Hotel Review: Conrad New York Downtown
In Manhattan, there are two Conrads: Conrad New York Midtown and Conrad New York Downtown. When staycationing in New York City, I generally prefer to stay out of Midtown or any touristy areas like Times Square because of how chaotic they could be. The Conrad New York Downtown is located in Tribeca, between the Financial District and Greenwich Village, making it a great choice for visitors. Tribeca has become a new hot spot with newly built Brookfield Place and the Oculus Center, and the 9/11 Memorial Museum and the Freedom Tower Observatory are within walking distance as well. To the left of the hotel, you can jog along the Hudson River while enjoying the view of Jersey City. The hotel has been recently refreshed, and one unique aspect of the property is that all rooms are suites. This is because the hotel used to be an Embassy Suites hotel. Because having a roomy hotel in NYC is such a privilege, I decided to give it a go. I’ve had underwhelming stay experiences at Hilton properties recently, but the Conrad New York Downtown proved me wrong. Here’s my review of Conrad New York Downtown:
Conrad New York Downtown is located at 102 North End Ave, New York, NY 10282.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
American Express Hilton Honors Aspire
The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card is currently offering a signup bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 in 3 months. Be aware that since this is an American Express (AMEX) card, you’re only allowed to receive the signup bonus once per lifetime. With a valuation of 0.6 cents per point, the signup bonus is worth about $900. In addition, until 12/31/2021, cardmembers will get a monthly statement credit of $20 when they spend more than $20 at restaurants each month. The annual fee is $450, but cardmembers get a weekend night certificate (redeemable on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at non-premium hotels), $250 incidental credit towards your airline of choice, $250 Hilton resort credit at select Hilton resorts, and Hilton Diamond status, the highest in Hilton’s member ecosystem.
The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card is one of my favorite credit cards for its benefits and perks. Photo by AMEX.
The Aspire Card earns 14X per dollar spent on Hilton hotels and resorts when booked directly through Hilton and 7X on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly with select companies, and U.S. restaurants. All other purchases will earn 3X per dollar spent. As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, you’ll get a 100% points bonus and 10 extra points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. Therefore, the Aspire card earns a total of 24X per dollar spent on Hilton properties when booked directly with Hilton, yielding a grand return of 14.4%. With Hilton’s frequent points promotions, you can rake in a serious amount of Hilton Honors points in no time. Even if you don’t stay at Hilton properties too often, this card is definitely worth the annual fee due to its amazing perks and benefits, and I strongly believe it’s the best hotel credit card available on the market right now.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Hilton Aspire Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSr3Jf?xl=cp01
American Express Hilton Honors Business
Alternatively, I could’ve used my American Express Hilton Honors Business card to book my stay. The AMEX Hilton Honors Business card is currently offering a signup bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $3,000 in 3 months, which is also worth about $780. Like other AMEX cards, the card is subject to the once-per-lifetime signup bonus rule. The annual fee is $95, and unlike the Aspire, it doesn’t come with airline or resort credits. However, it can be a great workhorse card as it offers generous everyday and business multipliers. It earns 12X Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on hotel and resort purchases booked directly with Hilton and 6X at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. wireless telephone services, U.S. purchases for shipping, and flights booked directly with airlines or with AMEX Travel. All other purchases earn 3X points per dollar spent. Because cardmembers receive automatic Honors Gold status, you’ll get an 80% points bonus and 8 extra points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. In addition, you’d receive 10 complimentary Priority Pass visits and have an opportunity to earn a free weekend night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. As a result, the Surpass earns a total of 20X per dollar spent on Hilton properties when booked directly with Hilton, yielding a return of 12%.
The American Express Hilton Honors Business card can cover a wide range of daily expenses and still comes with a great multiplier for Hilton stays. Photo by AMEX.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Hilton Honors Business card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/EDWARS067p?xl=cp15
Lobby & Check-In Review
I entered from the ground floor and took an escalator to get to the check-in desk. As I arrived on the first floor, the lobby opened up, and a giant art installation called Loopy Doopy greeted me. Loopy Doopy was by Sol LeWitt and was actually a series of drawings and structural installations, and you could see the theme appears throughout the hotel. If you are an art lover, you will spot various modern art pieces throughout the hotel.
Loopy Doopy is a massive art work, sitting at 100 x 80 feet.
The lobby was very spacious and had art-inspired lounge sofas. The seating area only had a few tiny coffee tables, so if you need to do some work, I’d suggest looking for a coffee shop nearby. The first floor also hosted ATRIO Wine Bar and Restaurant, which was closed at the moment.
The curvature of the seating options seemed to be influenced by Loopy Doopy.
