Annika and I spent our fabulous time in New York City exploring during the days and sleeping in the brand-new hotel digs, the Hilton New York Fashion District (update: now called Courtyard by Marriott Soho!). Located on W 26th st between 8th & 7th (aka Fashion Avenue), it's a cute little 200+ room full service hotel (complete with rooftop bar, restaurant, conference & meeting rooms, room service, and the best friggin housekeeping service I've ever experienced).

They are even social media-friendly, evidenced by their friendly tweet a few days before we left for NYC stating that they couldn't wait for us to get there and enjoy our stay. Plus, the rates were totally reasonable. I don't know why this is sounding like an advertisement, because it totally isn't. I just really liked this hotel. I'm a hotel snob and refuse to stay anywhere with dingy dated decor, I just feel gross in those types of places. And, let's face it, New York hotels are often either: posh + pricey, or budget-friendly + barely-tolerable. Our hotel was brand new (Feb 2011), chic, and well-located for the fashion fun. We will definitely be back.

The only qualms I had, were I wished that we had a better view (okay, ANY view at all, since our window overlooked other people's apartment windows and a water tower, across from an alley). Also, the WiFi wasn't free (or even cheap, at $14.95 per friggin day). But the rooms were impressively clean from top to bottom, the staff was amazing and always super friendly, the flat screen TV was the bomb, and I loved the cute fashionable decor.

What are your favorite hotels to stay at in New York City (or anywhere in the world, for that matter)? What's the most fabulous hotel you've ever stayed in?

For me, the most fabulous hotel I ever stayed in was the Four Seasons in Austin, Texas. It even beat out the Venetian in Las Vegas - solely for its rooms. The most unbelievably luxurious suite...amazing linens...turn-down butler service (with an earpiece and everything). It was surreal!