living in a million dollar luxury flat in London. I’m not rich, nor famous but with OneFineStay we felt like we hit the lottery, even if it was only temporary.
If you’d like to stay in a OneFineStay home on your next vacation, contact me to help you arrange your millionaire luxury home dream.
***Warning, their website is a rabbit hole of luxury homes so once you start looking, you’ll not realize that hours have gone by as you dream of staying here, there and everywhere***
]]>The Eventi Hotel Location
A ten minute walk (depending on construction and how heavy your bags are) from NY Penn Station, the hotel entrance is at 851 Avenue of the Americas (between 29th & 30th Streets on 6th aka Avenue of the Americas). I walked past two of my favorite restaurants in the area – Pennsylvania 6 and Friedman’s Lunch next door on the way to the hotel. Don’t walk too fast though as you might walk by the front door as it blends so nicely with the restaurant décor. But once you enter, you are transported to a swanky Kimpton with the dark woods, cool leather seating areas, hip music and what appears to be even cooler people. Don’t fret though everyone seemed to be cool – young and old. I felt at home in the boutique property lobby.
The lobby restaurant/bar serves La Columbe coffee, which started in Philadelphia. In the area, there is a Starbucks, bodega shop across the street, Pret Manger a block away and Trader Joes’ ten minutes down the road. You won’t go hungry or thirsty as the area has a plethora of options if the hotel options aren’t tempting enough.
Arrival at Eventi Hotel
I was greeted inside by the bellman and directed to the left front desk which was staffed with two employees. Welcomed with a smile, Buddy greeted me and sought to get my check in done quickly. When I mentioned the winter “secret phrase” of “Baby, its Cold Outside” which it was actually for January, he laughed and said he’d be right back. In the past my secret phrase has nabbed me a bottle of wine, a drink at the bar, free breakfast and a host of other fun freebies at other properties in the U.S. When he returned with two snowflake cookies from Eleni’s (a company I know from NYC) he said “Normally you should get one but I brought you two”, I was a bit disappointed that this was the perk at the fancy Kimpton. Not that 70 Park or The Muse isn’t fancy but this is definitely a more modern, newer built hotel and I guess I expected more? It didn’t help that I was on a cookie detox of almost a month so I knew my willpower would give out over the stay.
The Eventi Hotel Lobby
The lobby has a complimentary drinks area which has coffee/tea in the morning and water/juice during the day. There is a large leather couch area that was consistently in use in front of the lobby restaurant, The Vine. People were meeting, talking, and working all day and night. Having people in the lobby gives the hotel a definite lived in feeling of community.
The elevators required key cards for sleeping floors which was nice security feature. Common floors didn’t need a key card. Kimpton Karma members get free Wi-Fi which was easy to connect to and fast during my stay.
My Eventi Deluxe King Room
As I exited the elevator and made a quick right and then a left, the hallway décor was quickly appealing as was the “do not disturb” lighting on the room numbers.
My room was at the end of the hall and would be a King Deluxe corner room which was about 300 sq. ft. When I entered the room, all memories of Room 409 at 70 Park were quickly erased as I could already feel how big and airy this room would be.
The wardrobe had the requisite Kimpton robes in animal prints. It also had the Kimpton in room yoga mat, umbrella, iron/ironing table and in room safe.
There was a stopping point table across from the bathroom that I was able to drop my stuff before reaching the desk in the bedroom. This area had the minibar snacks and my Fred water as well as drawers for storage. Kimpton Karma members get a $15 minibar credit in NYC ($10 in other cities) so I like to see what my options are knowing that I’m just going to spend it on Fred water.
The television/desk area was large with a comfortable chair in the corner of the room before I turned around to see the large King Bed.
But it was the floor to ceiling windows that called to me. Remember I get the worst views (or no view at all) and I could see through the sheers that my crappy view streak was coming to an end. I drew back the curtains and sheers to see the Empire State Building which was really cool. I already liked the new, crisp, modern hotel design and layout and here I had a view too!
The bed has many outlets and switches to make it easy to stay in bed longer – the bed and linens made for a comfortable sleep and I was able to set the in room heat at a comfortable level to account for the glass windows.
The Deluxe King Bathroom
The bathroom had Atelier Bloem toiletries which I like but am amazed at the combination of smells that seem to complement each other when used. The marble bathroom was neatly arranged with towels, toiletries and an easy to find hairdryer on the shelf under the sink. The walk in shower had great water pressure.
The Eventi Hotel Restaurants
There are three restaurants on site – the Italian restaurant, L’Amico, has an entrance from the lobby as does the main, all day restaurant, The Vine. The Portuguese restaurant, Lupolo, is in the same building but you need to exit the main door go to the right and then enter separately.