The check-in area had beautiful marble flooring, showing that you are indeed at Conrad. Each check-in desk had a plexiglass barrier to combat COVID-19, and I was helped immediately after arriving at the desk.
The check-in area was mature and elegant - aligned with Conrad’s brand identity.
I originally booked a regular deluxe suite, hoping that I would be upgraded to a better room. Even with my Hilton Honors Diamond status, the only upgrade I was able to get was the room with a partial Hudson River view on the highest floor. I wasn’t disappointed because I appreciate any upgrades, but Hilton seriously needs to reconsider what their status means to Hilton loyalists, as I haven’t really received benefits worth keeping the status for another year.
During the check-in process, I asked the desk representative if the hotel was serving breakfast. Because of COVID-19, he explained that they were opting out of complimentary breakfast or dining credits. Instead, they were offering 10,000 Hilton Honors points per stay. I was fine with getting points, but what bothered me was how much the representative exaggerated the Hilton points’ value. He probably did not realize how well-versed I am in the points and miles industry, but I personally value one Hilton Point at 0.5 cents, and he kept emphasizing that in order to earn 10,000 Hilton points, I would need to spend over $700 with my AMEX Hilton Aspire card at Hilton properties. What he said is true, because, with the 14X multiplier at Hilton hotels, I would need to spend about $714 to earn 10,000 Hilton points. However, the monetary value of the 10,000 Hilton points is worth about $50, if not $40. After receiving the key, I headed up to the 15th floor where my room was located.
At night, the lighting provides another dimension to the artwork.
Living Room Review
Because my room was a suite, I first set foot in the living room.
Loopy Doopy is on the carpet, and the couch was actually comfortable.
The living room had a comfortable sofa and a beautiful lighting piece that I absolutely loved. The coffee table was a sturdy, yet artistic table that suited the cozy atmosphere of the room. Above the sofa, another modern art piece was hanging on the wall, and even the carpet resembled patterns of Loopy Doopy from the lobby.
The light fixture on the side table was the perfect example of combining art and functionality.
Across from the sofa, a small TV was wall-mounted above the work desk. The desk was on the smaller side, but it was not sharing any room with other amenities and could be used entirely for work, which is rare in NYC.
Unfortunately, the TV was not a smart TV.
On the desk, I found a letter from the property that the hotel was limited in service due to COVID-19, and I was immediately reminded that we were still battling the Pandemic, as I found a spare mask and alcohol wipes next to the notice.
If you are looking to order food, the in-room dining menu was also available on the desk.
If you grab alcoholic beverages from the mini bar, the prices are slightly cheaper.
Adjacent to the work desk, a minimalistic bar area was situated. There was a small, circular sink and a mirror that gently illuminated.
The natural wood tone of the room really worked well with the overall environment of the room.
I opened the cabinet next to the mirror and found room glasses and the rocean water filtering appliance. The best part was that there were two new, refillable water bottles for hotel guests. It was my first time using the water fountain, but it was a nice touch, and I didn’t have to call room service to bring me bottled water when I was thirsty.
The water from the fountain was cool and refreshing, and reusable water bottles were useful on hot summer days in NYC.
I was thrilled to find a Nespresso machine right below the water fountain.
A Nespresso machine will always win points for me.
The cabinet where the Nespresso machine was sitting had a hidden, fully-stocked mini-fridge.
The mini bar had everything you could think of, but be careful before you splurge!
The mini bar menu was next to the Nespresso machine, and considering the location and the hotel’s premium nature, beer was pretty fairly priced.
Compared to the beverage prices on the in-room dining menu, items were slightly cheaper.
The drawer had a safe, nuts, and “simply intimate” collection for couples - something I haven’t seen at other hotels for sure.
I really liked how minimalistic and inconspicuous everything was. It felt like I was transcended to a quiet home living room and felt comfortable immediately after I walked in. With high hopes, I moved to the bedroom.
Bedroom Review
As I entered the bedroom, the warm vibe from the wooden furniture and gentle lighting in the living room faded, and I was greeted with a nice view of the city and a glimpse of the Hudson River.
You can see the Irish Hunger Memorial, which is part of Rockefellar Park, and a glimpse of Jersey City.
The view wasn’t the best, but in NYC, any view not directly facing someone else’s apartment is a blessing. The room was carpeted and continued the Loopy Doopy pattern on the floor.
Loopy Doopy was on the bedroom carpet, bringing in the hotel’s primary art theme to the bedroom.
A king bed occupied most of the room, but small nightstands were next to each side, fully equipped with USB ports and outlets. Next to the USB ports, there was a smart light switch that allowed me to control the lighting of the entire room.
Smart light switches can come in handy especially in a suite.
