One of the most pleasant and luxurious hotel experiences I’ve ever had, possibly the most pleasant one.
Made a reservation directly with the hotel, for 2 adults, 5 nights in late March 2010. I chose it because it was #1 in the Trip Advisor at the time and the price was within our budget. The web page allows you to specify several preferences. Asked for a quiet room on a high floor, and actually got exactly that: Room 905 on the 9-th floor facing the 76th Street. That was the first pleasant surprise of many to come:
The room was spacious for New York standards, and tastefully appointed. It still had that pleasant new smell. The best thing was the Duxiana bed – unbelievably comfortable! I have stayed at several 5-star hotels which claim to have special beds, but the one at The Surrey was by far the best. This hotel is worth staying at if only for the bed.
The rest of the furniture was high quality and comfortable. Thick carpet, two plush armchairs. Plenty of space in the closets. Exquisite minibar, although as expensive as you would expect for a hotel of this category. Large marble bathroom. Excellent quality Italian-made bathroom amenities. More towels than we could use. Comfortable bathrobes and slippers. Two sinks – one for each guest. Good water pressure in spite of the relatively high floor. Air conditioning more quiet than usual, and very efficient at keeping the desired room temperature. Windows which open, if only a crack. Pleasant room lighting with several pre-set modes for different conditions. Easy-to-use safe. High-speed internet, at 15$ per day not as overpriced as in other places (albeit something which probably should be included – it is a utility after all, just like water and electricity).
Hotel staff extremely friendly and helpful. Never before had I been accompanied to the elevator by the receptionist who checked us in, or had my name remembered by the staff throughout the stay. Received a phone call shortly after arrival, inquiring whether everything was OK. Asked for a European mains adaptor and it was brought to the room in 5 minutes.
Things we didn’t like? Very few, and then only negligible ones. The entertainment system is probably too complicated for an average person. The remote control looked like something NASA would use to remotely control a Space Shuttle launch. Neither I nor my brother was able to make the iPod dock work (and he is a young guy who knows his gadgets). A few things didn’t work (the sprig-loaded compartment with the laptop plug and network outlet wouldn’t pop out; one of the sinks was slightly clogged up). I’m sure these things would have been quickly solved by the staff if I had mentioned them, but they were so minor that I didn’t even bother.
The hotel has excellent location, perhaps 100 meters from the Central Park. In a quiet area, away from the Tourism Central, but still just minutes from the 77th Street subway station (3-4 stops to midtown Manhattan). No views (at least from our side of the hotel), but that’s a trade-off I’m happy to make for a good night’s sleep.
In short: A highly recommendable, comfortable, classy, quiet, new boutique hotel with friendly staff.
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