Trump International Hotel And Tower Rating: 4.5 Pearls

Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City

Gold everywhere, including the elevators

Trump toothbrushes, Trump shaving cream, bottles of Trump water. Welcome to the Trump International Hotel and Tower, where most everything is either gold-colored or emblazoned with the word "Trump" -- or both.

This 167-room luxury hotel caters to high-end business travelers and tourists who expect -- no, demand -- the highest standard of service. If you like to be addressed as "Sir" or "Madam," this is your place.

The location is a huge plus. The Trump International Hotel and Tower sits on Columbus Circle, at the southwest corner of Central Park. With awesome views of the park and close proximity to shopping, business, transportation, and entertainment, you could scarcely find a better base from which to launch an assault on New York City.

Trump water at check-out

If you like being addressed as "Sir" or "Madam," you'll appreciate the service at the Trump Hotel. It is extremely attentive, professional, and formal -- excellent, if that's the kind of service you like. (I, for one, could do without the staff members at the fitness center rising in unison as I walked in -- but that's just me.)

The concierge was no exception. When asked for suggestions of things to do with a 7-year-old child, she didn't hesitate. She recommended a trip to the American Museum of Natural History to see the dinosaurs, a carriage ride in the park, a walk across town to FAO Schwartz, and a matinee show. All are solid recommendations. She also recommended several theme restaurants for which she had VIP passes.

My requests were always handled expertly. When I called downstairs for toothpaste and a toothbrush, a staff member arrived with a full toiletries kit within 10 minutes. I ordered room service twice, and each time the server offered to set the table. I actually tried to hold the door open for him once, and he refused with respectful formality -- staff helps guests here, never the other way around! When I checked out, the desk manager offered to print a boarding pass and arrange a car, then handed me a bottle of Trump water for my voyage.

And virtually every time I spoke with a member of the staff, I was asked: "Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?"

To this hotel's great credit, the answer is no.

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The Trump International Hotel and Tower is on Columbus Circle at the southwestern corner of Central Park.

Columbus Circle has been transformed since theTime Warner Center -- basically a high-end mall with some of the city's best restaurants -- opened across the circle from the Trump International. Now the area is teeming with high-end hotels -- including 6 Columbus and the Mandarin Oriental -- and two of New York's most expensive restaurants, Per Se and Masa. Conveniently, there is also a massive Whole Foods organic supermarket located in the basement of the Time Warner Center.

Lincoln Center, the city's enormous performing arts complex, is also just a short walk away.

Five subway lines run through the Columbus Circle station, which is just a few steps away from the hotel's entrance. The street in front of the hotel is safe -- and cabs are easily hailed -- at virtually any time of the day or night.

New York City has three nearby airports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Getting into town from JFK or LaGuardia is usually more convenient than from Newark, but travel times are heavily dependent on the time of day and traffic conditions. From JFK, a taxi to anywhere in Manhattan costs a flat rate of $45 and takes around an hour in average conditions. From LaGuardia, a metered cab ride to midtown Manhattan costs about $40 and can take 30 minutes if traffic is light, three times that if it's bad. Rides from Newark cost at least $40 plus tolls and can take more than 90 minutes. It's customary to tip your driver 15 to 25 percent.

Those looking to save some cash can use the privately run shuttle buses that are available at all three airports for about $14 per person. For more information on the shuttles, go to Super Shuttle or New York Airport Service. Public transit is also available for as little as $7 per person, but travel can take up to two hours and involve a lot of lugging bags up and down stairways.

For mass-transit directions right to the hotel, check out HopStop.com.

As the bellhop said when he showed me to the room, "It's bigger than most New York City apartments." And he's right. True, I had been upgraded to an Executive City-View Suite. But even the standard "Superior Rooms" are a generous 440 square feet. (The 460-square-foot Deluxe Rooms add a kitchen; my suite had a separate bedroom as well.)

The $30 million room renovation completed in 2010 provided the rooms with some much-needed wow factor. Ivanka Trump herself selected every detail of the new decor, which I found to be plush, tasteful, and elegant. The rooms feature rich woods, velvet curtains, crystal chandeliers in the dining areas, and a new and improved color scheme incorporating shades of purple, blue, and cream. The Donald himself selected the 55-inch flat-screen TVs that now adorn every room. (That’s right: 55-inch flat-screens. In every room. We don’t think we’ve ever encountered a hotel with TVs that large, never mind in all of the room types. It’s oh so very Trump.) The full kitchens -- available in most rooms -- were updted with Sub-Zero appliances.

My extremely comfortable queen bed had a pillow-top mattress with a heavy down comforter, high-thread-count sheets, and great pillows.

All the rooms are loaded with premium electronics -- the 55-inch flat-screen TV, that gets about 60 channels and movies on demand, is just the beginning. There's also a Blue-Ray DVD player, iPod dock, and surround-sound speakers.

The views are outstanding, especially on the Central Park side of the building -- but rest assured that, unlike at many luxury hotel rooms in New York, none here looks out on a brick wall.

The opulent bathrooms epitomize the renowned Trump aesthetic. Red-flecked marble, gold-colored fixtures and accents everywhere (even the toilet paper holder), a Jacuzzi, high-end Gilchrist & Soames bath products -- this is what you were waiting for.

55-foot lap pool

The 6,000-square-foot fitness center and spa are in the basement concourse level. The fitness center is pretty large compared with other New York hotels. It has a slew of cardio machines, free weights, and strength machines. Personal trainers are available for one-on-one sessions.

There's also a 55-foot lap pool, which is definitely rare for New York City hotels.

The spa has steam rooms, a sauna, and yoga classes, and it offers the usual assortment of massages, facials, manicures, and waxings.

Business services are also located on the concourse level. A meeting room is available, as are two computers with Internet connections.

Rooms have free wireless Internet.

For its location alone, the Trump would be a great (if expensive) place to bring the kids. Add the free cribs and rollaway beds and the swimming pool -- lessons are available -- and you've got one of the more kid-friendly hotels in New York.

Room service offers a special kids' menu, featuring a selection of kiddie cocktails that doesn't even include the Shirley Temple.

The hotel can arrange baby-sitting as well.

And for a uniquely Trump experience, you can get business cards printed with your child's name on them.

The Trump International Hotel and Tower is home to two renowned restaurants run by award-winning chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Jean-Georges is the more formal of the two, one of the city's high temples of eating; jackets are required. The other, Nougatine, is somewhat less formal and elaborate but nearly as ambitious.

24-hour room service is available from both restaurants, though the overnight menu is limited. I ordered penne pasta and a salad, and it was delivered in about 30 minutes.