W UNION SQUARE

Opening onto the corner of 17th St and Park Avenue South, the W in Union Square is as central as they come. Sure, the W gets a bad rep for over-the-top gimmicks like the “Living Room” concept lobbies, and signature scented hallways, and alliterative “Whatever/Whenever” bullcrap. However! This is a very cool lobby. Walk straight past the front desk, and ascend the twisting staircase. You won’t find much except the bathrooms, but it’s a fun climb. Alternatively, upon entering, head right into a naturally-lit lounge full of chairs, sofas, and extremely unwieldy floral displays (see above). If you’re hungry, check out Olives located on the south side of the block.

Rating:

(4 out of 5)

Aloft Hotels: The Trendiest up-and-coming hotel chain around

If you love the trendy, minimalistic, modern, and high class of W Hotels but are on a budget, Aloft hotels are the answer. A segment of W Hotels, this chain is reasonably priced, dog friendly, and trendy as can be. The minimalistic architecture and interior design are not only pleasing to the eye, but a refreshing outlook on the idea of how hotels should look and be. The staff is friendly and greets everyone who enters with “Aloha!” this hang loose attitude and modern ideas of hotel appearance stand out amongst the competition.

*The only thing that I can say negative about Aloft, is that they only have showers, no bathtubs. Which could potentially pose a problem if traveling with small children.

Check out their website: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/index.html

Locations (North America):

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/directory/hotels/north-america/list.html?sortType=date

Photo cred:

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