For those travelling families interested in being close to the action of Times Square, the Broadway theatre scene, and in good proximity to many other New York attractions, a stay at The Benjamin Hotel New York is the perfect choice.
This historic hotel in Midtown Manhattan has been serving business and theatre-loving travellers since 1927. It’s very well situated on the Metro Subway Line #6. And just a ten-minute walk to Times Square and Broadway theatre district. As first timers with the family in New York, the Benjamin was the perfect pied-à-terre to discover the city. It was the perfect space to return to for rest and recuperation after our 14-hour days.
The Benjamin Hotel New York Review
One Bedroom Deluxe Suite
For a one-week city holiday, one prefers to not have to live out of a suitcase. It was heavenly to tuck clothes into armoires and settle into our cosy home-away-from-home on the 24th floor. Our spacious suite faced westward, away from the busy intersection at Lexington and 50th. This orientation made for a surprisingly quiet night. Hard to accomplish in a city of constant sirens and horn-honking.
The one-bedroom deluxe suite ranges from 550-820 square feet. These deluxe suites are on the top three floors of the hotel. They feature a king bed, large seating are with queen sleeper sofa, cosy kitchenette with full-sized fridge, sink and microwave. Our son had his own space, sleeper bed and television, while we enjoyed the one bedroom privacy and our comfortable king bed. A regular one-bedroom suite is still spacious at up to 550 sq ft, with many of the same amenities.
The suite and roomy marble-tiled bathroom were spotlessly clean and well-maintained. We had enough walk-in closet space for three people, including luggage storage. I appreciated that we could open windows for some fresh air when needed, though it was a bit chilly during our visit.
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Rest & Renew Menu
A visit to NYC is Go Go Go. Rest and rejuvenation is quite important to keep up the pace. The Benjamin has this covered with its Rest & Renew menu. This includes a Top Ten Pillow Menu – another huge win in my book. I’m very pillow-particular, and found my perfect match right off the bat. Guests can choose from pillows for back sleepers, memory-foam, anti-snore, water-filled, and even a lullaby pillow into which you can plug in your smartphone for soothing music or white noise. You may lose sleep just thinking about all the choices.
The Benjamin’s unique Rest & Renew Menu also includes choice of light Bedtime Bites from the Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian’s in-house restaurant, The National. Or the unique On-Demand Meditation program, including cushions and kits available through Housekeeping. You can literally dial up Meditation on your in-room phone and choose from two recorded, 10-minute meditation sessions.
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For the Kids
The Winks’ Kidzzz Club pampers young guests from two to ten. Amenities include kid-sized bathrobes and pillows, and a choice of family bedtime books. Kids can even get their own Sleep Certificate upon check-out. American Girl fans can opt for the special American Girl Place sleepover package (extra charge). This includes special gifts for kids and their dolls. A milk and cookie turndown service, anyone? The store is just four blocks away from the hotel. I’m sure this service is a big hit, given how popular these dolls are.
The National Restaurant
The Benjamin’s in-house hotel restaurant caters to guests and a great many business people who meet up for power breakfasts and dinners. Our stay included a daily breakfast credit, thanks to our fabulous travel agent Jolie of In the Know Experiences, and that menu was substantial. It offered everything from yoghurt, granola and berries, to smashed avocado toast with poached egg (my fave), oatmeal, French toast, huevos rancheros, and eggs Benedict. The pricing is definitely Midtown Manhattan, so a cheap breaking of the fast this isn’t. But the service and food quality were both excellent. We dined here each morning and it felt like a luxurious food holiday.
For a more affordable breakfast, the hotel is surrounded by bakeries and coffee shops. Check out excellent Irving Farm Coffee House or Pret-a-Manger.
Spa + Fitness
The hotel has a 24-hour fitness facility on the third floor. It includes a steam room and change areas. You may not think of spa treatments as being a necessity on a city visit. But if you need a massage, or to have your nails or hair need touch up or an up-do for night on the town, the Japanese-inspired Sanatio Spa is just an elevator ride to the third floor. Or 24-hour call to your room. I had a chance to experience a rejuvenating spa massage with masseuse Theresa. After a week of 20,000-step days and very sore calf muscles, a massage was total heaven. Highly recommend.
Helpful Concierge Services
We made use of the Benjamin’s concierge for some restaurant reservations after striking out ourselves. I haven’t used concierges nearly enough in my previous travels, and that’s going to change. Utilizing local expertise is just a no-brainer. Sarah, one of the Benjamin’s helpful concierges, was attentive to our last-minute needs. She made reservations for us at a fantastic restaurant for the final night of our stay and helped us celebrate in haute Greek style at Nerai.
A family stay at The Benjamin Hotel in midtown offers location, comfort, and touches of luxury that will make your New York stay an affair to remember.
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Photo Credits: C. Laroye + Shutterstock
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