The Plaza Hotel

The Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York

Historic The Plaza Hotel is perfectly situated at Fifth Avenue along Central Park, the epitome of New York’s legendary luxury, within a few steps of Midtown fine dining and stellar shopping. Gaze up at the glass-stained ceiling while gliding up the sweeping marble stairway to one of the extravagant Louis XIV-inspired rooms. Spacious quarters pamper guests with 400-thread count Italian bedding – plus picks from an ultra-plush pillow menu – as well as well as 37-inch HD Plasma televisions, iPod compatible iLuv stereo systems and WiFi access. Need something at 3am? Call on a member of the 24-hour butler service team. Large bathrooms are glamorously kitted out with 24-karat gold plated fixtures. Guests can rinse away daily worries in the full-size soaking tub and shower and then wrap up in thick Turkish cotton towels and robes that are available for both adults and kids.

The sprawling 8,000-square foot Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa is the hotel’s crown jewel. Services focus on all natural, vine and grape-based ingredients harkening back to the auberge’s French founders. Aside from 14 treatment rooms, there are 2 hammams, a Vichy shower and a signature vino therapy barrel bath. Guests in need of a makeover can arrange for an appointment at the on-site Warren-Tricomi Salon that measures in excess of 6000 square feet. Or head to what is arguably the city’s most comprehensive fitness facility helmed by Radu – a marquee name in the workout world. The gym offers a plethora of exercise classes, a basketball court, an Olympic-size lap pool and cutting edge cardio and strength training equipment. When ready for refueling opt for dapper resident Palm Court serving farm-to-fork French-inspired dishes. Meanwhile, the obvious choice for pre-or-post dinner cocktails is the opulent Champagne Bar in the lobby. Over the years, New York City’s The Plaza Hotel grand dame has not lost any of her charm and, with glitzy amenities and posh style, is absolutely splurge-worthy.