Affinia Dumont Hotel in Midtown Manhattan
I recently was offered a complimentary night at the Affinia Dumont Hotel located in the Murray Hill/Midtown East section of Manhattan. I have to admit that as a hotel nerd I was looking forward to finally checking out an Affinia Hotel. With locations throughout New York City, Chicago and Washington DC, this collection of boutique hotels have intrigued me for quite some time due to their often interesting themed package deal.
“Stay well. And stay sharp.” is the motto of this particular Affinia hotel due to the focus on fitness it portrays throughout the property. From the Oasis Day Spa on the second floor to the VIP Fitness Suite, chances are when you stay here you will be burning a few calories.
Living room in the VIP Fitness Suite
To my surprise I received the aforementioned VIP Fitness Suite located on the 26th floor. The staff at the front desk were extremely nice and helpful in explaining what the hotel had to offer as well as telling me of what is nearby (I don’t think they realized I lived only 30 minutes away).
Upon entering the suite, you walk right into the large living room space complete with a television (unfortunately not a flat-screen or HD), a comfy couch and love seat, a huge work desk and a spectacular view of the Chrysler Building.
Amazing view of the Chrysler Building from my living room window
Unfortunately there was no complimentary Wi-Fi available in my room, which really is a shame since customers staying in this particular room will be shelling out anywhere from $400 and up per night. I used my iPhone to check emails, make dinner plans and log onto my blog while away.
Kitchen in the Affinia Dumont Hotel
Who told them I was staying here?
The tiny kitchen surprisingly fit a lot of appliances into such a small space. You had a dishwasher, stove, refrigerator (stocked with beers) and plenty of counter space. If you were staying here for an extended stay this kitchen would definitely come in handy with stocking up on snacks and even to make a few lunches or dinner in order to save a little cash.
Bed at the Affinia Dumont
The bedroom was spacious and included a television as well (unfortunately another tube TV). The bed itself was extremely comfortable and came with enough pillows to make a fort (if you’re into that type of thing). Speaking of pillows, Affinia has a neat Dream Pillow Menu with six different styles of pillows to fit your needs. I chose the buckwheat window and Swedish memory pillow. While the buckwheat felt like nothing more than a bag of hay in a sheet, the Swedish memory pillow was pretty comfy.
This suite came with two bathrooms, which both were clean and came equipped with an abundance of towels and soaps. Other features in the suite included a safe, iron and ironing board and oh yeah…my own gym and sauna.
Personal Gym in the VIP Fitness Suite
Steam room at the Affinia Dumont's VIP Fitness Suite
Talk about convenience,when you book the VIP Fitness Suite, customers get their very own personal fitness center and steam room. While I am not one to work out (hey I’m lazy and love it), the equipment available here would make any gym rat happy. From weights to medicine balls to thread mills, you will definitely get a complete work out in this private gym. I did not check out the steam room, but it did look like a good time…if you’re into steam rooms that is.
Barking Dog restaurant at the Affinia Dumont Hotel
The hotel has an American style restaurant called the Barking Dog, which I did not have the pleasure of dining at on my visit. But I did check out their second floor Oasis Day Spa and received a pretty nice Swedish massage (also complimentary). Other things you need to know about the Affinia Dumont:
- Check-in time is 3pm and check-out time is 12pm.
- Room service is available from the Barking Dog restaurant from 7am-11pm.
- Valet parking is $45 per 24-hours and $55 for over-sized vehicles.
- If you’re willing to pay for internet, the charge is $13.95 per day.
- This is an all-suite hotel, so it ranges from studio suites to the VIP Fitness suite.
While I truly enjoyed my stay at the Affinia Dumont Hotel, I am hoping that they will soon adopt a complimentary in-room Wi-Fi policy sooner than later. As I wrote in a recent article right here on my blog, the biggest complaint and deterrent when it comes to booking a hotel room is being charged for internet access.
As I mentioned earlier, Affinia is known for coming up with fun, unique and interesting travel packages. Here are just a sampling of current promotions going on right now.
- Sex & the City “Carrie On” Package: Experience New York in Style
- Urban Oasis Spa Escape Package
About the hotel:
150 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212.481.7600 Fax: 212.889.8856
