Why The Greenwich Hotel Should Be High On Your List For Your Next NYC Visit

Last weekend I was lucky enough to stay at the Greenwich hotel in NYC, and I was absolutely blown away.  This boutique hotel truly makes you feel like you have an apartment in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in NYC (Tribeca).  There are many reasons to stay here for your next NYC getaway, and I have listed out my favorite ones below.   Shameless plug before you read on, Nick Running Travel clients get $50 daily towards breakfast, room upgrades if available and $100 in Spa credit to forget about the busy city around you.

Pool built under a Japanese style house

You Feel Like a Local

Many of the popular NYC hotel spots are PACKED with tourists, but not here.  The Greenwich is located in the Tribeca neighborhood, the most expensive housing market in NYC for 2018.  This area is full of cobblestone streets, amazing local restaurants and not a tourist in sight.  You are able to explore the sights during the day, but still return to a relaxing neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle in the evening.

The Drawing Room

The Drawing Room

My favorite part of the hotel was the Drawing Room.  The Drawing room is a lounge/bar/restaurant that is for hotel guests only.  I hate that at many high end hotels the restaurants and bar areas can become packed with locals or those staying at other places nearby, so this was a great solution.  The Drawing even serves hotel guests food from the amazing and hard to get into Italian restaurant next door, Locanda Verde.

Perfect For 2nd or 3rd  time NYC Travelers

By now you have seen everything there is to see in Midtown, gone to a play, eaten at the famous Michelin Stared restaurants and are looking for something a little different.Staying at the Greenwich means you can walk to amazing locals restaurants, visit the high line or art galleries in Chelsea or explore West, Greenwich Village and Soho on foot.This is the perfect spot to explore a little deeper into the NYC you already know.

Site Visit of Two Wailea Hotels

I was lucky enough to spend four days in Maui at the beginning of May, which allowed me to get in depth looks at two different hotels.  We stayed at the Andaz Maui, and did a site visit and dinner at the Four Seasons Maui just down the road.  Make sure you read below for my recommendations for each, as these hotels will be attractive to different clients depending on preferences.

Andaz Maui

Beautiful entrace to the Andaz

View from the Ocean-view Room 

The Andaz has a beautiful entrance with water on both sides and views of the Pacific Ocean and palm trees in the distance through the lobby.  This hotel like most other Andaz’s are more minimalist in their design.  I definitely wouldn’t call the decorations warm and welcoming, but more functional and modern.  There are 3 levels of infinity pools all with seating and pool side service and I must say the views from these pools are spectacular!  You can swim up to the edge, look down on the pool below and the ocean in the distance.  The resort has slightly less than 300 rooms including the separate villas, which I didn’t get to see as they were fully booked.   You can definitely tell this is a smaller and more relaxed property compared to many on this stretch of coast and is great for people wanting to escape the crowds.

I was able to look at two rooms, an Ocean View King and, our room, the Deluxe Ocean View Suite.  Non-suite rooms are pretty small, approx. 380-400 SF. The ocean view from the room had a great vantage of the water, but I couldn’t help feeling a little cramped by the size of the room.  I would definitely recommend these rooms to people who planned on spending most of their time at the pool or out and about. The Deluxe Suite was the closest room possible to the ocean and had expansive views of the ocean and the west side of Maui.  The bathroom was very large and well done. Overall I would definitely recommend the suite level rooms for most clients, it has much more space and the bathroom and closet area was almost twice the size.

Bathroom of the Deluxe Suite

View from the Deluxe Suite

Recommend Andaz For: Younger couples and groups, Those who like modern design, Want a less busy property.

As a Hyatt preferred partner clients of Nick Running Travel get room upgrades, free breakfast for 2 daily, $100 property credit and more.

