The StayPineapple Hotel in New York City is nothing short of mind-blowing and has officially become my go-to hotel when staying in the Big Apple.
As most of you know, New York City has never been short on hotels, but great hotels, well that’s another story. Sure you can find the five star hotels or the skyscraper hotels with the high-rise views, but what most of them lack is charm, quirkiness and friendly services.
I decided weeks ago that I wanted to spend my birthday in New York and immediately started hunting for places to stay. I’ve been to the city countless times and stayed at some beautiful properties, but I am mostly drawn to boutique hotels. I find they tend to be more secluded (aka not swarming with annoying tourists) and are a little more thoughtful when it comes to their design.
I’m also bored with the outdated, run-of-the-mill furniture that we’ve all grown accustomed to seeing in the more established properties. I get a little obsessive when planning vacations and can spend hours looking at photos and reviews. I spotted StayPineapple while scrolling through travel search engines and let me tell you, it stopped me in my track. I’m an island gyal at my core, so anytime I see pineapples, the little girl in me emerges.
The StayPineapple Hotel Review: What Sets It Apart
Firstly, there is nothing typical about this hotel. It has personality. And lots of it. Starting with its name. It definitely stands out from the pack.
The hotel, which is located in Midtown at 337 W 36th Street, is an art lover’s dream. Its signature yellow colour is easy to spot from its entryway straight down to the bathroom toilet paper. More on that later.
The foyer is vibrant, warm and welcoming. It gave off tropical vibes, but not the cheesy kind you’d find at some Caribbean hotels. It was tasteful. I knew this place was special the minute I walked through the front door. The best part is, it looked exactly like the photos online. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve been catfished by hotels that look nothing like their website photos.
I appreciated the fact that I was the only guest in the hotel when I arrived. No sign of pesky tourists. The front desk worker, Janens, was a dream. She was beyond welcoming and attentive. She truly made me feel like I was coming home. Not only that, she upgraded my room free of charge. Talk about a great birthday present.
Before heading upstairs to my room, I nibbled on some complimentary sugar cookies in the lobby area, which were – you guessed it – in the shape of a pineapple. There was also pineapple-infused water for guests to hydrate. A much-needed treat in the hot city.
My StayPineapple Room Was Perfect For Me
In New York, real estate is expensive and space is sacred. So, I didn’t have any unrealistic expectations about having a large room. I’m petite, so I actually prefer my hotel rooms to be on the smaller side. That makes them feel more cosy.
The room was beautiful. The king size bed was beautifully made with double blankets in case you don’t want to share with your companion. As an admitted bed and blanket hog, I find that to be absolutely genius.
The room is designed to make the most of the small space. There was a rack underneath the bed for luggage, and the built in nightstand also doubled as a writing table. Clever.
What I especially loved is how everything fit the StayPineapple theme, from pineapple mugs to StayPineapple-themed robes (which you can buy). Even the toilet paper resembled a pineapple with yellow and green paper coverings. It was totally adorable.
I also appreciated all of the little cheeky statements throughout the room. One of the pillows was embroidered with the words, “sleep with me.” That made me chuckle.
The bathroom was small, but again, it was perfect for me. They made the most of the space. I especially loved the multicoloured glass basin. It was definitely the showstopper in the bathroom. I have never been at a hotel that made me so excited to stay there. You can tell that StayPineapple was focused on providing a great experience.
The Technology At StayPineapple Was Fun
Hey Pineapple, how to get to SOHO? If you’re used to talking to helpful gadgets and having them talk back, you’ll love StayPineapple. The hotel features Pineapple, its very own virtual assistant, much like Amazon’s Alexa.
It was quite helpful in giving me information in the city as well as texting me directions to places I wanted to visit. How cool.
I Enjoyed The StayPineapple Freebies
As I mentioned earlier, the front desk clerk upgraded my room free of charge. That meant a lot to me because it gave me different amenities.
Not only that, StayPineapple gave me a $10 daily credit that I could use to purchase snacks in the lobby. That was a surprise, because I didn’t read that anywhere in the reviews I saw online. They had tons of great, tasty snacks to choose from, like iced coffee drinks and Kind bars. I was in Heaven.
They also offered water when you needed it, eliminating the need to buy costly water at nearby convenience stores.
The Customer Service Was The Best Part Of My Visit
While I was completely blown away by the beauty of this boutique hotel and loved that the location was close to most places I wanted to visit, I have to say the customer service was the best part.
I am big on hospitality. I like to feel like companies appreciate me as a customer and value my feelings. StayPineapple just gets it.
Every single one of the workers I encountered was so patient, kind, knowledgeable and friendly. I didn’t feel like a customer. I felt like family, or at the very least a longtime friend.
I was so impressed with this hotel, that I plan on staying here when I travel to other cities. It was that good. They clearly take hospitality seriously.
I can’t wait for my next trip!
XOXO,
This Bahamian Gyal
