Every now and then, my tween and I take time out and head to NYC, a mere 15 miles away from where we live, for a bit of city life. A former urbanite and a Broadway junkie, I often crave the city and there is nothing more fun than experiencing a night in a hotel with my 12 year-old daughter. It gives us a chance to absorb a bit of culture, eat good food and literally take time out, away from our daily routines.
Our recent jaunt to the city included a stay at The Muse, A Kimpton Hotel, and it was pretty much perfection. The hotel is centrally located, just a block from the best shows on Broadway and Times Square. We took the train to Grand Central and just strolled a few blocks to get there, stopping for a quick bite at one of our favorite restaurants, Xian, for some of the best and cheapest Chinese food in the city.
We have had very good experiences with Kimpton Hotels, so we had nothing but good expectations about our visit. The Muse was bound to be nothing short of what we had experienced, having had stayed in Kimpton Hotels in Virginia, California and other American cities. The hotels always have a modern flare and amenities that make travel a little bit easier, ones that appeal to kids.
The Muse Welcome
Sure enough, when we walked into The Muse, they were preparing hot chocolate and wine for guests, available daily from 5-6pm. We were smitten with our hotel room, one of 181 guest rooms and 19 suites.The guest rooms are stylish, with bold pop art decorative pillows and silvery blue walls. They match the modern, upbeat spirit of NYC. We had a king-sized bed in a suite with a sitting room, Wifi access, a lovely bathroom with a rainwater shower head and pop-up reading lights. As a member of Kimpton’s member loyalty program, we had complimentary Wifi.
A Family-Friendly Hotel
The Muse just introduced two new programs to cater to its youngest guests. The 2-night Inner Artist Package, an exclusive partnership with The Children’s Museum, offers museum admission for a family of four, private art lesson, and a kid-friendly clay set as an in-room amenity for kids to unleash their inner Basquiat or Picasso. The “Mini Muse” amenity program accommodates kids with complimentary morning chocolate milk, nightly juice of sparkling cider, kid-sized animal print robes and an organized Scavenger Hunt!
Our Night on the Town
Our list of things to do was a mile long, but we managed to narrow it down. There’s so much to do right outside the hotel. We started our evening at Junior’s for a slice of real NYC cheesecake and then went shopping at the Disney store and Forever 21 (stores stay open REALLY late in Times Square). Then we ended up backstage at Hamilton, a show we’ve seen and loved, and met a few members of the cast. It was truly a great night, despite the fact that it was the coldest night of the year!
The bottom line: The Muse is a great getaway for families. We loved enjoying NYC but we also loved hanging out in the room, which was comfortable and cozy with great appeal to a tween. The hotel staff was extremely helpful, the amenities were top notch and it’s a considered a value compared to other accommodations.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay at The Muse to facilitate this review and others, but all opinion are my own.
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