The Yotel NYC draws in millennial travellers for its unique, ultra-modern high-tech experience. But it’s the little details and out-of-the-box features at this flagship location that take it up a notch from the Yotel’s micro-hotels located at London and Amsterdam airports. After staying at Yotel London Gatwick in October 2012, I knew I had to try Yotel NYC while visiting the Big Apple in December for 4 nights.
The Yotel Concept
Innovative in design, futuristic in feel and unique in its efficiency and experience, the Yotel is equally made for design and tech aficionados as it is for Millennials who like a hip, urban, quirky retreat. The Yotel experience is inspired by space-efficient Japanese capsule hotels mixed with luxurious first-class air cabin service. What I like about the Yotel is the focus on making the stay an experience rather than just another place to sleep.
Yotel NYC: Details Made for Travel Convenience
Ground Control
Signature Features: Self Check-In Kiosks & the Yobot robot.
While researching hotels, my husband and I wanted to stay in a central place in Manhattan as it was his first time to New York. Located two blocks west of Times Square with 669 rooms, the Yotel New York advertises all the cool and funky. When we arrive at night, all we see from a block away is the signature purple neon that fills the lobby. We enter “Ground Control”: to the left we find touch screens for self check-in and on the right, the Yobot, a robot butler ready to store luggage (world’s first!).
Mission Control + FOUR
Signature Features: Mission Control; Dojo; Club Lounge; Largest Hotel Terrace in NYC.
After the check-in kiosk slides out our room keys, we enter the elevator held open by the doorman and shoot up to FOUR, the hotel’s epicentre with sleek and sexy lounge, bar and restaurant spaces made for community-minded Millennials. Dubbed as “Mission Control”, the concierge desk is there to assist with city information and restaurant reservations. FOUR is also where we went in the morning to pick up our complimentary breakfast – scrumptious muffins and coffee at Dojo Restaurant & Bar, complete with hydraulic tables that can drop down for entertainment space.
Right across from “Mission Control”, we took advantage of the Club Lounge one night during Happy Hour – with beers and tapas plates on special. Try the eggplant fries – delish! My wish list for future restaurant/bar renos: go even further with Japanese design by adding touch-screens at each table for patrons to self-punch in their tapas and cocktail orders.
Although we didn’t make use of the outdoor space (too cold during December!), the 7000 sq ft Terrace is the largest outdoor hotel patio in NYC – perfect for sipping cocktails and partying alongside djs in the summer.
Cabins
Signature Features: automated bed control, tech wall, free wifi, smart design.
We stayed in a Premium Queen Cabin – a smartly designed 170 sqft space with an automated bed, a tech wall, rain shower, desk and a handy food tray for our free morning muffins and coffee at Dojo – very convenient! Just like the cabin I stayed in at Yotel London Gatwick, this space had everything we needed in a small, efficiently used space.
Galleys On Every Floor
Signature Features: speciality coffees, free water, microwave, fridge.
Foregoing expensive room-service and mini-bar additions (who wants to pay $5 for bottled water anyways?), the Yotel has galley kitchens on each floor instead where we filled up on free purified water and complimentary specialty coffees (hello morning cappuccino!). The galleys also have hot water for tea, a microwave, fridge and vending machine. We found the galleys especially helpful and something we used daily.
Price
With the average rate of around $200/night – it can be expensive for budget conscious Millennials who may opt for a basic apartment rental instead. However, the Yotel NYC’s central location, its modern amenities, specialty features, high-tech additions and a focus on paying attention to the guest experience as well as to details of what travellers really want – makes it worth the splurge.
Would I Stay Here Again?
I’ve now stayed at two Yotel hotels in two years. I’ll be back again. After being on a long 24 hour journey from Buenos Aires to Toronto to New York, with two flight cancellations, delayed flights and no sleep in between, checking into the Yotel NYC made me feel excited about travel all over again. Maybe next time will be in Singapore when the new Yotel opens in 2016?
What’s been your favourite hotel experience? Have you stayed at the Yotel before? Leave your comments below!
Photo Credit: Yotel NYC.
