I’m usually a budget traveler because, historically, I had to be if I wanted to see the world.
Until recently, I didn’t understand the allure of high-end accommodations and scoffed at people paying thousands a night for hotel rooms. “Why would anyone spend that?” I wondered, justifying my savings by thinking that, for one night’s stay at a few luxury properties, I could fund an entire week’s vacation.
Honestly, I didn’t know what I was missing. Cue The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, in Manhattan’s Financial District. (Thompson hotels are part of the World of Hyatt imprint.)
The property, built in the late 1800s — around the same time as the Brooklyn Bridge — costs from $6,000 a night for a stay in its Turret Penthouse East and Turret Penthouse West apartments. I had the pleasure of spending 20 hours in one of them.
The experience set the bar so high that it will be hard to go back to my penny-pinching ways. Here’s what makes The Beekman apartments so spectacular.
property
The building, at 123 Nassau St. in New York, completed in 1883. At the time, it was Clinton Hall, which housed the Commercial Library Association. It contained several libraries and writing rooms that Edgar Allen Poe frequented. It was also the site of some of New York University’s first classes.
It changed hands many times over the past 130 years or so, but opened as The Beekman in 2016. Many of its original elements – such as the stunning historic atrium and much of the original stonework surrounding it – were carefully preserved.
For places where the tile was badly damaged, The Beekman tracked down the family-owned company that originally manufactured the tile and convinced it to make replacements. To protect the tile in high-traffic areas, the hotel also commissioned custom carpeting that looks exactly like the tile pattern beneath it.
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In addition to its 287 rooms—38 of which are suites, including turrets—the Beekman offers three restaurants, as well as a basement nightclub that was still under construction while I was there.
The Bar Room and Temple Court by chef Tom Colicchio take up most of the real estate on the first floor.
The former forms the base of the breathtaking atrium and is open all day for food and drink with a distinctly literary and conversational ambience. (Think dark colors, bookshelves, filament lamps, and artwork that bear the likeness of Poe.)
The latter, a fancier five-course affair, is located just off the bar room and is open only for dinner each night. Finally, Chef Daniel Boulud’s Le Gratin is a French bistro-style restaurant featuring cuisine inspired by Lyon.
room
The Turret Penthouse Rooms, which are mirror images of each other, are essentially small apartments (though larger than many residences you’ll find in New York) built atop The Beekman. Originally designed as office spaces, they have since been converted into comfortable, well-equipped two-story loft apartments with amazing amenities.
After check-in, a bellman will collect your bags and escort you to the first of two elevators. When you reach the ninth floor, you’ll have access to a second that takes you to an additional key card entry story to the Turret Penthouse’s private entrance.
I stood in the west wing. If that wasn’t enough to give me some serious Beauty and the Beast vibes, the covered terrace leading to the suite is something out of a fairy tale, complete with faux wisteria and plenty of seating (often used for gatherings like wedding or shower).
Once inside, you’re met with a serious ‘Sleep No More’ ambiance – dark colors that ooze early 20th century decadence. There’s a little intrigue to it all, from the mismatched rugs and furniture to the bright white one-and-a-half bathroom found on the ground floor in stark contrast to the rest of the dimly lit space.
If a terrace wasn’t enough, you can escape through a side door to an outdoor patio that offers views of the city and plenty of places in case you and a few friends care to raid the suite’s well-stocked minibar. There is also room service, with some fantastic small plate options for entertaining.
The two turret suites share the outdoor space, so when both rooms are occupied, a large wall of fake flowers is added to divide it in the middle and provide some privacy. The space can also be opened for weddings and other events if hosts reserve both suites.
The loft area on the second floor of the suite will also make your jaw drop. In addition to a large (and super comfortable) bed, there is a large TV, a freestanding bathtub (yes, I He did take a bubble bath) and the actual turret, from which hangs one of the grandest and brightest chandeliers I’ve ever seen.
Although the actual structure was built in the 1800s and is furnished to look like something out of the 1920s or 1930s, luxurious modern touches abound.
I loved the heated floor in the bathroom. Although the technology was seamlessly integrated with the aesthetics, some of it proved a little too much for me. Electric window shades were difficult to master at first; some light switches didn’t seem to control anything; The downstairs TV’s Chromecast wouldn’t connect; and at one point, the room speakers started playing music that took me 10 minutes to turn off.
However, the absolutely sublime nature of the space, the efficiency of the staff, the taste of the room service items I ordered and the stunning terrace spaces left me feeling like an absolute princess. I also slept like a rock and had one of the best bubble baths ever the next morning. (I was even able to secure a late checkout at 1pm.)
What does this mean for my travel habits?
After staying in one of the Turret Penthouses, I admit I’d have trouble going back to the less elegant hotel rooms my budget allows.
Unfortunately, this suite at The Beekman cannot be booked on points, but other rooms and suites are available. In an exact check of December dates, we saw standard king and queen rooms for 29,000 points, a standard one-bedroom suite for 44,000 points, and a premium corner one-bedroom suite for 58,000 points. World of Hyatt’s highest level Elites, Globalists, are eligible for standard suite upgrades, subject to availability.
As much as I hate to admit it, I may have been drawn to the dark side and will likely start looking at another brag-worthy attitude, place to be determined.
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