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North America: New York, New York - Manhattan Hilton Towers

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A Paranoid Experience Turns Out Very Pleasant - A Stay at the Manhattan Hilton Towers

What do a native New Englander and New York City have in common? Nothing much in my case, and I only live an hour an a half from this city that everyone calls exciting. Maybe because I never familiarized myself with it, preferring the quiet country life where the only noise in summer are the frogs and crickets. My kind of noise.

At 39, I ventured into the city and even faced my worst nightmare, skyscraper hotels. Yes, I am paranoid about these buildings because I had the good fortune to once be stuck in an elevator between floors for two hours before help came. And this was mid-summer and the elevator fans shut off. Then my fear has always been fire. But I braved it, the clamoring chicken that I am, and nothing catastrophic happened. In fact, it was a terrific experience. One that I would attempt again.

You ask what does the outwardly appearing monolithic Hilton monstrosity touted as the largest New York City hotel with 46 floors and 2000 rooms have to offer a traveller? Ambience, excitement, a grand sense of arrival, convenience and unmatched service and cleanliness which I have seldom seen! There is a parking garage for starters, which costs about $24/day. There may be weekly package deals but I forgot to ask. The Hilton Towers just underwent a massive $85 million renovation and you can readily notice it in the reception lobby with its wonderful wood and marble feel and the Bridges Bar overlooking the lobby perfect for people-watching. The 200 seat bar salutes the mystique of New York City's seven famous bridges with lighting, murals, metallic design touches. Cables, bridge murals and stands of light evoke the majesty of the Brooklyn, Queensboro, George Washington, Triboro, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Henry Hudson bridges. It also has a signature, "Best Martini in Town."

And once inside, I had no feeling I was in a skyscraper and even the elevators have CNN television running 24 hours a day so if I did get stuck at least I could watch the news!

You will find thirty five floors with non-smoking newly decorated rooms and nine floors of smoking rooms. It is located at Rockefeller Center near many major attractions. The hotel is one block from Fifth Avenue shopping, two blocks from trendy Madison Avenue with its boutiques and bistros and up the street from Radio City Music Hall. You are down the street from Central Park, Broadway theaters and Times Square. It is all within ear's shout. The New York City Visitors Center is just around the block with tons of information on things to do. Grayline Tours double-decker bus tours leave from the Times Square Visitors Center with a day-long tour of the city which is remarkable. The hotel accomodates both the business and pleasure traveller with facilities for banquets, small meetings, as well as large conferences and conventions which are usually held at the Hilton.

Staying in a smaller boutique hotel was always my preference but you feel the excitement of the city staying here. There are two new restaurants, two new bars, and a new Fitness Club and luxury Spa. An authentic Tuscan Italian restaurant is located on the premises.

If you are staying for business, there is a business center offering secretarial services, computers, internet access, laptop, fax, cell phone and typewriter rentals along with printing and copying. The executive floors comprise 6 floors with its own manager and multilingual staff. Executive floor guests enjoy complimentary breakfast, tea, coffee, fruit and cookies throughout the day and hors d'oeuvres at cocktail hour in the private executive lounge.

The guest rooms are not that large but very comfortable and clean. They have hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, coffee makers, refreshment centers and color televisions with remote control. The telephones have two lines with voice mail. There are also 52 guest rooms that accommodatete disabled wheelchair guests. Front and back entrances have curb cuts for wheelchairs and there are also 83 guest rooms to accommodatete the hearing impaired along with Braille numbers in the elevators and on guest room doors.

The guest hotline is a hotel service which can handle a guest's request with one telephone call - usually within 15-20 minutes. The new spa offers exclusive Italian spa products and body treatments including massages, facials and body treatments, cardiovascular and strength training equipment, steam rooms, saunas and personal trainers. A therapeutic visit to the spa will completely relax you. My next visit will include trying out this fabulous spa!

You would expect to pay a lot for all the wonderful services but rates are very reasonable beginning at around $200/night or even less with special packages. The stay is one you will truly enjoy and I guarantee you will return again. The old saying rings true, "face up to your fears and you will conquer them and learn that they can turn out to be pleasant." You will love this hotel with all its comfort and international flair and a location within walking distance to everything you ever wanted to see in the city!

Manhattan Hilton Towers
1335 Avenue of the Americas between 54th St and 6th Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Click Here for Reservations

Other sights, tours and excursions around NYC:

Bateaux New York - Tel 212-352-2022. Wine, dine and dance on lunch and dinner cruises. Nightly and weekend tours on luxury European glass-topped boats. Nightly and weekend tours. Sat. Sun: 11:30 am; Mon-Fri-6:30 pm $60-115

Big Apple Greeter - Tel 212-669-8159. A multi-lingual volunteer guides you around the metropolis. Free.

Big Onion Walking Tours - 212-439-1090. Explore ethic neighborhoods. Times, day vary. $12 adults.

Bronx Zoo - 718-367-1010. Home to over 700 species and special attractions. $5 adults.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens 1000 Washington Avenue, 718-623-7200. Find serenity at this lush 52 acre paradise. Tues-Fri 8 am-4:30pm, Sat-Sun,holidays 10 am-4:30 pm$3 adults, children free.

Carnegie Hall Tours 881 Seventh Ave at W 57th St 212-247-7800. Get behind the scenes at this amazing musical venue. Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri at 11:30 am, 2 and 3 pm $6 adults and $3 children

Empire State Building 350 Fifth Avenue, 212-736-3100. The obesrvation deck towers more than 100 feet with breathtaking views. Daily 9:30 am-midnight $9 adults and $4 children.

Lincoln Center Tours W 64th and Broadway, Tel 212-875-5370. Culture vultures can take a backstage tour of the Metropolitan Opera House, Avery Fisher Hall, and New York State Theater. Four times daily, $9 adults and $4.75 children

NBC Experience Tour 30 Rockefeller Center right next to Hilton Towers Hotel at West 49th Street, Tel 212-664-3700. Tour NBC studios, pop onto a live set or visit the museum. daily 7 am- 7pm. $17.50 adults and $15 children

New York Aquarium Surf Ave and W 8th St Brooklyn, 718-265-3473. Over 800 specimens of sea creatures live at this underwater zoo. Daily 10 am-4:30 pm.