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Why you should stay at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City

It's not just because of the breathtaking views.

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Oriental Suite living room. Photo courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental New York.

As Khaleejis we love to travel and explore different countries, and the numbers are proving that. The latest report from the World Tourism Organization and the European Travel Commission published in 2018 shows that international tourism spending by people from the Arab Gulf States was six and a half times higher than the global average in 2017. This means that more and more properties around the world are catering to the Khaleeji traveller.

New York City is one of our favourite cities to visit when travelling to the United States. Direct flights from the region make it even more appealing to regional travellers.

One luxury property in New York City claims that it is a perfect fit for travellers from the region, and we’ve had our travel team comprised of Khaleeji travellers stay there to ensure that it gets our stamp of approval.

Here are four reasons why we think the Mandarin Oriental in New York City is the place to be when you’re visiting the Big Apple:

1. Location, location, location

The hotel is located in the north tower of the Time Warner Center. Photo courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental New York.

New York City is one of those places better explored on foot. The hotel’s location in the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle, just across the street from Central Park and a short walking distance to the shops on Fifth Avenue and the bustling Times Square, means that you don’t need to hail a yellow cab to reach many of the city’s main attractions. The weather this month also makes it ideal to explore the city on foot.

On the ground floor of the north tower where the hotel is located is a small shopping centre called The Shops at Columbus Circle that is internally connected to the hotel, and which houses a Whole Foods Market, an Amazon bookstore, as well as a selection of cafes , boutiques and retail shops. The Whole Foods Market is great to pick up some fresh organic fruits, salad, or sushi on the go. It’s especially convenient if you’re travelling with children and need to purchase some milk, or other necessities. There’s also a subway station just outside, and cabs are parked outside the hotel, so you wouldn’t need to worry if you’re running late. Central Park is a 2-minute walk across the street, perfect for a morning jog, or an afternoon stroll with family.

2. A perfect combo of luxurious rooms and breathtaking views

View from the hotel. Rooms and suites are located on floors 36 to 54. Photo courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental New York.

The hotel lobby is located on the 35th floor, and the rooms are on the upper floors of the property, with the highest rooms resting on the 54th floor. This means one thing: great views. We booked Premier Central Park View Rooms on the 38th floor that feature almost uninterrupted floor-to-ceiling views of Central Park and the city’s skyline. The room has a modern, luxurious feel to it, with separate shower, bathtub and toilet facilities. The beds are definitely one of our favourites and are perfect to sink into after a long day of exploring. The bathrooms are also generously sized for a hotel in New York.

The pool at New York’s Mandarin Oriental. Photo courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental New York.

The hotel boasts an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and spa facilities. The VIP spa suite has a fireplace and a private steam and shower. The pool sports panoramic views, with the city’s skyline as its backdrop. So, make sure to schedule some time to try it.

Premier Central Park View Room. Photo courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental New York.

3. It’s packed with Khaleejis’ necessary amenities

Select hotel suites’ bathrooms offer bidets, while all rooms offer hose bidets on request, an essential bathroom feature to many Khaleejis, and one that makes them favour certain properties over others. Prayer mats, copies of the Holy Quran, Mecca direction pointers, as well a printed prayer time schedule are prepared on request and ready upon the travellers’ arrival. In addition, the hotel can prepare a majlis set up for guests in their suites, a feature that a large group of travellers would appreciate. If you are travelling to New York during the Holy month of Ramadan, the hotel sets up designated prayer rooms for guests and staff, along with a special menu for iftar. The food menus in general can also be customized in accordance to a guest’s food preferences, and halal options can be made available upon request.

The Presidential Suite bathroom. Photo courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental New York.

4. You don’t need to leave the property to have delicious food

We love food, and it’s not often that you find a hotel property where everything from their breakfast menu to their coffees are mouth-watering. The Mandarin Oriental hotels are known for their tasty menus. We’ve tried their properties across the world and confirmed this.  

Asiate is a restaurant with a modern American cuisine and panoramic views of the city’s skyline. Photo courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental New York.

Breakfast can be ordered at the room and served straight at your bed. We opted to head downstairs though, to the 35th floor, and had our breakfast at Asiate, a restaurant with a modern American cuisine, and which offers panoramic views of the city. Our recommended dishes are their french toast and catskill smoked salmon benedict.  The soy latte which we had at Asiate had to be our favourite in the Big Apple. We couldn’t resist having another one of their soy lattes, and grabbed one last cup of coffee before we headed to the airport. Weeks later, our team members are still raving about it.

Would we come back? Definitely, but this time we’ll book our stay for a week or more to thoroughly enjoy the hotel’s facilities. Book your stay here today.

This article is sponsored by Mandarin Oriental New York.