Thank you to Hotel Indigo for my recent staycation… and for sponsoring today’s post.
Last week, smack dab in the middle of a very busy week, I did something for me: I took a staycation! I stayed at the Hotel Indigo on the Lower East Side. It was the same night of my meetup with Sarah Flint so it was really nice to go back to my beautiful room, take a bath, and tuck myself into the perfectly made bed.
The Hotel Indigo is an upscale boutique brand. I love that you feel as though you’re staying a little off the beaten path, with a cooler, more community sort of vibe… but all the perks (room service, gorgeous amenities) of a bigger hotel. With a beautiful common area to work and have coffee or a quick bite, an incredible restaurant and bar (I’ve been to so many fashion + beauty events at Mr. Purple for good reason – amazing drinks and food, great people watching, and a beautiful setup!). There’s also incredible art all over the lobby (like the custom mural by grafiti legend Lee Quiñones on the 14th floor!) and in the rooms, it’s just a really chic, INSPIRING place to stay. (PS – with this link you can book your stay at any Hotel Indigo and get the best possible deal with up to 15% off.)
Anyway, today I’m going to share a few tips for how to take your best staycation OR solo trip. They apply either way!
{this bathtub! My room was one of four rooms at Hotel Indigo that has a tub. Highly recommend requesting a tub whenever possible!}
tip #1: Bring lots of books.
I joke that when I staycation or travel alone, I’m on a book a day diet. I basically become attached to my book. Reading in bed, reading on the couch, reading in the hotel lobby, at dinner, and so on and so forth.
Pro-traveling alone tip: I always get asked about eating alone at restaurants and it’s actually really great. Bring a book and sit at a table or bar seat with decent lighting, and enjoy your book. (And probably extra nice service!)
tip #2: Coffee is Important.
Hotel Indigo is nestled smack dab in the best area of the lower east side so there are tons of great coffee shops nearby BUT sometimes you want to be ultra lazy and not leave the premise. That’s one of my favorite bits of staycationing. If you’re ultra lazy, the hotel rooms at Hotel Indigo have the Nespresso Vertuoline machine (my FAV – I have it at home and make one every morning!). And if you go up to the 14th floor they have a really chic little cafe that serves GREAT coffee.
three // common space is also important.
OK so you are traveling alone or staying alone. I am the most introverty of introverts BUT I need some interaction! I love that Hotel Indigo has a beautiful common space/lobby on the 14th floor. Besides having the cute coffee shop and a pool table and a TON of cool art, it’s packed with great spots to work, people watch, read, or maybe even meet a cute guy (hey – one can dream, right?) . It’s the best. The rooms are so nice that you’ll be tempted to stay in bed all day but the common space is so nice that you’ll want to hang out all day.
four // a great place to grab a drink.
It’s always awkward to dine/sip alone but I promise it’s really not that bad – it’s actually fun. Despite my introversion I end up having great talks with the bartender or server (they always know the best local hidden gems) and that in itself is really fun!
Bring a book, bring postcards to write (my trick when I’m traveling solo), etc. and cozy up to the gorgeous bar at Mr. Purple. I recommend going at sunset and soaking up the beautiful views… maybe over a glass of bubbly!
Created in partnership with Intercontinental Hotel Group. // Photography by Carter Fish.
Such a chic hotel! I love the design of your room! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
The room design is great!
Agreed!
Thanks, Charmaine!
I love staycations and really need to take another one soon.. Love the tip about bringing lots of books – especially if there’s a comfy bed or a balcony with a view.
Dee ~ Vanilla Papers
YES! Nothing better!
Hey Grace! Can you clarify if all the rooms are this big or is this a suite? Looks big for a NYC hotel.
Hi Betsy!
No they are all definitely not this big! This is a suite; there are all sorts of options linked on the website from standard rooms to king rooms with terrace, and so on and so forth!
I truly LOVE staycations! I’ve never been to this hotel, but need to look at it for my next staycation in the city!
Dana | The Champagne Edit
ME TOO! xo
We don’t have many boutique hotels, but it’s still really fun to work for Hilton ( we have over 10 brands, different levels/styles and hotels all over the world) I’m doing a staycation on Thanksgiving. My friends have a cabin in Sonoma wine country. They are having a Friendsgiving and then my friends and I will spend the night in Sonoma. Play a bit on Friday and head home. It’s only an hour form the city, but seems blissfully far away. The Hotel Indigo looks so sweet and rates right now are good. I do love a boutique hotel!
You’re so lucky! Must have so many fun perks!
Love all the details in this post! I have yet to do a solo travel for fun (not work) but I need to! I 100% agree on the pleasure of having coffee in bed. It’s one of my favorite perks of hotel travel.
It’s the absolute best! I have been doing a lot of work travel with Becca this year for the pod, it was so nice to just have a more chill little staycation in the city!
My ex introduced me to the lobby and we used to do work here for hours. I’ve gone back on my own too multiple times. It’s perfect because they don’t care whether you’re staying at the hotel, you can just come here and cozy up with coffee and your laptop. The views make it so nice!!
That is so smart!!! I am so glad you commented this, as I was thinking how nice it would be to come here and work/get coffee. It reminded me a lot of the lobby at soho house – without the membership!
Nothing better than a city staycation! Will keep this in mind for next time.
Highly recommend!!! xx
Oh I love a good staycation!
x Lisa | lisaautumn.com
same same! Happy Thanksgiving, Lisa!
I always bring bath soaks to nice hotels, but everyone I told that to seemed to think it’s a bad idea. They all turn up their nose at using hotel baths. I dont care, it’s not like I am staying at Motel 6. At a boutique hotel in HK, they had a tub for two which was deeper than it was wide with two seats built in the tub. AMAZING!!!
i agree! I only stay at nice hotels, drives me bonkers when anyone judges me for taking a bath!
Such a gorgeous place! I love doing staycation!
Jae
http://www.editedbyjae.com
This is so great! I am all about reading this year and this has inspired me to think about a staycation somewhere nice, too! Thank you!
Oh good!! Happy travels!