I had to be in New York City for a quick weekend getaway to Broadway so I built my trip around it. There were numerous properties to choose from but I ultimately settled on The Algonquin Hotel which is in Marriott’s Autograph Collection.
The 181 guest room hotel first opened its doors in 1902. Wow! I love the decor of the Autograph Collections so I was super excited to visit. The hotel also had a renowned Blue Bar that I needed to check out.
Booking
I booked a King Room for $289 USD/night which is the Weekend of Fun rate. This rate included a $150 food and beverage credit per stay. To book this package, I had to stay two nights at the property. I was able to earn 13,984 Marriott Bonvoy points for the stay (7,656 base + 3,828 elite + 2,500 bonus points).
Due to the American Airlines meltdown on that weekend, my flight was cancelled and I stayed at the hotel earning an additional 10,110 points. I applied two nightly upgrade certificates to the reservation in hopes of being upgraded to a Deluxe One Bedroom Suite prior to arrival.
Arrival
A few days prior to my arrival, I received an email stating that my upgrade was processed. Before my last two hotel stays, I had no luck with the nightly upgrade certificates. Now I only have one left since I used four in the last month.
The Uber ride from LaGuardia Airport to the Algonquin was $75 USD. The 10 mile journey to the property took 45 minutes.
Check-In
The bellmen quickly grabbed the bags and welcomed us to the hotel. They opened these beautiful doors to allow us to enter the property.
The small but beautiful front desk was just to the right when I entered the property.
The ladies working the front desk were so nice. They welcomed us to the property and thanked me for being a Bonvoy Elite. I was told of the upgrade to a suite, which I appreciated.
The next news was not something you often hear: “we have breakfast but it is not complimentary for elite members. Due to this, we will give you 1,000 extra points a day”. This was not a big deal because there are plenty of food options in NYC. I did find it strange that breakfast is offered but at a fee for Bonvoy elites.
After chatting for a few more minutes about food and the reason for the stay, we headed to elevators to check out the room. The two small elevators were located to the left of the front desk…just opposite of the Blue Bar.
I loved how cozy the elevators were but the wait could be lengthy during the middle of the day. The stairs helped me get some steps, multiple times a day during the four day stay.
Room
It took me a second to get my bearing once I exited the elevator. The hotel’s history showed in the design. I was mesmerized.
The suite we were assigned was the Dorothy Parker Suite on the 11th floor.
Dorothy Parker was an artist, to be modest, based in New York City. She and her friends formed the Algonquin Round Table after dining at the hotel almost daily for lunch.
There were about three room doors near my door and the walls were super thin which I did not like. The hallway inside of the entrance was so cool. I fell in love with the hotel more at this point.
The living area was straight ahead. It included a collection of pictures, two chaises, a sofa bed, television and a desk. It was so cool. The view from the window was not worth sharing as the next building was lass than 10 feet away.
The bedroom was to the left of the living room. The massive bed took up the entire space. There was just enough room to walk on either side of it.
The bathroom was through the door on the left. It was a very small space but it was comfortable.
Overall, I loved the entire vibe of the room. It was easily one of my favorite hotel rooms.
Fitness
The small fitness center was located on the second floor of the property. As always, I planned to workout during our stay but that did not happen. I had to walk through the business center to access the gym. The business center was the nicest one I had ever seen. I appreciated the two computers and quaint workspace in the middle of the room.
The fitness center was to the right. While it was not a huge area, it had more than enough equipment to get a decent workout. The room is accessible 24 hours with a room key.
Dining
The Blue Bar and its dining area took up 90 percent of the lobby. This was the focal point of the property. It has served a hangout since Prohibition ended. There have been numerous actors to attend the lobby bar to unwind.
To that point, I chatted for an hour or so with a really nice woman named Amy who was also staying at the property about nothing in particular. When she left the bar, everyone asked if I knew who she was…no, I did not. They me that it was Amy Adams! Well, Amy, thanks for being cool and down to earth.
Breakfast is served in the area from 7am to approximately 12pm. As a Platinum Elite, breakfast is usually included but not at the property. Breakfast was approximately $30/USD per guest. I did not partake.
I did, however, frequent the bar during our stay. Four days at the property, four days at bar after the daily excursions ended. The bar opens at 3pm and closes when the bartenders have had enough of us, usually around 11 or 12pm nightly.
I did not get many pictures of the bar because it was always busy which really bummed me out because I was looking forward to it. The color was beautiful at night. The food and drink menus were extensive, though we did not eat. The drinks started at $10/USD.
Final Word
The Algonquin Hotel was better than advertised. I enjoyed just about everything about the property. The front desk staff took care of us when American Airlines had a melt down and the bartenders were quick to give us tips on places to visit, they were all so amazing. The history of the property was something I had never experienced. If you are ever in New York, please visit this property because it was…
