My recent visit to New York City was much different from my last one a few years ago in a couple of really important ways.
I wasn’t traveling alone, for one, and I was working a lot more. I wanted to be centrally located in Manhattan for the start of the week as I’d be playing tour guide to a New York City first-timer, and I needed privacy and a decent place to work so that I wouldn’t miss any important tasks or deadlines.
When I stumbled upon The Marcel at Gramercy, I knew I’d found a winner.
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Located in the residential neighborhood of Kips Bay on the corner of 24th Street and 3rd Avenue and just three blocks from the nearest subway stop, it was ideally situated to jumpstart our city explorations.
We could be at Madison Square Park in a matter of minutes for views of the Flatiron and Empire State buildings, beers at Eataly, and burgers at Shake Shack (and yes, we did those things in that order). We could walk to Union Square in roughly ten minutes to explore the Saturday farmer’s market (or the Union Square Best Buy when my external hard drive crashed). We could hop on the 6 train and zip uptown to 86th Street, catching a glimpse of the imposing Metropolitan Museum of Art on our way into Central Park. If we simply rode the elevator up one level to the hotel’s 10th-floor lounge and rooftop, we could admire the Empire State Building without even leaving.
Seriously, if you want a conveniently located hotel in Manhattan, you can’t beat The Marcel at Gramercy.
When I needed to stay in the room to work I had the pleasure of admiring not only the beautiful, modern design of the room itself (I’m a sucker for tall ceilings and windows) but the incredible sweeping views it afforded me up and down 3rd Avenue.
Perhaps the only downside of being right in the midst of the action was the noise of the traffic heard throughout the night, but if you’ve got a good pair of earplugs (and I always travel with [easyazon_link identifier=”B000NP79YM” locale=”US” tag=”themochdiar-20″]earplugs[/easyazon_link]) then it’s not as much of an issue.
The blackout shades create a cave-like atmosphere if you’re keen on sleeping in, but as soon as they’re raised, the room becomes airy and bright.
There’s coffee available ’round the clock in the 10th-floor lounge, and you can pay a little extra to enjoy a continental breakfast as well–and even though we didn’t choose this option, there was always fruit leftover in the afternoons so we grabbed an apple or banana each day.
The top floor lounge is also the only place in the hotel where you can access free WiFi; if you want it in your room, you’ll need to pay an extra fee for an access code. Little add-ons like this were one of the few things I didn’t much care for at The Marcel at Gramercy. The mini-bar was fully stocked, but the prices seemed exorbitant (think $20 for a half bottle of wine) so naturally we refrained from snacking or drinking. However, with a bodega just around the corner (and a wine store), we could easily pick up any items we needed.
For a four-day stay, we were perfectly comfortable and relished being so close to the excitement of Manhattan. One night we wandered just a few blocks down 24th Street for a comedy show at the Peoples Improv Theater (more commonly known as PIT), where show prices range from free to $10 and drinks are relatively cheap as well ($4 for a beer, $5 for a glass of wine, $6 for well drinks or $7 for a beer and a shot). Our hotel location also saved us a good deal on cab fare when we were able to walk back in as little as 10-15 minutes from a night out, like the time we enjoyed a few drinks at the rooftop bar at 230 Fifth.
The Marcel at Gramercy makes a great base for anyone exploring New York City for the first time, or anyone who likes to be in the midst of the excitement and energy that makes the city so unique. It works well for business travelers as well who need high-speed internet for getting things done, and it’s certainly an ideal choice for anyone who appreciates a beautifully designed hotel with great city views.
Getting to The Marcel at Gramercy
Address: 201 East 24th Street, New York, NY
Taxis from the airports offer fixed fares to Manhattan and will be both the quickest and most expensive option for getting to the city. The flat fare from JFK, for example, is $52 plus tolls and surcharges (and tip). If you’re short on time, traveling with a group, or not comfortable navigating public transit, this could be a good option. Alternatively, you could order an Uber or Lyft and potentially get a much lower fare (depending on current demand).
Public transit will cost considerably less; if you’re traveling solo, traveling during rush hour, or flexible on time, I recommend the following routes:
- Directions from JFK: Take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station. Walk to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Ave and take the E train toward Manhattan. Transfer at Lexington Av/53rd Street to the 6 train toward Downtown. Exit at 23rd Street. Walk 1 block north to 24th Street and 2 blocks east to arrive at 3rd Ave.
- Directions from La Guardia: Take the Q70 bus to Victor Moore Term/Q47 Stand. Walk to Roosevelt Av/Jackson Heights Station and take the E train toward Manhattan.Transfer at Lexington Av/53rd Street to the 6 train toward Downtown. Exit at 23rd Street. Walk 1 block north to 24th Street and 2 blocks east to arrive at 3rd Ave.
- Directions from Newark Liberty: Take the AirTrain to the North Jersey Coast Line of NJ Transit. Take the train to Penn Station. Walk to 34th Street/Herald Square and take the Downtown R train to 23rd Street. Walk 1 block north to 24th Street and 4 blocks east to 3rd Avenue.
- Order an Uber: If you’re a new Uber rider, use promo code leahd121 to receive $10 off your first ride.
What’s your favorite New York City hotel? Do you like to be in the heart of the action or in quieter residential areas?
Many thanks to The Marcel at Gramercy for providing me with a media rate in order to write this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
