In New York in December and so I spent a few nights at the Sofitel Hotel on 44th street just a few blocks from Times Square.
This little stretch of 44th street has the Algonquin hotel, the Iroquois hotel, the Sofitel, the Penn Club and the Harvard Club of New York. Elegant company.
Sofitel is part of the Accor loyalty program. The logo is ALL – Accor Live Limitless. Airlines on the program include Air France/KLM, Qatar, Qantas, Finnair and Japan airlines. Other partners are Orient Express, Pullman, Fairmont, Banyan Tree, Hertz, Avis and many others. This is only my second time staying with this program after staying at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.
https://all.accor.com/hotel/2185/index.en.shtml
There is a nice lobby with plush seating areas and an impressive winding staircase before you get to the check-in desk.
Valet and customer service desks are available in the lobby.
Check-in was smooth and I was up to my room on the 24th floor.
On arriving at floor 24 I found this lovely settee and chair in the hallway at the elevator.
The elegant room:
This is the view of the room. It looks like most other hotel rooms we stay in but one can tell that Sofitel tries a little harder with some of the items available.
Ironing board, iron, lovely plush hangars, luggage rack and slippers available.
Nice adapter on the wall with power plugs and USB ports.
Glasses, a stirrer, a safe, but no ice bucket.
This was a nice touch Here is a basket with sewing kit, clothes brush, shoe horn, laundry bag and a shoe kit for shining.
The desk has phone, pad and pen, and 2 cartons of water which were refreshed every day.
On the one day that I left a do-not-disturb sign on my door I returned to find the 2 cartons left at my door. A nice and caring touch.
Really nice to have the refrigerator so I could cool the water and keep some cheese and have milk for tea.
A really nice bed with a second phone on the bedside table.
Nice chairs with a wooden table and lamp at the window.
A lovely view out the front of the building.
This drawer contained the room service menu as well as writing paper, postcards and envelopes.
The bathing facilities:
Balmain bath products were supplied as well as a hair dryer, soap and a box containing ear buds and cotton swabs.
Lovely to have a walk-in shower and a separate bathtub.
This bath was lovely to use. The hand spray was a nice touch as was the Balmain body wash.
A nice towel rack with place for 4 items drying.
The towels in the Sofitel are the longest I have encountered in all the hotels I have stayed at. I am 6ft 1 and the towels are a few inches longer than me. Really lovely to use.
There was a third phone on the wall at the loo as well.
Other hotel facilities:
Le Club fitness is the gym available. Comprehensive enough with treadmills, climbing machines, weights and other workout equipment.
Computers and a printer available for business and flight details.
There is a ballroom and many meeting rooms available. The Gaby restaurant on floor 1 is rather smart and has an elegant bar.
This hotel celebrates the French way of life. The website advertises “the hotel with French soul and a New York City edge”
Le Petit Prince is celebrated with these murals.
Overall impressions:
The Sofitel in New York is a lovely hotel. They do try a little harder and supply you with extras in your room but the cost varies dramatically. During the week I was there the price ranged from $350 to $900 depending on the day as it is December and the city is busy. During the quieter second week of January rooms start at $220 per night.
The hotel specifically mentions that their rooms are among the biggest hotel rooms in New York and you know you are not staying in a regular New York Hotel.
The French flair and the Accor style definitely make this hotel well worth a visit.
