Video Hotel Review: Andaz Fifth Avenue Splash Suite

I recently stayed at the original St. Regis in New York and although I loved the location and the Old World style of the iconic hotel, I was disappointed by how much negotiating I had to do in order to get upgraded to a suite, as well as by the high room rate - $550! The next night I headed over to one of my go-to NYC hotels: the Andaz Fifth Avenue.

This time I got a room rate of $361, which I just paid for rather than redeeming the 22,000 Gold Passport points that would have been necessary for an award night since I am struggling to maintain Diamond status and Hyatt does not count award nights towards elite qualification. I was staying for only one night, so I decided not to use one of my Diamond-status suite upgrade awards and take my chances that I'd be upgraded when I arrived.

Though when I stayed in New York this summer I used one of my suite upgrade certificates to go from a standard Andaz King to a Loft Suite, this time, without doing anything, I was automatically upgraded four room categories to an Andaz Splash Suite, which was almost twice as large as my Loft Suite had been at a huge (by NYC standards) 787 square feet. If I'd paid, it would have cost about $710 the night I stayed, so I was basically getting twice my money's worth!

Have a look at my video walk-through and then read on below for the details:

It had the same high ceilings and taupe palette, as well as a spacious all-Travertine-marble bathroom with separate soaking tub and walk-in rain shower, dual vanities and CO Bigelow bath amenities as well as all the usual Andaz perks like free non-alcoholic mini-bar beverages and snacks, free WiFi and local calls, and high-tech touches like a 54-inch HDTV and a Geneva Sound System.

The room had a living room with a sofa and armchair, a narrow work desk, and windows looking south toward the Empire State Building. The bedroom was pretty sparse, but the queen bed dressed in Frette linens was super comfortable, so I got a good night's sleep. It also had another huge flatscreen and a small sitting area with two armchairs, and looked right out over 5th Avenue to the New York Public Library.

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As usual, I didn't have time to hang out much in the hotel, so I had to forego cocktails in the downstairs bar and a meal in The Shop restaurant, but I did hit the little fitness center, and I got to have my favorite Hyatt Diamond amenity – free breakfast – via room service, which I really enjoy and wish more Hyatts made that an option for elite members rather than making us go have the breakfast in the club lounge when available.

All in all, this stay just reaffirmed why I like the Andaz so much. Sure, it doesn't have the storied (some might say stuffy) ambiance of the St. Regis, but it's just a few blocks farther south, the rooms are great, and I love the contemporary feel of it. Plus, I always feel like I get my money's (or points') worth out of my stays here.
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