Review: Andaz 5th Avenue, New York City
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TPG Senior Points & Miles Contributor Nick Ewen and his family recently spent one night at the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City. Read on for his impressions. (All photos are by the author.)
I grew up just outside New York City and when my wife and I decided to take Evy up to see the family for Christmas, we thought it would be a great opportunity to spend a night in the city. We've had incredible experiences with the Andaz chain, including a fantastic stay at Andaz Wall Street back in 2014, so we decided to check out the Andaz 5th Avenue this time around. Though we only stayed one night, it once again affirmed our love of the brand.
The property is situated on the corner of 5th Avenue and East 41st Street, directly across the street from the New York Public Library. If you are traveling to Manhattan to see big tourist sites like the Empire State Building, Times Square and Rockefeller Center, among others, this hotel is in the perfect location. It's a short stroll to many popular spots but also in a quieter section of Midtown, giving guests a fantastic combination of convenience and calm in the city that never sleeps.
Booking
When we first planned our trip, revenue rates were well over $400 per night, so I transferred some Chase Ultimate Rewards points I'd earned from using my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to my Hyatt Gold Passport account and reserved a standard Andaz king room for 25,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points.
I kept my eye on room rates leading up to the stay and a couple of months before our arrival, I noticed AAA revenue rates had dropped to $270 per night. Since that dropped my redemption value down to approximately 1.25 cents apiece (well below TPG's most recent valuation of Hyatt Gold Passport points), I decided to rebook and apply a Diamond Suite Upgrade to the reservation. This actually bumped us into a 787 square foot Andaz Splash Suite instead of the standard 400-600 square foot Andaz Suite, a terrific way to maximize these certificates.
It's also worth noting that the rate dropped yet again about a month before our stay and when I called Hyatt Gold Passport, they adjusted the rate over the phone and kept my confirmed suite upgrade. Our final rate was $225 per night, though booking directly into the Splash Suite would've set us back $525 for the night.
Hotel and Check-In
We landed in New York-LaGuardia (LGA) around 12:30pm and hopped in an Uber to Manhattan, taking advantage of Uber Car Seat so as not to lug Evy's car seat on the plane and around the city with us. The rainy weather caused some traffic delays, but the ride was only about 35 minutes and we were dropped off near the 41st Street entrance.
While the boutique nature of most Andaz properties doesn't equate to ornately decorated lobbies, I felt like this one was particularly sparse with low ceilings and minimalist decor.
We had a short wait to be helped but once it was our turn, the friendly front desk agent quickly processed our check-in, recognizing my Diamond status and reminding me of the Diamond amenities. She had to call housekeeping to see if our room was available so early, but just a few seconds later she happily confirmed that it was.
The Room
We were assigned Room 405, which like all Andaz Splash Suites was nestled into the corner of the building and provided floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking both 41st Street and 5th Avenue. The door opened into a small entryway with a pre-placed luggage rack and a wood-and-glass shelving unit that housed the mini bar.
Just beyond that was a simple desk built into the wall on which sat the Nespresso machine, a room service menu and a dark wooden crib had been preset by the window.
I have found that Hyatt properties, in general, do a great job of welcoming us whenever we're traveling with Evy. While the amenities here didn't compare to those of the Park Hyatt Zurich, we did find a set of bath amenities, a blanket and a cute little yellow rubber ducky ready for our use.
After walking through the short entryway, the room opened up to the right with a comfortable but sparsely decorated living room — the high ceilings easily compensated for the relatively narrow, rectangular shape of the room. A newly mobile Evy, pictured below, quickly started exploring the amenities.
Just through the living room was the bathroom, which was laid out in a very interesting configuration. There was actually a sort of hallway running through the middle of the room, effectively linking the living room to the bedroom. The floor and most of the walls were done in a dark marble, though the brown wood of the armoires helped warm the decor significantly. The bulk of the floor space was taken up by a large white soaking tub, located just to the left of the walkway.
To the right was the rest of the bathroom, including the shower, double sinks and toilet.
This section of the bathroom included closable doors that swung open 180 degrees, allowing privacy when closed, yet helping to make the room feel more open when they were open. The bath products were Beekman-branded and quite nice.
The final part of the rectangular-shaped room was the bedroom, which was also simply furnished. The King-sized bed was pushed against the northern wall.
There was also a small sitting area with two very comfortable chairs and a television that swung out from the wall.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of the bedroom was the view. Since the Andaz Splash Suites are billed as corner rooms, they include windows that overlook 41st Street (not much to see) as well as some that overlook 5th Avenue. As a result, our room gave us a terrific view of the New York Public Library.
Despite the simple decor, I found the room to be incredibly warm and comfortable. The low-sitting couch was fantastic for lounging and the modular coffee table provided plenty of flexibility for our room service trays. While the narrowness of the room could've been claustrophobic, the floor plan was efficient and I felt that the furnishings filled the room without being too overwhelming.
Other Amenities
The Andaz 5th Avenue is home to two on-site dining options: The Shop and The Bar Downstairs. The former of the two serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays plus weekend brunch, and it's where the complimentary Diamond breakfast is served.
Quite possibly my favorite aspect of being a Diamond Gold Passport member is the ability to have room service breakfast at many properties. The official policy was a $75 credit per night and the terrific menu made spending that amount very easy.
Like the other Andaz properties I've visited before, this location also offered a complimentary wine hour every evening in the communal area of the lobby.
This is also where you could grab a cup of coffee or tea, though given the balmy weather we experienced during our trip, we were content with the cold (and complimentary) non-alcoholic drinks from our mini bar!
The hotel also boasted an extensive fitness center in the basement as well as the option to arrange a spa treatment in your room, however, given the small size of the property, there's no spa on-site.
Overall Impression
We have now stayed at four Andaz properties — the two in New York plus the locations in Amsterdam and Savannah — and so far the brand is four for four. While our terrific room upgrade helped make this short visit a memorable stay, Andaz 5th Avenue is also perfectly situated to explore the touristy sites of the city. Its boutique feel and all the terrific amenities make this property a fantastic option when visiting the Big Apple — I'm just sad we weren't able to stay longer!
Have you stayed at the Andaz 5th Avenue? Share your experiences in the comments below!
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.