New York hotels to match your personality, pursuits

By Samantha Chapnick

Staying at a New York hotel tailored to your taste makes your journey far easier and more enjoyable. It offers the chance to meet like-minded visitors and locals, and find insider information not available at other spots. Here are my favorites:

Bibliophile

Library Hotel
• Adjacent to the main branch of the New York Public Library (the one with those gorgeous lions Patience & Fortitude outside) and Bryant Park (where many literary events take place all summer).
• Rooms organized by the Dewey decimal system by interest.
• Each room has 25-50 books relevant to that room’s theme.

Museum Maven

Hotel Wales
• You can’t get any closer to Museum Mile than the Hotel Wales.
• Rooftop terrace with gorgeous views of Central Park and the museums
• Complimentary breakfast to fuel your day of art
• A commitment to staying current with Museum Mile exhibits

Theater Maniac

Marriott Marquis
• You can’t get any closer to Broadway than this.
• A show in and of itself with NYC’s only revolving rooftop restaurant and a really glitzy gestalt.
• Very knowledgeable and connected concierge can get you tickets or restaurant reservations when few others can.

Sports Addicts

Biker Babe or Boy
Hotel Gansevoort
•Steps from the Hudson River Bike Path
•A rooftop pool to chill tired legs
•Offers Puma bicycles and helmets
•10 blocks from my favorite bike rental and repair shop with a wide variety of bikes to rent including tandems, Townies, and kid’s bikes. Hub Station, 73 Morton Street (between Hudson and Greenwich Streets) 1-212-965-9334.

Runners:
Roger Smith Hotel
• Innovative running packages including a full paid entry fee for a scored New York Road Runners Race (the folks who do the marathon), T-shirt, breakfast and more.

Swimmers:
The Mandarin Oriental has every pool beat in the city with spectacular views of the Hudson and the city from its 36th floor vantage point, it's the way to go if you have $1,000 begging to be spent.

If you are more budget-conscious, however, here are my favorites:
Crowne Plaza Times Square
• No view but at 55 feet its one of the largest in the city.
• Attached to a New York Sports Club with full locker room facilities.

Le Parker Meridien
• Although the pool is a bit smaller there will be fewer crowds and the view of Central Park is spectacular.

Family Plan

Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square
• In a 250-square-foot average hotel room city, these large suites can accommodate the typical family comfortably.
• In the center of the city but with well insulated windows to keep out the noise.
• Big chain hotels are always better for absorbing the antics and activity of the younger set. • Those home baked cookies can’t be beat!

Pet Lover

Several hotels cater to pampered pooches. Assuming you can’t afford $1,000/night or more at the MandarinOriental, our pick is the The Helmsley Park Lane.
• Across the street from Central Park and its numerous pet-happiness spots.
• With rates starting at $250/night no one on Central Park can beat them.
• No fee for pets.
• How could you resist staying at a hotel whose owner left $12 million to her pet?

Total Tourist

Dylan Hotel
• Less than 10 blocks from the tourist biggies: Rockerfeller Center, The Empire State building, Times Square, and Fifth Avenue Shopping.
• One block from Grand Central Terminal: If you’re going to hit all the city’s hot spots in one visit you need to be close a subway hub that’ll get you everywhere else easily.
• Complimentary wireless Internet to Facebook and Twitter all your exploits
• Full fitness center — in case you aren’t exhausted yet from your exploits
• Very well priced for a fairly upscale boutique hotel

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