
Are you planning a trip to New York City? If so, do you know where you are going to be staying?
As described below, it is essential to plan your trip in detail before leaving home. Otherwise, you run the risk of not achieving your stated aims for the trip.
COVID-19 and its impact on vacation and business travel
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has swept across the world, halting the global economy and leaving untold physical and mental health damage in its wake. Much has been written about its impact on the planet. Suffice to say, it is extremely contagious and spreads rapidly via person-to-person droplet and aerosol transmission.
Most states and countries in the world have instituted mask-wearing and social distancing measures to control the virus’s spread. Therefore, most tourist attractions will only accept visitors if they have pre-booked. And public transport will only be allowed to transport the maximum number of guests. Thus, it is not a good idea to arrive in NYC for business or vacation, hoping that you will get into the meeting places and tourist attractions. Everything must be pre-booked.
The three most prominentNYC boroughs
New York City consists of five boroughs, each with its tourist or business attractions. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated risks, it’s a good idea to stay close to the area where you have meetings if you are a business traveler. On the other hand, if you are taking a vacation, it’s important to stay close to the tourist attractions you wish to visit.
Note: While there is not necessarily any research-based evidence that taking public transport to your destination will increase the risk of contracting the coronavirus, it is reasonable to assume that it’s better to walk from your hotel to your business appointments or tourist attractions.
The three most prominent or well-known boroughs are Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Therefore, let’s consider one of the most unique hotels in each borough:
1. Brooklyn
Wikipedia.com notes that Brooklyn is New York City’s most populous borough and the most densely populated county in the whole of the New York state. 2020 statistics reported well over 2 million residents.
It was initially named after the Dutch village of Breukelen by the first European settlers who founded the original settlement in the seventeenth century.
Brooklyn shares a land boundary with two other boroughs, Queens and Long Island. And there are several bridge and tunnel connections across the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Finally, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge joins Brooklyn and Staten Island together.
The top hotel situated in the Brooklyn borough is the Condor Hotel. It is located in Franklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, and is close to tourist attractions found in the Williamsburg district and the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Condor is a boutique hotel. And it includes free high-speed Internet, free continental breakfast every morning, and all rooms or suites have a kitchenette and direct access to a beautiful garden.
2. Manhattan
Manhattan is known as NYC’s business district. It is the most densely populated NY borough. It is the city’s “economic and administrative center, cultural identifier, and historical birthplace.”
Manhattan is also described as the world’s financial center. The United Nations headquarters and Wall Street are located here. Manhattan is also host to global landmarks such as The Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Central Park, and Brooklyn Bridge.
Consequently, Manhattan is an ideal place to stay should you wish to visit NYC’s business district. One of the most iconic hotels that are worth a visit is the Plaza Hotel. It is situated on the southeastern corner of Central Park. It was designated as an NYC official landmark in 1969. Currently, it is the only hotel with this designation.
3. Queens
Queens is the largest borough in NYC. It is situated next to Brooklyn, at the western end of Long Island. It also shares borders with Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx.
Queens’ diversity is its main attraction: over 47% of the borough’s residents are foreign-born. Therefore, there are many cultural institutions such as the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, John Bowne House, the New York Hall of Science, and the Museum of the Moving Image.
The local cuisine also reflects Queens’ multicultural heritage. Therefore, a hotel in Queens is the best place to stay should you wish to explore the borough’s cultural diversity. At the last count, Queens has over 100 hotels to choose from. The Paper Factory Hotel is housed within a century-old paper factory. Consequently, the décor is based on an industrial theme, with recycled wood frames, polished concrete floors, huge windows, and polished concrete floors.
The interior design is an eclectic mix of imported and vintage furnishing and a large variety of original art from local artists. The hotel has 123 loft-style rooms with twelve-foot ceilings, oversize windows, luxurious bedding, flat-screen televisions, free WIFI, and local and international calls.