Review of Four Seasons, New York City, by Madeleine Harper

The Four Seasons Hotel in New York take its guests seriously. If you're a non-smoker, a business guest, a regular or a first-timer, they like to know at this luxury hotel. Little acronyms along the top of the registration card act like a secret bar code for receptionists and, unless my receptionist was lying (unlikely) I was up for special attention.

The facilities

Housekeeping at the Four Seasons Hotel stocks contact lens cases, collar stays, luggage locks, curling irons, nail polish remover, tweezers, hairspray and a full selection of children's toys. The Martini Bar also serves up amazing Martinis as well. Also, the luxury hotel's film library is fully stocked for any movie buff's needs.

The rooms

The luxury hotel's PR told me that the Four Season's rooms are both the largest and highest in the city. I can well believe it. How could they be bigger? Or higher? From my bed I could look out across half of Manhattan. And if I got up and walked the 40ft or so across the room to the window, I could peer straight down and marvel at just how many yellow cabs are visible when you don't really need one.

I like the little things when I stay in a luxury hotel room. The shower gel, the shoe-shine mitt, maybe a shower cap or two. There was a full working office, with printer and fax machine, data port and 24 hour broadband Internet access. There were satin hangers, towelling bath robes, Bulgari toiletries, DVD player, mini-bar and a TV in the bathroom.

There's no reason to leave the Four Seasons; it has luxury cracked. This luxury hotel is gorgeous and sumptuous and incredibly expensive, but it's also completely unpretentious. Which means you can lie neck-high in three feet of Bulgari soap suds in the bath without feeling guilty.

So, as night fell, I watched the city beneath me turn to starlight and then put Princess Bride on the flat screen TV. New York looked wonderful but what could possibly be better than where I was? Nothing. Room 4003 had it all.