First Experience of the Ritz Carlton Brand @ NYC Nomad

The Lo Down
Feb 17
3 min read

Updated: Mar 22

I have never stayed with any ultra high-end luxury brands like Aman, Rosewood, St. Regis, or Ritz Carlton. This being one of my first stays within the category, I feel like there’s something to talk about.

Detailed Review

1. Booking and Check-In Experience

As expected, there were not really any problems with the process and check in went smoothly, but also as expected, it was impossible to receive room upgrades. There could be a reason that they sold out or people who stay at these properties would just book out the suites.

2. Room Quality

The room was really nice for a basic king-size room; the decoration was luxurious, from the mini-bar to the bathroom. However, it is smaller than most of the rooms I’ve stayed in, which is understandable since we are in New York. The bathroom was particularly impressive; the shower adjusted to the desired temperature almost immediately, and the tub was huge. I’m 5'10", and I felt like I could completely fit inside it. The view of New York added a nice touch to the room.

3. Amenities and Facilities

The gym was surprisingly well-equipped; you could have a decent workout with the amount of equipment they provided. I didn’t get a chance to check out the free sauna, but judging by the massage prices, they weren’t absurdly expensive compared to other places in New York.

4. Dining Experience

The Ritz Carlton NYC Nomad specifically doesn’t offer any free breakfast, no matter what status you have. This might be because the restaurants they have are so popular. The Bazaar and Zaytinya are both by José Andrés, the only chef globally with both a two-star Michelin restaurant and four Bib Gourmands. I haven’t had a chance to try them yet. If any of you have had the privilege of experiencing it, please let me know how it was!

5. Staff and Service

Overall, the staff was generally friendly, but the hotel seemed understaffed during our stay. There was some wait time for requests, and no bellman was available to help us during our departure. However, when we arrived, they were very helpful. Housekeeping was excellent, keeping our room clean and leaving cute notes and small gifts.

6. Location and Accessibility

Being in Central Manhattan, there are many metro stations nearby and plenty of interesting bars and restaurants. If you love New York City, it doesn’t get much better than this.

7. Value for Money

This is hard to evaluate. It is an extremely expensive hotel, costing around $1,100 on the low end and $1,300 on average. If you’re staying in New York City and don’t absolutely require the ultimate luxury experience, I’d recommend other brands that are one tier below. You’d get 90% of the quality at 40% less cost.

Conclusion and Recommendation

I would recommend this hotel to anyone who prefers a modern aesthetic over the "old money" feel of places like the St. Regis, The Plaza, or the Ritz Carlton near Central Park. As my first experience with FAT travel, there weren’t any major wow factors—everything went very smoothly and worked properly. Maybe that’s the epitome of luxury travel: everything looks clean and nice, with well-trained staff and thoughtful design for a comfortable stay. I plan to give FAT travel another chance when I’ve accumulated enough points and find a highly recommended hotel. If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments too.