Hotel The Pod

Situated on 51st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, The Pod is equidistant from Central and Bryant Parks, both within walking distance. Also a short stroll away is the following: the Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, MoMA, Grand Central Station and the shops of Fifth and Madison Avenues. There are several subway stations close to the hotel whose lines will take you uptown, downtown and to Brooklyn. JFK is 15 miles away, La Guardia 7 miles and Newark 17.

The hotel no longer has a restaurant, but for some of the year a light breakfast is served (see 'Food and Drink'). There are however several options in the same street as the hotel and many more within several blocks. You can ask the concierge for advice.

The hotel's lobby is split into two distinct areas. The first is the reception area, in the middle of which is a red and grey modular couch. Also in this half is a vending machine for drinks and the lift bank. On one wall is a colourful mural depicting a New York street scene, while the wall opposite features wood panelling. The reception desk is manned by a pleasant staff who will check you in quickly and explain all there is to know about the hotel (which, to be honest, isn't all that much!). Over in the other half of the room is a lounge area where guests can chill out waiting for their flight, surfing the complimentary wifi or using the innovative touch screen map on which they can explore the world and plan this or their next trip. there is plenty of comfortable seating, notably a long communal table with coloured, square stools and Arne Jacobsen egg armchairs. The concierge desk sits in between the two halves of the room and information is available any time of the day. At the very top of the hotel is a rooftop terrace open for most of the year from which you can relax with friends and take in the city views. The hotel's public spaces are all in good condition and very clean. Finding your room is very simple and the lifts serve all floors.

There are several different types of 'pod' to suit each type of traveller. The smallest are the bunk or single pods which are identical aside from the extra bed above the single one in the bunk option. Like all the other rooms they are decorated in white with flashed of colour courtesy of the bed plaids, cushions and padded panes placed on the wall just beside the beds. Both are equipped with a small desk and chair, stainless steel sink, iPod docking station and flatscreen televisions (there are two in the bunk rooms, one at the end of each bed). The hanging space is open and there are towels, toiletries and loo roll provided in the room. Above the door in each room is a display indicating the availability of the spotless shared bathrooms which have monsoon showers, marble and granite surfaces and music in the background. The single rooms have extra storage under the bed and some have their own bathrooms. The double and queen rooms offer a little more space and crucially have their own small bathrooms with monsoon showers. These rooms also have a safe. Some rooms have two double beds, which sleep up to four guests while there is also a family room but which is only available on a monthly basis. All rooms have a wifi connection.

The hotel does not have its own restaurant however between the months of May and October a continental breakfast is served in the outdoor café just next to the lobby. Complete with garden furniture and greenery, it is a tiny little oasis in the city. Cereal, yoghurt and baked goods are offered with nothing costing more than $10.