New York’s Plaza Hotel is understandably child-friendly. It’s most famous resident was, after all, just six years old.
Eloise, the mischievous heroine of Kay Thompson’s 1950s children’s book series, lived in a room “on the tippy-top floor” and spent her time gate-crashing weddings, spying on guests and pouring water down the mail chute.
Two years ago, the hotel launched an Eloise Suite especially for kids.
Dominated by a pink and black palette true to the original book illustrations, it’s a candy-striped confection with king-sized pink bed, giant pink headboard and chandeliers.
In recognition of Eloise’s love of dressing up, there’s a wardrobe filled with petticoats and tutus for guests to play with.
Last year the hotel followed up its success with a boy-oriented suite themed Knights of the Plaza, a round-tower bedroom with vaulted brick ceiling, giant circular bed and a wardrobe full of suitably “knightish” toys.
With either suite, a Family Ambassador is on hand to organise anything from a guide to the city’s best playgrounds to private shopping tours at toy store FAO Schwarz.
This year the hotel has become even more child-friendly, with the relaunch of a service it hasn’t offered since Eloise roamed the corridors – the Tricycle Garage.
Just as they could in the 1950s, junior guests can now rent bikes, trikes and scooters from the hotel to ride around Central Park and explore the city.
Rates for the themed suites start at $995 a night, while bike rental costs from $20 an hour. As Eloise would say, "Charge it, please." theplazany.com