Four Seasons Maui

Adults only pool at the Four Seasons 

Living room of the Ocean View Suite 

The Four Seasons is Maui’s grand dame hotel. It’s strikingly bigger than the Andaz and also much more grand.  The décor is very warm, welcoming and a stark contrast from the minimalist and modern vibe of the Andaz.  The Four Seasons only has approximately 100 more rooms and suits than the Andaz but is much busier.  This hotel definitely brings in people who are not guests for drinks and dinner.  This is the place to be seen and people watch.  For those who prefer to escape but prefer the Four Seasons, I was able to take a look at the 8th floor club lounge which is exclusive to the rooms on that floor.  This was definitely quiet during my visit and a great place to have a complementary drink and read a book on the deck overlooking the ocean.  Another selling point for the Four Seasons is the amazing kids for all seasons program. This makes the Four Seasons perfect for families, and the best part is its all included in the room rate, no resort fees!

During my visit I inspected a Partial Ocean View room and a Prime Oceanview Suite. The non-suite rooms here are huge at over 600 SF, with large bathrooms and decks.  The Four Seasons recently went through a refurbishment and I have to say, I love the décor of the rooms.  The Four Seasons would definitely be my recommendation for those who plan on just staying in non-suite rooms. The Prime Ocean View Suite was spectacular with two full size separate rooms and balcony’s (including 2 different entrances).  The living area also has a pull out couch for those with kids so that parents have a separate sleeping space. Overall the two rooms I looked at were beautiful and definitely deserving of the higher price tag that the Four Seasons requires.

Deck off the garden view room

Bedroom of the Ocean View Suite

Recommend Four Seasons for: Families with children, Clients who want the best, People who enjoy being at the “hot” place.

As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner clients of Nick Running Travel get access to special perks that can’t be found anywhere else.  We aren’t allowed to share these publicly but reach out to us via email and we can share the specific amenities for this property.

Top 5 Weekend Getaways From The Bay Area

We all know how it is, you are super behind with work and the last thing you can do is take 2 weeks off for vacation.  However, you need some way to relax and recharge.  The perfect solution is a weekend getaway!  These are my favorite places to relax and unwind within a 2 hour drive from the Bay Area.

Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay

Just 30-45 minutes from many places in the Bay Area, this resort sits right above the Pacific Ocean.  The resort offers an array of recreational activities that blend the elements of a seaside resort with lavish five-star accommodations, including making s'mores on your guestroom's terrace fire pit, exploring miles of ocean-side trails and golfing on two world-class courses. Be sure to grab a seat around the wood-burning fire pits at sunset to watch the lone bagpiper stroll down the bluff.  By booking with Nick Running Travel clients receive the following:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily full breakfast for two
• $100 Spa credit
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Carneros Resort and Spa

Carneros Resort and Spa, only an hour from San Francisco sits almost directly between the Napa and Sonoma wine regions making it the perfect weekend getaway for those who want to visit both areas. It is surrounded by 28 acres of grapevines, fruit trees and picturesque farmland.  Cottages have various amenities including fireplaces, indoor-outdoor showers, individual hot tubs and French doors leading to landscaped gardens.  By booking with Nick Running Travel clients receive the following:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily full American breakfast for two at Hilltop Dining Room
• A $100  Spa credit
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Meadowood Napa Valley

For those who want to concentrate on Napa valley, Meadowood sits just outside St. Helena and offers a very central location for exploring all the valley’s wineries.  Meadowood boasts a three Michelin star restaurant, and lots of activities onsite including a 9 hole golf course, tennis, swimming, hiking and croquet.  Most cottages have fireplaces and terraces and many rooms are unique.  By booking with Nick Running Travel clients receive the following:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• $50.00 daily credit towards breakfast in The Grill or via room service
• $100 Spa credit
• Welcome amenity of a box of handcrafted Napa Valley Chocolates
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Carmel Valley Ranch

Located about 10 miles inland, this gated private resort spans 500 acres of vineyards, lavender fields, scenic foothills and an 18 hole Pete Dye golf course.  Carmel Valley Ranch features miles of hiking trails, tennis courts, yoga classes, multiple pools and evening s’mores. Of all the locations mentioned this is where you should go if your idea of relaxation and rejuvenation means getting active or outdoors.  By booking with Nick Running Travel clients receive the following:

• Upgrade at time of booking, subject to availability
• Daily full breakfast for two
• One $100 hotel resort credit
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Rosewood CordeValle

