If price were the sole criterion, just about every hotel in New York would fall into the luxury category. But most truly high-end Manhattan accommodations, defined here as those offering a luxurious ambience and posh amenities, have a lot more to offer than just high prices.
The 188-room Kimberly Hotel in the heart of midtown, for example, a European-style hotel that just completed a $12 million renovation, is one that seeks to not only pamper guests but also make them feel like insiders.
The hotel has always had a cachet because of its 3,000-square-foot, rooftop bar, which boasts a glass, retractable ceiling; heated floors; and 360-degree views of the city. Now guests can zip up to the bar, called simply Upstairs, in an express elevator from the newly redesigned lobby.
The property also revamped its 158 one- and two-bedroom suites and 30 guestrooms with new configurations, furnishings and bathrooms. All suites and guestrooms feature ICE Touch screen systems, where tech-savvy guests can check their flights, order room service and check out.
Also new is a 632-square-foot fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment and expanded meetings space.
The next phase of the renovation, which is already under way, will be the opening of the on-site Italian restaurant on the lobby level called -- you guessed it -- Downstairs, set to open in September.
To complete the insider experience, guests receive free access to the New York Health & Racquet Club and a free cruise on board the Kimberly Hotel's private 75-foot yacht, which plies the Hudson River weekly in season.
Expect to pay from about $369 to $1,650 for a suite.