Reminder: The Plaza Hotel is Closing April 30th!

I just returned from spending three nights at The Plaza Hotel in New York, and I enjoyed my experience enough that I just wanted to remind people that it is scheduled to close on April 30th to be converted into condos (blasphemy IMHO).

Even if you only stop by to watch the bustle at the Fifth Avenue entrance, to have a last afternoon tea at the Palm Court, to check out Eloise%26#39;s photo on the wall, or to buy an authentic Plaza towel etc from the gift shop -- I think checking out the Plaza should be on everyone%26#39;s NYC itinerary between now and the end of April.

Staying there isn%26#39;t for everyone, both because of the cost and the less-than-perfect service (judging from the TA reviews) -- but there are some online deals and more if you are a Fairmont President%26#39;s Club member. I was able to get a rate that averaged out to about $225 per night -- a fair deal for a high end midtown hotel.

I was reminded that the Plaza is so much more than a hotel -- and particularly that it is a kind of meeting place/refuge for both New Yorkers and visitors alike. A grand public space -- with tea and restrooms -- where almost everyone at least seems like they could be rich, famous, or interesting...even if they are not. :-) Staying there, even for just one night, gives one a kind of privileged seat at all of this....and having a Central Park view room (request upper floor too) is just wonderful.

One obvious way to save $$ is to not eat at the hotel. The prices are insane and there are, obviously, lots of less expensive alternatives in the neighborhood.

Anyway... I just wanted to put my two cents in and remind anyone planning to be in NYC between now and the end of April: stop by the Plaza while it still is what it was!

Reminder: The Plaza Hotel is Closing April 30th!

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Reminder: The Plaza Hotel is Closing April 30th!

Tony---I know this off-topic, but did you ever make it to Boston? You were scheduled to go when the blizzard hit, so---just wondering. . .

Hi Sue. :-)

It took me two days to get to Boston from California....the first day my flight to Boston was cancelled and I took it as an omen and gave up.... the second day my flight to Boston was cancelled again but I pressed on and got to Chicago, spent the night at the O%26#39;Hare Hyatt, and then onto Boston. I guess that%26#39;s almost three days!

Nonetheless....I loved Boston in the snow....especially walking around all the snowcovered old cowpath streets on Beacon Hill.

I had planned to take the train down to New York from Boston, but they cancelled all of those too! So my recent trip to NY was a totally separate thing. I really hadn%26#39;t planned to be back so soon, but I wanted to see The Gates and when I found out about the Plaza closing...that tipped the scale and I splurged with my United miles.