This was our first trip to NYC as a family and we wanted everything to be perfect. Thanks to our choice of hotels, the Conrad Midtown Manhattan, it was.

The Conrad Midtown is a very sophisticated, modern, and welcoming hotel.

Location, location, location!!!!!!!

The staff are very professional while still maintaining a very high degree of friendliness. They certainly exceeded our expectations. At times there are more staff in the lobby than there are quests. You will have no problem finding someone to assist you.

The rooms are modern, well appointed, comfortable, and with amazing views if you book a two bedroom suite like we did on the 51st floor. It was often hard to choose between our Central Park view or our city view from our suite. I would highly recommend booking a higher floor suite. I’m not sure of the views from the rooms on the lower floors on the front side of the building, but I’m assuming you may not see much more than the building across W 54th. You’re in NYC! Why not wake up each morning to view its majesty!

Dabble is the restaurant at the Conrad. We only had drinks one evening, but found it welcoming and comfortable. Just like the Conrad, Dabble is well staffed with very professional people who will make sure you are well cared for.

Bottom line. While this is not your “typical” Conrad, no lounge, it still maintains and often exceeds the Conrad standards. After all, who goes to NYC to hang out in a lounge with other hotel guests talking about their day? Save that for your next cruise. This is a great hotel, with great rooms, amazing staff, and in a location that is second to none.

The Conrad does not live up to its aspirations as a luxury hotel. Upon arrival, the check in line was about 15 people deep. Only three front desk staff checking people in, resulting in a wait of around 15 - 20 minutes to check in. No separate HHonors Gold or Diamond line either. The Diamond benefits were lacking throughout. While I don't expect an upgrade to the penthouse suite or anything, I was assigned one of the most basic rooms in the category I booked. One of the lowest floors, looking into the window of the building across the street, not even a corner room or anything. Not the type of room I would have thought they would have assigned for HHonors Diamond. Pretty much the opposite of an upgrade. While breakfasts at Conrads are supposed to be "free" for HHonors Diamond, here, you get a $30 pp/pd credit. Sounds like a lot, until you see the breakfast buffet is about $40/person, standard entrees around $30, plus juice and coffee, so still about $40. With tax and tip, still end up out of pocket over $30/couple for the "free" breakfast. Willing to pay this anyway, we went down for breakfast.....and were greeted by a 30 - 45 minute wait. Frustrated, we checked out and got breakfast sandwiches at the Dunkin Donuts across the street. To their credit, the desk agent at check out asked about the stay, I did provide the above feedback, resulting in a 10,000 point HHonors credit. Still, at a property where the cheapest rooms are 95,000 pts or ~$400/nt or more, that was maybe a 10% credit and underwhelming. The Conrad aspires to be a luxury level hotel, and barely delivered cafeteria level service.