October 27, 2004 -- Today marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of New York City's first subway line. Several area hotels are offering a big "Happy Birthday!" with discounts in hand. Plus, a legendary hotel reopens with specials of its own.
Apple Core Hotels, a group of five moderately priced establishments in midtown Manhattan, celebrate the date with a new "MTA Centennial Package" (MTA stands for Metropolitan Transit Authority). Available through November 30, the package rates start at $159.99 per room. You get the room, continental breakfast, admission to the NYC Transit Museum and an unlimited one-day MetroCard, which is for passage on all subways and buses.
At the Transit Museum in Brooklyn (use that MetroCard to get there), you'll see their Centennial Celebration, commemorating the 1904 opening of the IRT (Independent Rapid Transit system, the original hole in the ground). The museum is open daily except Mondays, so you'll need your Metro Card to get there.
The five Apple Core Hotels are the La Quinta Inn Manhattan (W. 32nd St.), Red Roof Inn Manhattan (W. 32nd St.), smoke-free Comfort Inn Midtown (W. 46th St.), Super 8 Hotel Times Square (W. 46th St.) and the Ramada Inn East Side (161 Lexington). Contact them at www.applecorehotels.com or phone 800/567-7720.
Two more hotels, the affiliated Roger William and The Franklin, are also saying Happy Birthday to the subway system. Both have a Subway Concierge, on hand through October 31, 2004, to help guests with a guide to subway etiquette (one sample might be "don't stare at other passengers"), an MTA map and a MetroCard Fun Pass. Rates per room start at $255 per night, a discount of 15% off regular rates, they say. For reservations, check out www.rogerwilliamshotel.com or www.franklinhotel.com. The phones are 888/448-7788 for Roger, 800/607-4009 for Franklin.
The Hotel 5A will give away MetroCard one-day Fun Passes and subway maps to all hotel guests who mention the centennial today. Hotel room rates here start at $250. Phone 212/447-1500 or visit www.hotel5A.com.
The Algonquin, which coasted for years on its reputation as the home of the famed literary Round Table, has been renovated after closing its doors for the first time in its 102-year history. To celebrate its reopening, the hotel has a special nightly rate of $239 per room through the end of the year, based on availability and subject to certain blackout dates.
The owners would also like to welcome back former guests, especially those who might have pinched a souvenir or two from their room. Offering an amnesty of sorts, the hotel will give you $25 off your next stay if you returned any nicked item, like an old room keys, menus, borrowed ashtrays or monogrammed towels, and so forth. Send them to the hotel c/o Memorabilia Search (Attn General Manager), 59 W. 44th Street, New York NY 10036.
For more information on reservations and other specials, phone 866/363-9011 or visit www.algonquinhotel.com.
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