Time is really getting away from me. I got back from my honeymoon in mid-December, and I’m just finding the time to start posting my reviews and travel tips from my honeymoon to Japan, Singapore, and the Maldives. I figured I might as well start at the very beginning. The night before our Japan Airlines first-class flight from JFK to Narita, we drove from Boston to the Crowne Plaza JFK for a one night stay. The room cost 35,000 IHG points and was priced at about $208 at the time of booking. Here’s my review of the Crowne Plaza JFK Airport NYC.
One of the reasons I picked this hotel was its close proximity to JFK and free parking. I was surprised that other area hotels did not offer free parking (looking at you, Hilton). If you don’t have a car, the hotel offers a free shuttle service to the airport.
I didn’t manage to get any pictures of the lobby because we got to the hotel close to midnight, and honestly I just didn’t feel like taking pictures. The check-in process was quite slow since a lot of pilots seemed to be checking in. As a Platinum Elite member, we were offered a choice of points or a free drink. Given the hour, I took the 600 points though I do think the drink is more valuable.
The room was a decent size with some interesting decor. Maybe it’s just my taste but it felt a little busy since I’m more partial to less bold design choices.
Across from the bed were a TV mounted on the wall, a Keurig, and a mini-fridge.
There was one free water bottle and four K-cups, but we were able to call to request more.
The hotel’s on-site restaurant, Idlewild, is open from 6:00am to 12:00am and had a reasonably priced menu. You can add breakfast to your stay at check-in, but we decided to save our appetites for the Lufthansa Senator Lounge before our flight.
Near the door was a teeny tiny closet with an iron and safe. Overall the room lacked storage, but I don’t think this is an issue since most people don’t stay here for more than a night.
The bathroom tile had major pizza parlor vibes. Again, interesting design choice. The bathroom was a little small but had everything you needed.
I do appreciate when the toilet is in a separate space so two people can use the bathroom comfortably at the same time, but I think this is more typical of luxury hotels.
I think shower curtains in hotels are so disgusting so I was happy to see a stall with a glass door.
I really liked the Beekman 1802 toiletries. What can I say, goat milk products get me every time!
Final Thoughts
As an airport hotel, the room felt like it was set up for people who would not be staying for more than one night. While this is practical, our stay didn’t feel like anything special. There was certainly nothing wrong with the hotel and we had pleasant interactions with the staff, so I think this is a good choice if you need to spend the night near JFK. Overall, the Crowne Plaza JFK isn’t anything special but it serves its purpose.
