The ultimate blend of history and modern elegance at New York’s most iconic hotel.
A stay at The Plaza Hotel is not just a night inNew York City; it’s a brush with history, luxury and a touch of cinematic magic. From the moment the doorman ushers me inside, I am transported to a world of timeless elegance. Walking into its marble-clad lobby, I gasp at the Christmas display that draws travellers in from the street. It feels like stepping onto the set of Home Alone 2.
Location
The hotel has been an icon in the Big Apple for over a century.
The Plaza Hotel boasts an unbeatable location on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, offering stunning views of Central Park. It’s steps away from luxury shopping on Fifth Avenue and only a short walk to cultural landmarks like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Rockefeller Center. Midtown Manhattan’s top attractions are all within easy reach, making it an ideal base for exploring the city.
Style and character
Celebrate an unforgettable Christmas with the hotel’s festive ambience.
Synonymous with opulence, stepping inside The Plaza is like entering a world of Gilded Age grandeur. The lobby features a striking blend of marble, crystal chandeliers and gold accents, giving it an old-world charm with modern touches. This balance makes it an iconic New York experience, attracting celebrities, dignitaries and travellers seeking the utmost sophistication.
Facilities
The Plaza isn’t just pet-friendly, it’s a haven for fur babies.
Guests can indulge in The Plaza’s world-class amenities, which include the renownedGuerlain Spa, a modern fitness centre andluxury boutiques. The Plaza’s concierge provides impeccable service, ensuring guests can access any service or experience they desire.
The hotel also caters to pet owners with itsPampered Pup package, which features matching Plaza bathrobes, a doggie treat tier and luxurious accommodation for four-legged companions.
Hollywood has plenty of Christmas tales, but nothing beats a classic.
If you’re a Home Alone 2 fan,The Plaza has a special package that includes a limousine ride, a large cheese pizza and a decadent 16-scoop ice cream sundae, recreating iconic scenes from the movie. I didn’t do this package, but I did put Home Alone 2 on the TV and ordered ‘The Kevin Sundae’ off the child’s in-room dining menu (called The Eloise Menu), which was a much more conservative three-scoop serving size.
Rooms
The Grand Luxe King Room is lavishly decorated.
Rooms at The Plaza combine classic New York elegance with modern comfort. I stayed in the Grand Luxe King Room which was lavishly decorated with plush fabrics, crystal chandeliers and rich wood finishes. The marble bathroom was incredibly spacious, covered in “earth stone" mosaics, with a separate shower and soaking tub, and 24-carat gold-platedSherle Wagner fixtures to add a touch of opulence. Suites offer expansive spaces with separate living areas and even private terraces in some cases.
Food and drink
The Palm Court is famous for its lavish afternoon tea.
The Palm Court is famous for its lavish afternoon tea, a quintessential New York experience. For casual luxury, The Champagne Bar provides stunning views of Fifth Avenue, perfect for a pre-dinner drink and some caviar. Room service is available 24 hours a day, with a smaller late-night menu available from 11pm to 6am.
Access for guests with disabilities?
Enjoy Champagne and caviar at The Champagne Bar.
The Plaza Hotel offers excellent accessibility features, including wheelchair-accessible rooms and facilities. Elevators are spacious, and public areas are designed to accommodate guests with mobility issues. Staff members are trained to provide assistance to ensure every guest enjoys a comfortable stay.
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Family-friendly?
Little ones are treated to a unique check-in experience and clever programs during their stay.
The Plaza is welcoming to families. Children are treated to a special check-in experience with the Plaza Passport, which sets the stage for a magical adventure within the hotel.The Eloise Suite, inspired by the beloved children’s book character, adds a whimsical touch to family stays. With spacious suites and its prime location near Central Park, The Plaza is an excellent choice for families visiting New York.
Details
Best for: Travellers seeking a luxurious, quintessentially New York experience in the heart of the city Address: 768 Fifth Avenue, New York Cost: From $1700 per night
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Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.
1. Route 66, the Main Street of America
Travelling with: Ricky French
Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)
Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.
2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)
You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.
3. Museum-hop in New York City
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)
Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.
4. The USA’s music scene
Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead
Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)
If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.
5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)
Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.
6. Cruising Alaska
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.
Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.
7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico
Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead
Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.
For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)
Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.
9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia
Travelling with: Katie Carlin
Try lobster rolls in Lunenburg on the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia. (Image: Natalia Kvitovska/ Unsplash)
World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.
10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.
The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.
11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada
Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes
Take a seat at Lake Minnewanka, one of more than 400 red Adirondack chairs scattered across Canada’s hiking routes. (Image: Getty Images/ Autumn Sky Photography)
No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.
12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
The Rocky Mountaineer will continue as the Canyon Spirit in 2026, seen here carving through Ruby Canyon.
Sighting wild animals is one of many incredible thrills along the two-day luxury Rockies to the Red Rocks route onboard the Rocky Mountaineer across America’s Southwest between mid-April and mid-October. In addition to the lone bear, we spot bighorn sheep, elk, beavers, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles and ospreys. Riding the rails onboard the luxury train, which was founded in Canada in 1990 and has been awarded the prestigious World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train several times, has never been about just getting from A to B. Ride the train from Denver to Moab and you will see the scenery change from snow-capped peaks to meadows, red-rock canyons and soaring cliffs that resemble ornate Gaudí-esque cathedrals. But it’s not until you get off the train that you can produce the ultimate Venn diagram, with nature and adventure in the intersecting spheres.
