Last Updated on March 14, 2014
Welcome to our Hotel Tip of The Week series. Being on the road every day of the year means we stay in countless hotels, and at over 500 days as nomads, we have stayed some of the best (and worst) accommodation the world has to offer. We cover everything from budget to luxury accommodation, and believe that any hotel worth recommending must be comfortable and clean, offer good value for money and treat people as guests, not clients. We have personally stayed in every hotel we recommend to you here on Globetrottergirls.com.
With our feet up and a glass of wine in our hotel room after a long New York City day, Dani and I spotted the flashing lights from the world famous Broadway & 7th reflecting in the windows of surrounding skyscrapers and were pleased at the feeling of being in the center of it all. We loved so many aspects of the Times Square hotel, but staying at Hotel Casablanca is truly all about the location.
This Moroccan-themed hotel was the third of four HK Hotels we stayed in while in New York City, and as with all hotels in this boutique hotel group, the attention to detail and customer service are par excellence. Although we were just steps from the heart of New York, the African feeling feeling inside stretched from the rooms through the spacious sitting room and lounge: dark, rich brown and orange colors mingle with bronze lion statues, peacock feathers, exotic potted plants and beautiful tiles decorating ornate columns.
The second floor lounge is where the lavish daily continental breakfast and nightly three-hour champagne evening reception are held, plus nibbles, coffee and tea are available here 24 hours a day. This excellent service is offered across all four HKHotels, but there was one further detail that really impressed us: the coffee bar. It was a sweltering 90 degrees during our time in New York, and the hotel had step-by-step directions for do-it-yourself iced coffee available, including large plastic takeaway cups and plenty of ice to keep us caffeinated, even in the heat. All of this – the breakfast, the evening reception and the takeaway coffees, is included in the price, as is the high speed wi-fi.
The rooms themselves are not large, which is not surprising considering the central Manhattan location, but between the comfortable beds, iPod docks, large flat screen TVs with DVD players and DVD library at the reception and a large bathroom, we felt more than at home.
Stand Out Feature: Location, location, location
Hotel Casablanca is located around the corner from Times Square and within walking distance to the Empire State Building, the theater district on Broadway and of course countless restaurants, bars and things to do in New York City. In fact, book now for New Year’s Eve 2012 (this year is already nearly booked, but there are more neat hotels in NYC to choose from), and watch the fireworks and the ball drop from the comfort of Hotel Casablanca’s roof!
Room for Improvement: Air Conditioning
As most older buildings in Manhattan, Casablanca has window air conditioning units rather than central air conditioning, and these machines were too loud for us to leave on and comfortably watch TV. Luckily it had cooled off quite a bit in the evenings, but this could have been frustrating for us. For those who are less noise sensitive, this may not have mattered at all.
Overall
Hotel Casablanca is an oasis of calm in the heart of New York City, especially if you are in town for a Broadway show or just looking to dive right in to the hustle and bustle of Times Square.
Location: 147 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036
Price: Starting at $224 per night
LGBT Friendly: yes
Digital Nomad Friendly: Yes
Amenities:DVD players in every room & DVD library, free wi-fi, complimentary wine & cheese in the afternoon, breakfast included, free gym passes, 24 hours complimentary snacks & coffee, gratis newspapers.
Website: http://www.casablancahotel.com
Like this hotel? Book it here.
Although we received complimentary accommodation, the opinions expressed here are strictly our own.
Stephanie - The Travel Chica
Thursday 10th of November 2011
You had me at "welcome bottle of wine."
Dani
Thursday 10th of November 2011
Haha, thank you ;-) The complimentary wine (& champagne!) and cheese reception, the free breakfast and the 24hour snacks (also free!) alone are so worth staying at that hotel! And you're only a 30 seconds walk from Times Square - amazing value for money!