The bed was very comfortable, and it was on the softer side. Across from the bed, a bigger-sized TV and some storage space for clothes could be found. With ample closet space, the bedroom would be great for anyone looking for an extended stay.
Unfortunately, the bedroom TV was also not a smart TV.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom was sitting between the bedroom and the living room, and the unique element was that the shower area was separated from the toilet.
The bathroom featured a single sink vanity, and the room was bright and had tons of counter space to put personal toiletries.
The separation between the toilet and the shower was nice, but the bathroom door had a noticeable gap when closed.
The only complaint from the hotel came from the bathroom; The bathroom door had wide enough gaps to feel exposed, making it less private. It felt as if I was using a public bathroom stall. Furthermore, there was no ventilation system in place, which could to be a rare element to be missing from a Conrad property. These are minor inconveniences, but when I stay at Hilton’s top-of-the-line hotel, I expect everything to be as perfect as possible.
There wasn’t much room to spread out personal toiletries even with a single vanity.
To counteract my disappointment, the shower room was amazing. It featured both a rainfall-type shower head and a handheld one, and the water pressure from the rainfall showerhead was so satisfying every time I took a shower.
The shower room was impressive and was the highlight of the room.
The toiletries were by Shanghai Tang, and they were by far the best toiletries I’ve used. I humbly argue that they were better than Le Labo toiletries from other luxury hotels.
Shanghai Tang toiletry was impressive - one of my favorites so far.
After checking out the bathroom, I went down to the gym to work out.
Gym Review
The gym was located on the first floor, and I found a barbershop on the way to the gym. It wasn’t certainly as fancy as the Blind Barber barbershop from Moxy Times Square NYC, but it is there if you want to use it.
The barbershop was not busy; I wasn’t sure if this was limited to hotel guests.
The gym was quite small for the size of the hotel. Luckily, I was the only one using the gym when I checked it out. Facing the windows, a handful of cardio machines were socially distanced.
The gym had relatively low ceilings and made the space feel cramped
Kettlebells and medicine balls were neatly organized, but due to the limited open space, it would be difficult to do HIIT workouts when the gym is crowded.
Be ready to get close to gym neighbors if want to do HIIT or bodyweight exercises.
Instead of Peloton bikes, the gym had TechnoGym rowing and cycling machines. To me, new TechnoGym machines are as premium as Peloton or Tonal, so I didn’t mind at all.
Given the size of the hotel, the fitness center should have more equipment.
Two adjustable benches and dumbells were pretty much the only option if you were looking to lift free weights.
If you are a lifter, this gym will not satisfy you.
My favorite was the refreshment station which had earbuds, towels, and individually wrapped, cool disposable towelettes. The gym was certainly not for avid lifters, but if you are looking for an option to do simple cardio exercises in an indoor setting, this gym will do the trick.
individually packaged cool towels were great after intense workout.
Attentive Service from the Hotel
When I stay at luxury hotels, the most important aspect I appreciate is the difference in the level of service they provide. Attentive and kind service really brings up the lodging experience to another level, and that’s exactly what I received from the Conrad New York Downtown.
Loopy Doopy was everywhere but didn’t feel redundant.
I was celebrating a special occasion during the stay, and while I was at dinner, the hotel messaged me that they would bring a plate of complimentary dessert to my room. Since I was not present in the room at the moment, they offered to bring up a mini-fridge so that they could store the dessert in my room until I arrived. We returned from dinner, and inside the newly installed fridge, we found a delicious chocolate truffle cake with berries and dipping sauces.
The chocolate truffle cake was rich, delicious, and indulgent.
It was delicious, and to top it off, we found a weather note on our bed, which indicated tomorrow’s weather forecast. These personal touches are precisely what I expect from a Conrad property, and the hotel nailed it.
It was my first time receiving a weather forecast card after a turndown service, and I loved it!
Summary
Overall, my stay at Conrad New York Downtown was relaxing and comfortable. It may sound like an understatement, but that can be challenging to accomplish in New York City, where space is limited, and you constantly hear cars honking and ambulances sirening from the outside. The suite was very spacious and welcoming, with natural wooden furniture. The artistic identity of the hotel continued throughout the room, from the patterns of the carpet to art-inspired lighting pieces in the room. The bedroom had a limited view of the Hudson River, but the shower was incredibly enjoyable with a high-pressure rainfall-type showerhead. Though the way that the check-in representative exaggerated the value of Hilton points was bothersome, and the bathroom lacked a ventilation system, those were easily offset by the thoughtful and accommodating service I received from the hotel. If you want to stay at a luxury hotel in lower Manhattan, I highly recommend Conrad New York Downtown.
