My 3-year-old corgi Splenda lives a privileged life – and I’m well aware of it. But as a travel writer’s dog whose job it is to tell you, dear reader, about the best hotels in the world (and how to stay at those hotels), it’s only fair. when she gets to enjoy some fun every now and then.
Even better for my sweet, cute Splenda, whose name is a game based on the fact that both of her human fathers have Type 1 diabetes, she is often tasked with trying experience new hospitality services for our four-legged friends — and that’s exactly what happened years earlier when The Plaza, New York City’s Most Iconic Hotelinvite her to experience”Pampered Pup Packs“Stay overnight.
Luckily for me and my fiance, we were invited to be Splenda’s partners (mostly because we wanted the holiday to be more enjoyable.”Eloise at the Square” rather than “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”).
Although the Plaza has played an important role in New York’s history since it first opened in 1907 in a picturesque location on Fifth Avenue in central park corner, The pampered Pup Pack wasn’t launched until Independence Day last August. The bundle costs $195 as a pet guest add-on, designed to make your dog feel like royalty.
The package includes a special dog bed waiting in the room, a Plaza-style food and water bowl, plus a bottle of Evian and even a Plaza dog coat to match. human-sized robes hung in the room. Even better, if you request a package more than 30 days before arrival, you can have a dog coat, with the Plaza badge on the back, tailored specifically for your furry friend.
But the real highlight – and Splenda’s favorite part, by far – is the dog-friendly tray of macarons (made with oatmeal, honey, coconut oil, and all-natural yogurt) that awaits. gobbled.
neighborhood girl
We live in Brooklyn, so uptown is always a great thing, especially for a vacation that gets us out of our little apartment. Splenda, she’s the diva, packing her overnight bag with various outfits to look like part of a stylish social site determined to attract the Blair Waldorf inside of her.
Unfortunately for us, however, it was completely poured out. Despite our mood on the Upper East Side, our Brooklyn budget meant that we chose (read: forced) to take the subway, so after weathering the cataclysm, we i went to The Plaza, drenched in an unsightly way – on top of that the corgi.
But when she stepped onto the literal red carpet through the gilded revolving doors and passed one of the prettiest flower arrangements north of 14th Street, Splenda instantly knew she was a star, no matter how wet she was. how.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
“Welcome, Mrs. Splenda,” announced a doorman, attention immediately drawn to her fluffy head, just six inches from the marble lobby floor.
stay
After checking in, we went up to our magnificent building. Small Suite With King Bed There, the staff informed us, a special Plaza dog towel was waiting, along with her robe, to help clean up after the storm. Since then, after getting used to our room (with two ornate armchairs, a couch, a nice writing desk, a streaming TV, a king-size bed, a walk-in closet and a spa-like bathroom), we rely on our temporary dignified lives.
For starters, Splenda takes a bath, sauna, and gown. She’s a spa girl — so is her dad — so a luxurious bathroom with a deep soaking tub is a dream, though Splenda is more likely to rinse with water than soak.
After spa hours, Splenda went into the walk-in closet, where, miraculously, she found a multitude of outfit options for the evening walk down Fifth Avenue while hanging up (thanks, people). another father!).
Wearing a light blue, nautical-inspired dress with white stripes, Splenda decided that the outfit was perfect for a walk down one of the world’s most famous shopping streets, but it wasn’t. before trying on her furniture and tasting her macarons. Arguably, they all met her very high standards.
In the lobby, Splenda and her infectious puppy smile kept everyone’s eyes peeled — even more so when the kind staff greeted her by name, prompting guests to nibble. Sipping cocktails at The Champagne Bar thinks we’re more important than ever. But that’s the great thing about Splenda; She brings so much joy to the people she meets and makes everyone feel like a VIP. The service at The Plaza reflects Splenda herself – and she feels like the most important dog in the whole world.
After passing by Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Bergdorf Goodman and St. Patrick in the picturesque Gothic Revival, we were all busy, so we put on our bathrobes, watched our family’s favorite reality show (“The Real Housewives of Miami”) and ordered lobster rolls from room service for everyone to enjoy while Splenda ate her macaroons and dinner that we had brought from home (albeit for a much more strange dog bowl).
Splenda made herself comfortable in her Plaza dog bed — and in the City that Never Sleeps the lights were off.
The next morning, starving after a good night’s sleep (what a hard life!), it was breakfast time, so in true Tinsley Mortimer style, we ordered room service. Plaza Continental is classic, with a variety of pastries, sandwiches, juices and coffees – plus a portion of bacon to share. Splenda, her delicate dog, joined us in her cape – and maybe even stole a piece of bacon (we’ll never tell!).
To cap off our stay, we used the morning to take advantage of several pet-friendly places near The Plaza: Central Park and Chanel. Just across the street, Central Park is a wonderland for dogs of all sizes. That’s where Splenda loves to go for a walk, watching the turtles at The Pond in the southwest corner right next to the hotel, running in panic as she crosses the roller skates and climbs all the rocks. For dogs that need time off a leash, Central Park Conservancy has a complete guide with time and place to run around.
Next, we head back to 5th Avenue for a daring stop at NYC’s flagship Chanel boutique, which is not only pet-friendly but also where Splenda tends to star. Let’s say Splenda didn’t quite leave with a Boy’s Bag, but she did grab a bottle of Le Vernis to remember the experience.
Check
It was hard to say goodbye to The Plaza, partly because we had to beat Splenda’s big head and remind her that normal life awaited us in Brooklyn, but also because of the process of leaving. really meant saying goodbye to all her new friends, including the waiters. at the bar, the reception, the guests we met along the way and some tourists in the lobby.
Pet-friendly accommodations are on the rise and hotels around the world are catering to people traveling with their pets, but few are as luxurious as The Plaza. While $195 for this package certainly isn’t cheap, I paid $100 to take Splenda with me in much less important hotels where the perks don’t exist.
Overall, we had the most magical time at this iconic hotel in the Big Apple. If you want your best friend to be treated like the elite shell of NYC’s complex social fabric, take them to The Plaza to enjoy the finer things in life.
