The Hilton Club – New York

Located on the top floors of the New York Hilton Midtown, this upscale hotel has cultivated a tranquil and exclusive atmosphere that sets it apart from the bustling hotel below, and has a comparatively serene vibe (it's also isolated from all of the street noise 36 floors below). The Hilton Club offers an exclusive, speedy check-in on the 37th Floor that's reserved only for Hilton Club guests. The Owner's Lounge is a fine place to relax away from the hectic vibe of the main hotel -- it’s spacious and light, with large windows, and a well-stocked snack bar, coffee, and espresso bar. There are rows of books and plenty of comfortable seats for guests who just want to relax between all of the sightseeing that's right outside the hotel's front door. The property attracts a huge number of business guests, owing its prime Midtown location, but plenty of tourists stay here as well, including families who are drawn by the space available in the hotel's Two-Bedroom Suites. 

When it comes to New York City, it doesn't get much more central than the Hilton Club. The property is right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, between the east and west sides of the city. The immediate area is fairly corporate, and office towers rise in every direction, but tourists will find that most sights are reachable on foot. Rockefeller Center is a four-minute walk, Central Park a six-minute walk, and Times Square a nine-minute walk. Grand Central Terminal and the New York Public Library are both a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and there are plenty of local restaurants a 10-minute walk west, along Ninth Avenue in Hell's Kitchen. The Theater District is also within a 10-minute walk, depending on the destination. Most major subway lines are within a block or two as well, making trips throughout the city simple. Travel times to the airports vary widely according to the time of day and traffic conditions, but JFK and LaGuardia can usually be reached in under an hour. Newark often takes around 90 minutes by cab. All airports can be accessed by bus or train (or some combination of both) in around 45 to 90 minutes as well.

Guest rooms in the Hilton Club New York have stylish decor and plenty of space -- by New York standards, at least. Design is sober, modern, and classic, with subtly patterned navy carpets, dark wood furniture, crisp white bedding, taupe walls, and vibrant New York cityscapes hanging on the walls. Rooms are available as Studios, One-Bedroom Suites, or Two-Bedroom Suites (which sleep six). All include a large 42-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, DVD players, air-conditioning, digital music players, Keurig coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, and work desks. Suites have generous sitting and dining areas, and city views from all rooms are fantastic. Bathrooms are spacious, contemporary, and luxurious. They have therapeutic Kohler showers with multiple jets and premium toiletries. The Two-Bedroom Suite has two bathrooms, one with a roman soaking tub -- it's ideal for families. Being on the higher floors of the hotel, and given the Hilton Club's exclusive access rules, rooms are extremely quiet. 

Guests of the Hilton Club New York have access to a Club Lounge where they can enjoy a daily breakfast buffet, drinks and snacks all afternoon, and evening drinks and appetizers -- all free of charge. Business services are also free for guests, including printing and computer usage. Though the rooms and services are separated onto the hotel's top floors, guests can also access all of the amenities of New York Hilton Midtown below, which include the Herb N' Kitchen restaurant serving seasonal salads, artisanal sandwiches, and brick oven pizzas. There’s also a coffee shop and Bridges bar, which has a good selection of wines and cocktails in a sophisticated setting. There's a lounge bar in the lobby as well, plus an ice bar where vodka-based cocktails are served in ice glasses. The hotel has a huge fitness center and sauna, and plus meeting rooms and a conference center. Valet parking is available for a hefty daily fee, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.