Delamar Greenwich Harbor Hotel

It can be exciting to stay in the heart of Manhattan--and expensive. So, the next time you're headed to New York City for business or pleasure, why not stay in New England? It's not as far-fetched--or as much of a hassle--as you might imagine. And a night at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor, a striking and sumptuous waterfront hotel in New England's southernmost town, might just provide you with the critical thing you need to "make it there" in the big city: a peaceful night's sleep.

Admittedly, the glamorous Connecticut town of Greenwich won't ever make the cover of a New England guidebook. But this upscale suburb is far enough from Manhattan that the city's movers and shakers pay dearly for the privilege of calling Greenwich "home." And the Delamar Greenwich Harbor is styled to feel more like a New England manor home than a high-rise urban hotel. Art from the owner's private collection--even a portrait of his great-grandfather--makes public spaces feel intimate.

As you savor complimentary breakfast beside the lobby fireplace, indulge in an Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow spa treatment, sip wine on your private balcony overlooking the mega-yachts docked below and snuggle beneath fine Italian linens for a blissfully quiet and restful night's sleep, you'll know you're not in New York City.

Yet, step outside the Delamar's front door, turn left, and you're a five-minute walk (or a speedy, complimentary car ride) and a 41- to 60-minute Metro-North train ride (view schedule) away from New York's Grand Central Station. It's taken me that long to hail a cab and reach Grand Central from New York's Financial District at the end of a day of meetings.

Whether it's for a work event or a family escape, I try not to pay much more than $200 per night when I stay in New York City. It's usually doable, but it often means staying at a hotel that's a bit dated or out of the way. Or in a room where I can practically touch all four walls when I sit at the end of the bed. And I've rarely slept well in Manhattan, where few accommodations offer respite from the all-night noise of honking horns and wailing sirens.

My 350-square-foot Deluxe Harbor View Room at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor, which I visited on June 11, 2012, was remarkably spacious by contrast with a king-sized bed, oversized work desk, flat-screen TV, generous bathroom with a deep soaking tub and sliding doors to a 50-square-foot waterview balcony furnished with a cafe table for two and an Adirondack-style lounge chair. Even if a police boat hadn't been anchored just outside my balcony, I would have felt safe staying here solo, and I enjoyed a calm, peaceful night's sleep. Service was stellar throughout my stay.

For 2013, rates at the Delamar in Greenwich start at $204 per night for a Town View Room or $255 for a Harbor View Room, pre-paid in advance, with higher rates on weeknights and during the summer months. Larger, pricier suites are also available. Yes, the rail fare to New York City adds a bit: $9 each way for adult off-peak tickets, $12 for peak trains when purchased at the station (less when you purchase a WebTicket online in advance). But you may still find the Delamar to be an affordable and convenient Manhattan alternative when you consider these perks:

Free Parking and an Easy Drive

If you're driving to New York City, you may find navigating to your destination intense, and chances are good you'll pay an exorbitant fee for parking. The Grand Hyatt New York at Grand Central, for example, charges $60 to park a car overnight, $70 for an SUV. The Delamar Greenwich Harbor is just two right turns off Interstate 95 at exit 3, and parking for the duration of your stay is free.

Complimentary Amenities

In addition to free parking, Delamar guests have access to complimentary coffee and tea around the clock, free continental breakfast and evening wine and cheese, complimentary shoe shines, free shuttle service for trips within a three-mile radius of the hotel, free copies of the Wall Street Journal and free WiFi internet access. Add up the cost of a few New York City cab rides, Starbucks stops, a $2 paper, a glass of wine and a shoe shine--not to mention the outrageous fees some city hotels charge for Internet access--and you'll appreciate the value of staying on the city's outskirts.

In-Room Conveniences

Rooms at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor are equipped with high-end conveniences including two-line cordless phones, DVD players, iPod docking stations, safes for valuables, mini bars and elegant toiletries. Suites have gas fireplaces. Anti-allergenic pillows are available on request. In-room dining is provided by the hotel's l'escale restaurant, but on a lovely day, outdoor tables overlooking the water are the place to be, and the Provençal cuisine will transport you thousands of additional miles from the metropolis to southern France.

Continue walking past the Metro-North train station, and you'll find yourself on Greenwich Avenue: the famous shopping street often dubbed the "Rodeo Drive of the East." It's not as colorful nor as swanky as its west coast counterpart, but Greenwich Avenue is home to about 600 fine retailers--think Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, Apple, Bang & Olufsen, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, Lucky Brand Jeans--plus restaurants, art galleries, salons, spas and more, all concentrated in one location. If retail therapy is the reason for your visit, you may want to skip the train ride into Manhattan entirely. Shopping here is less taxing on your feet--and on your pocketbook: Sales tax in Connecticut is only 6.35%, compared with New York City's sales tax of 8.875% on most items (including items of clothing and footwear priced at $110 and up).

So, maybe you're in the enviable position of not having to choose to stay outside of New York City for reasons of cost or convenience. Then, you may want to book a stay at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor so you'll have a spot to park your yacht!

The hotel's 500-foot private pier can accommodate sailing yachts and motorboats up to 160 feet. Water and electrical hook-ups are available, and guests who moor here have full-time dock attendants at their service and may use the hotel's spa and fitness center. Call 201-918-1590 for dock reservations.

Have yacht dreams but a more down to earth budget? Ask the concierge to help you charter a boat for a scenic day on the water or a memorable voyage to Manhattan.

If You're Going...

The Delamar Greenwich Harbor is located at 500 Steamboat Road in Greenwich, Connecticut, just off I-95 at exit 3.

The hotel has 82 rooms and suites. A concierge is available to help you plan off-site excursions.

The Delamar is dog-friendly: there is a $50 per night fee for dogs weighing up to 100 pounds, a portion of which is donated to Adopt-a-Dog: a local non-profit. Four-legged guests are treated to biscuits on arrival, and their accommodations include a dog bed and water bowl. A menu of pet services, including walking and grooming, is available.

Delamar Greenwich Harbor welcomes business meetings, weddings and other social events.

Reservations may be made online or by calling 203-661-9800 or toll free, 866-335-2627.

Compare Rates at Other Hotels in Greenwich, CT

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary lodging for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.