Just 20 minutes south of San Jose, Rosewood CordeValle is a quiet oasis from the busy hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley.  Situated on a private country club in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains this resort is the perfect place to relax and unwind.  Golfers will enjoy the 18 hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr course that has previously hosted LPGA tour events.  Rosewood CordeValle was rated by Conde Nast readers choice awards as the #1 resort in California and #40 in the world in 2017. As a Rosewood Elite Member, clients of Nick Running Travel receive the following amenities:

• VIP Recognition
• Upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability
• Special on-property staff dedicated to you as an Elite client
• Top-of-waitlist in high demand periods like holidays
• Elite Price Assurance: If a special offer is developed after a reservation confirmation is generated for an Elite agent’s client, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will extend better value upon request up until 24 hours prior to guest arrival.

10 Reasons you NEED a Travel Adviser

Today I'm proud to officially kick off Nick Running Travel, however many of you may be wondering why you would even need a travel adviser / agent in the first place...   While booking a trip yourself seems freeing and exciting, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. There are nearly 400 MILLION results when you google “hotel in Paris.”  Who has time to sift through the results, find properties within your budget, figure out which ones are in the prime location, and then check for availability? Add researching restaurants, scheduling guides, and arranging transfers, and you might as well make planning travel your full time job. Here are 10 perks you can expect with Nick Running Travel.

1. Insider Access
Nick Running Travel has preferred supplier relations to make sure your experience is special.  No more waiting in lines, we can arrange private experiences that allow you to make the most of your precious vacation time.

2. Complementary Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Start your day right! When you book with Nick Running Travel, you get complimentary breakfast at more than 1000 hotels and resorts around the world. 

Free Breakfast provided by kivotos hotel in mykonos

3. Hotel Credit
Another perk that we receive at our partner hotels is $100 (or equivalent in foreign currency) hotel credit for food and beverage or spa.  These credits are available at the same hotel rate that can be found online.  Why would you turn down $100?

4. Upgrades
Who doesn't love upgrades!!?!  Our partner hotels confirm upgrades at the time of booking or upon arrival at the hotel.  Don't get stuck with a room that faces the parking lot or loading dock, with Nick Running Travel that room could turn into an Ocean View!

Upgraded ocean front room at Four Seasons Punta Mita.

5. Special Occasions
Nick Running Travel works with hotels in advance for all your special occasions.  Anniversary, Honeymoon, Birthdays..... we make sure the hotel is prepared in advance and knows all the details they need to make the stay special.  You could try doing this on your own, but we have personal contacts with many hotels who want to make sure our clients keep coming back.

Surprise procecco and cake awaiting in our room upon check-in at the Four Seasons Florence.  Happy Honeymoon!

6. Free experiences
Many of our hotel partners offer complimentary experiences to our clients, like a martini class, museum tickets, bicycle tour, or picnic in a park. Just a little something to make a trip even better!

7. VIP Status
You won’t be just any reservation when you book with Nick Running Travel. We make sure our partners know who you are and are aware of your unique preferences. You’ll feel like a VIP — just don’t blame us when you can't go back to booking on your own.

Private 5 course cooking lesson with the head chef in Florence.

8. Authentic Experiences
Would you rather see a destination as a tourist or experience it like a local? Our on-the-ground partners aren’t just familiar with a destination. They live, eat, and breathe it. They know the markets where the locals go and can guide you through it. They can arrange for you to visit a local home or learn a craft from an artisan.

9.Airfare
Your vacation starts when you walk down the Jetway!  Nick Running Travel has access to discounted first and business class airfare, so you can beat jet-lag with lay flat beds while enjoying premium wine and food.  Best of all, no matter what class of service, we tie in your airfare with your other reservations so once you hit the ground everything is seamless.

10. Peace of Mind
We’ve all read the travel horror stories. Someone getting booked in a creepy hotel, being turned away at security because your passport expires in two months, costly trip disruptions beyond the traveler’s control, and so on. There’s no need to worry your vacation will be a newspaper headline when you book with Nick Running Travel. We know that your hotel is safe and clean. Your tour guide has been vetted and verified by our trusted partners. And if anything does happen, we are your advocate and only a call away to get the issue sorted out quickly and efficiently.

Enjoy drinks by the pool stress free!