YOTEL New York
Yotel New York City
We flew to New York City from Buffalo for only $60 roundtrip last November. The Big Apple is one of our favorite cities for a quick getaway, and there are always tons of things to do. Usually, we stay in New Jersey with family and commuting into the city, but this time, we got to stay at YOTEL New York.
The Location
The ideally located hotel in Midtown Manhattan was only a 10 min walk to Times Square. The walk to Times Square and back was always exciting as we passed by some great eats such as the original Shake Shack, Los Tacos No. 1 & Junior’s Restaurant.
The walk to the subway was also very close, only about 5 mins to the Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal and subway lines A, C, E. It was effortless coming and going from JFK Airport since line A & E take you straight to the JFK Airtrain.
The Unique Check-In
The hotel was very original in design and overall atmosphere. It was something we had never experienced before. As soon as we entered, there were self-check-in kiosks on one side and automated luggage storage, called Yobot, on the other. There were plenty of kiosks that were so easy to use. It would tell you whether your room was ready or not, and dispensed the key. The most traditional check-in desk or concierge with actual people was on the 4th floor called Mission Control.
The Room
As typically in most New York City hotels, the room was small but cozy. It had a genius feature of having an adjustable bed that would fold in and out at the touch of a button. Folding it resulted in much more room to walk around. The bed itself was extremely fluffy and comfortable. It also had a small desk and chair.
The bathroom was an interesting concept, as it wasn’t completely separate within the room. A glass sliding door was between the toilet and shower. Due to the small space, you can hear everything, so make sure you are very comfortable with the person you are sharing the room with!
Even those the bathroom was very close to the rest of the room, the toilet and shower were surprisingly spacious.
What I loved about the room was it was very inventive and functional. There was a cubby or shelf meant for specific purposes and lots of storage. There was so much counter space, which is a personal favorite of mine. The sink area had cubbies to the side; there was a long shelf under the TV as well as up both sides, which was great for small items like our phones, wallets, cameras. There was an area to put your luggage with two drawers and slit next to the bed where you can access a wooden tray. It was also the small clever things that impressed, such as a bottle opener attached to the wall that said, “Cheers!”.
The best part of the room was the view. Even on a cloudy, rainy day, it was very pretty looking east into the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan. It’s hard to find a hotel with a beautiful view of Manhattan since most of them face a brick wall. Our window in our room was completely unobstructed and gave way to all the life and lights of New York City.
The Grounds
The whole hotel has a futuristic, sleek atmosphere. From the signs on the walls to the compact vending machines and the selfie stations in the lobby, it was all very modern and otherworldly.
The main lobby was not when we first entered through the revolving doors but instead on the 4th floor. The 4th floor gave access to the 2nd elevator to your room as well as the Misson Control concierge desk.
They have got a fantastic rooftop terrace, which looked very spacious and a fantastic view. The indoor, roofed area of the terrace was open in November; it had an incredible bar surrounded by plants and turf flooring, which made it feel it was outside. They also house a great fusion restaurant called the Green Fig as well as a cabaret club that hosts shows.
We had a great stay at Yotel New York. It was a unique experience from the check-in kiosks and Yobot, to the adjustable bed and futuristic decor. The location made it easy to walk to all the attractions, and best of all, the view was unbeatable. If you are planning a trip to New York, check out Yotel for a fantastic stay!