I didn’t make a reservation at L’Amico and arrived to find a wait of over an hour on a Thursday night so I ended up in The Vine bar area at a high top table. The service was quite attentive as I couldn’t get to the bottom of my water glass throughout the meal. They gave me a water bottle but kept filling my glass from it. The cookies gave me license to cheat on this trip so I ordered a burger. During my meal I had a group of twelve 20 somethings across from me meeting for the first time at the communal table and a loud guy behind me talking non-stop to his date (I wanted to send her a drink to say “sorry”) because he was a nightmare from what I heard him boast about the whole time. She said maybe five words. I was happily indulging my stomach and enjoying the eavesdropping and people watching at the restaurant.
The next day, Friday, I revisited The Vine for an early breakfast and while the buffet was tempting (yikes $26!), I opted for an ala carte two eggs with potatoes and bacon for $20 (the toast was burnt which I told the server about but didn’t eat – having been a waitress in my former life I wouldn’t have served burnt toast). I mentioned the fruit on the bar and the waiter kindly brought me a bowl of berries to add a bit of healthy to my breakfast (no additional charge).
Eventi Hotel NYC Wine Social
The fun feature of staying at a Kimpton is the wine social each night starting at 5 p.m. When I visited the social, it had to be moved because an event was in the normal area (I saw signs for O Magazine and was convinced I’d see Oprah or Gail). The other event space floor had only two areas to sit which was awkward. I asked to join a woman in an open chair, she said yes and stayed on her phone the whole time – so much for being social and meeting other guests. It was odd to see folks arrive, get wine and look around to sit only to lean against a wall. I did share the small seats with a couple from England hoping to spark a conversation but they took the small stools and moved elsewhere. Eventually the cell phone lady left and a guest approached to ask about the chair, I told him he could have it and he took the chair away to his group. I sat alone with my wine which is very un-Kimpton like at the wine socials I’ve attended in the past.
Eventi Hotel – Other Amenities
I regret not being able to use the Elemis Spa at Eventi due to my meeting schedule and was tempted to try the in-room Blo Blow Dry Bar which would have given me fancy hair (too fancy for a day of trade show meetings). In warmer weather the plaza area is used for outdoor dining and events as is the roof veranda. The gym is over 1,000 sq. ft. with various classes and equipment, again too much for my quick and busy stay.
The Eventi Hotel – Overall Impression
With the new building, modern design with large rooms and a luxury boutique feel, this is now one of my favorite NYC hotels. I stayed in January for two nights (Thursday & Friday) during a deeply discounted time period of $159 per night + tax (total $371.94). With a great view, friendly staff and cool vibe, I think you’ll enjoy it too.
My friend said to “book the quirky Airbnb house on Gozo” when I gave him a few choices for our last minute trip as he was more familiar with the island than I was. He wanted a private pool and a farmhouse. I still blame him for our calamities!
Walking past the pool and into the house after 10 p.m. as we missed the ferry, we immediately had a bad feeling about this place. The host made up only one of the four bedrooms (we wanted our own bedrooms) and showed us around, indicating what items were broken. I saw something move in the dark, the host stepped on the bug and said “we are in the country, there are bugs”. With that, she was off and we were hungry after a very long travel day full of delays and a missed ferry to the island. We would need to drive to another village on the island in the hopes of finding food near 11pm on a Thursday. Lucky for us, the café just agreed to let a table sit down and would serve us. Back at the house, in the dark we promised to explore the house and property more in the morning. Full of wine, with fans on and windows opened we passed out exhausted from the stressful day.
Wandering in the Light of Day
I woke up first and took to exploring the house and the compound of three other farmhouses. In the daylight, my findings were a bit dire. First off, the Wi-Fi didn’t work in the house, I needed to go to the caretaker’s house (he was away) and stand on the top step or go inside (which I attempted but it was messy with uneaten bread on the table). Then I looked into the other houses past the odd garden made up of tile, glass bottles and dead plants. Our pool, while clear, had algae on the steps, walls and floor – we would not be using that.
The house itself had dust and trash behind the couch. The couch, well-worn had obvious stains and weirdly a child’s dirty stuffed animal on it as well as christmas holiday towels. The space wasn’t ready for our arrival.
The upstairs cushions to put on the deck had mold, the wooden table was missing wood with rusty nails sticking out. The grill was rusted (no food was going on that thing despite my tetanus shot). The kitchen sink had only one of two faucets working (the host mentioned that on the quick tour the night before). The other bedrooms both upstairs and downstairs had shoved in all of the extra supplies, furniture and equipment – all dusty and full of cobwebs. It felt that the house hadn’t been open yet for the season and we were the first guests. Despite booking a week in advance, nothing seemed ready to welcome us.
Key Take Away: Take photos of everything! If you have any issues with the property (even a 5 star hotel) it’s always best to have photo evidence when discussing concerns with the host, Airbnb or hotel staff. Research the property on all property rental sites if you can.
