In better news. . .
Somebody got herself a wedding block at a fancy boutique hotel in Brooklyn. Somebody got herself a discount. Somebody deserves a pat on the back.
Yeah, that somebody is me. Truth be told I didn’t really put that much effort into the whole hotel block thing. Here are the fruits of my labor:
Marriott (Downtown Brooklyn) – great location, accessible by public transportation, they don’t make you guarantee rooms, the rate for the wedding weekend was $219
Nu Hotel (Downtown Brooklyn) – also a good location, accessible by public transportation, they don’t make you guarantee rooms, the rate for the wedding weekend was $209
Sheraton (Downtown Brooklyn) – within walking distance of public transportation, they don’t make you guarantee rooms, the rate for the wedding weekend was $261
Holiday Inn (Butler Street & Union Street locations) – Okay location, semi-accessible by public transportation, they make you guarantee rooms, the rate for the wedding weekend was $129
Hotel Le Bleu – Doesn’t do blocks but will give you a link for discounted pricing.
One really important thing I learned was that I didn’t want to guarantee rooms. Being stuck with the bill even if it was just for one room didn’t sit well with me.
Initially my intention was to get blocks at different price points but apparently November is a big month in NYC what with the marathon and whatever else is going on. Well that’s the story the hotel people feed me. I ended up going with the Nu Hotel because the space is gorgeous, they have great inclusives (wifi, fitness center, complimentary breakfast, light tapas in the evening, chalkboards in the bathrooms). I just thought the chalkboard thing was super cute.
A real big selling point was how absolutely wonderful their front desk was when I stopped by to check out the space. They were genuinely friendly and just really cool people. Also, they knocked off twenty bucks from the initial quote (now $189) and all I did was ask if there were any other discounts that could be applied. Yippee!!! To make up for the higher price point I’ve added another item to my budget. Shuttle service to and from the wedding!
A real big selling point was how absolutely wonderful their front desk was when I stopped by to check out the space. They were genuinely friendly and just really cool people. Also, they knocked off twenty bucks from the initial quote (now $189) and all I did was ask if there were any other discounts that could be applied. Yippee!!! To make up for the higher price point I’ve added another item to my budget. Shuttle service to and from the wedding!
Is this reasonable?
Sidebar: Taxes on hotel rooms in NYC are ridonkulous at a whopping 14.75%! Geez!
*Does anybody else remember this Beetlejuice episode with Pat on his back?
Found you via the 'bee, wanted to say hi!
ReplyDeleteI'm going through issues with hotel blocking as well.. we still have crap tons of time left, but I'm not really sure I want to block hotel rooms. I think if we can find some that we don't need to guarantee, my opinion might change, but I'm worried of being responsible for unbooked rooms. And that would suck.
But.. it sounds like you were really successful with your blocking! I think getting a shuttle for guests is a great idea and they would really appreciate it.
That is a GREAT price though, even though its higher than you wanted, I think its fantastic for the city. And it's a fantastic location! You are near so much!
ReplyDelete@ steph c: Thanks for reading my blog!! I thuoght it was going to be such a hasse but it wasn't bad at all. If they don't make you guarantee then there's no risk to you. They usually just end up releasing the unbooked rooms. Definitely visit the hotel though to see the rooms and see the staff.
ReplyDeleteI can (literally) give you a Pat on your back if you want...but seriously, great job on the digs. It just goes to show you that a little research goes a long way. And, that there is no such thing as a stupid question...by asking yours, you got 20 dollhairs off! Pippa's Tip: location, location, location. Don't skimp on a hotel with good location. Your guests will love you for the subway proximity (and now the shuttle too!). And who knows? Perhaps one of said guests will be a late registry visitor...and will remember your act of kindness with a more generous gift!
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
ReplyDeleteWay to go on getting the extra discount! It never hurts to ask :-)
ReplyDelete