The Quirky House
The house had potential, it really did, it just needed a good cleaning, consistent décor that wasn’t weird and to be set up for visitors. But sadly, it was missing all three of those things. The bathrooms were a mixed bag – the faucet in one was turned off and barely dripping, with black mold around, the other had a rusted toilet that made noises and the powder room was darkly lit.
The stairs had a loose step (I made a mental note not to trip on that going up and down) and outside the bedroom was an uneven last step that was filled in but not level. Our bedroom was weirdly decorated and there were no screens in the windows. We had fans to provide a bit of cool air in the otherwise humid room. The bed frame was custom made of wood to support the double queen size. Downstairs there was a plant growing inside the house with so many dead leaves and a vine that grew across the wall that we needed to duck under to reach the stairs. Of course, with plants there are flying bugs, etc.
It’s Dirty
So I assessed that the place was dirty. I’m sure we’ve all encountered something like this (or worse) in college but I was surprised that this was allowed to be rented on Airbnb. It was Friday morning and we were scheduled to be here until Tuesday before moving to my friend’s family house which the rental agent was cleaning for us. They needed to clean the house before we could move in, apparently our Airbnb host didn’t get the “clean the house memo”. The island was sold out that weekend so our options to move were few and the prices quite high so I added a few cleaning supplies to our shopping list. Pif Paf, the European version of Raid!, was a lifesaver!
My friend slept past noon and woke up with more than ten mosquito bites on his back, arms and legs. He agreed the place was dirty and we tried to figure out how we would stay here not knowing what else to do. I texted the host for a hairdryer Friday morning as none was provided. We left the house to explore the island and tried to stay out as long as we could to avoid the house.
On Saturday (no hair dryer yet), my friend woke up with bug bites on his wrists. This time they appeared as boil like, fluid filled arranged in a circle of five on one arm and one on the other. In a word – GROSS!
Key Take Aways: First impressions! One of my own suggestions with European hotels is to view the room/property in the daytime not at night so that you have time to sort out alternative options. Also, on the first showing with the host, confirm that all items noted as provided are available. Bring Bug Spray!
Airbnb Response
I sent an email to Airbnb asking what to do about the dirty house as I looked for alternatives. The host had a generous cancellation policy so I sent a text to cancel our Monday night stay, well within her policy. The rep replied quickly that I should have contacted them within 24 hours to work out the situation with the host. I told them it was my first time renting with Airbnb and I didn’t know about this policy. I explained that the host wasn’t replying to text messages about the hairdryer or the canceled last night. The rep asked me to send photos to him showing the house condition. I told him I would once I got Wi-Fi reception as the house didn’t have it.
Key Take Away: Contact Airbnb by email or phone immediately if you feel that the property is dirty or unsafe. They will work to accommodate you elsewhere and talk with the host. If you feel unsafe or something doesn’t seem right, leave immediately and then call/contact Airbnb from a safe location.
The Vacation Injury
As I was getting ready for dinner, I came out of the bedroom and the uneven step threw me into the hallway and I heard a “pop” and couldn’t move my foot. Trying not to cry in front of my friend (silly, I know), I yelled out his name and he came up the stairs to help me try to stand (not easily). He helped me downstairs (we both stepped gingerly on the loose step) to the couch which I was putting paper towels on the pillows and went to the freezer for ice (we had none but we did have a frozen pitcher with a stain around the inside that I wouldn’t use).
By this time the caretaker was back, he introduced himself earlier in the day with his dog. He had brought the hairdryer to me (a bit late after air drying my hair for two days). My friend went to the caretakers house, explained that I had fallen on the steps and was given ice after the caretaker said “you guys are not having any luck here”. Icing my foot, my friend went for takeaway pizza as I opened the bottle of wine. We decided that we would leave in the morning as we couldn’t take it anymore. I would visit the clinic and get an x-ray on my foot – it was bruised & fractured which greatly affected the rest of my trip as I hobbled around for the next month.
Key Takeaway: You should always make sure you have your own health & travel insurance for any injuries that require medical assistance. Also, make sure you have wine around for your pity party.
Let’s Restart this Holiday
In the morning, I called the five star hotel on the island, the Kempinski Gozo, and explained I was fleeing the Airbnb with an injured foot. My friend and I packed our bags in the car and headed out to restart our holiday. The hotel provided us an upgraded room with a view of the pool. We were able to sit in the sun and relax for the first time since arriving on the island.
Airbnb was quick to respond once they received the photos – they provided credits and an apology as well as intercede with the host who posted negative and libelous comments about me which violated the rules of Airbnb. I was quite happy with their response to my plight.
I can’t stress enough the importance of researching properties – while I found a few postive reviews on Airbnb, it took a while during my stay to find negative reviews on another property site which were spot on with the issues I encountered. If only I found that one first!
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