My stay at the Airbnb hotel: Staypineapple New York [Review]

I visited New York earlier this summer to see the grand unveiling of Delta’s new terminal at LaGuardia and a preview of its new Sky Club. I stayed in Manhattan for a few days and split my stays at two different properties: Staypineapple New York and the Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan (read my hotel review after finishing this one!).

Staypineapple is where I spent my first night in New York.

Why did I choose Staypineapple New York?

I became a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card when he launched and introduced a now-expired promotion: a $200 credit for vacation rental stays made through companies such as Airbnb and Vrbo.

I’m not the biggest fan of staying in other people’s homes. But I discovered that Airbnb and Vrbo offer different hotels!

I had IHG Rewards One points and IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card birthday night certificate to engrave. The Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan offered the best redemption for my dates. So I booked those nights and searched Airbnb for the remaining night.

Staypineapple New York was one of the options and was $207 for that night. Also, it’s about 300 feet and across from HY36. Bingo! Seven bucks out of pocket for room and tax is a pretty good deal in my book. The place looked artsy, quirky and cozy. So, I gave it a shot.

Where is Staypineapple New York?

Staypineapple New York is located at 337 W 36th St., 10018, in Midtown Manhattan. You’ll find it on 36th between 8th and 9th avenues.

It’s a short walk to Penn Station, which is good if you want to take the subway. Additionally, you can take the LIRR to the AirTrain to JFK at Penn’s Moynihan Hall.

The neighborhood isn’t fantastic, though.

Check-in at Staypineapple New York

If you plan to arrive at Staypineapple (or anywhere else in the neighborhood) I highly recommend taking a cab or carpooling.

I didn’t show up until around 11:30 p.m. I took the train and felt safe walking down 8th Avenue. But then I got to 36th and started walking west.

There were all kinds of interesting street people hanging around and staring at me: the stranger rolling his suitcase, laptop bag and camera case. (For what it’s worth, a Staypineapple employee recommended using 9th Ave and then walking east on 36th.)

Staypineapple’s door was locked. Of course it was. (Although I appreciate the security feature.) I rang a buzzer and it was unlocked remotely.

I was impressed with the lobby.

The young lady who greeted me was welcoming, helpful and friendly. She offered me a few bottles of water – which was great considering it was a hot and humid night in New York.

Because my stay has already been paid with my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, the only thing pending was an amenity fee and a credit card hold for incidentals. I put this on my Chase Sapphire Reserve® because she earns 3X on travel (after earning the card’s annual $300 travel credit). I didn’t charge anything to my room during my 12 hour stay. The total destination charge was $28.69.

A “haiku plus” greeted me on the wall in front of the elevators.

A pineapple was carved into the floor of the elevator.

The “naked experience”

Staypineapple is big on this thing called “The Naked Experience”.

Do not worry. This is not a nudist hotel or anything. The property’s website states, “The naked experience, with single European-style duvets, plush bathrobes, and large, thirsty towels, is by far the most comfortable you’ll ever have in a hotel. And everything is incredibly clean. So go ahead, take your clothes off.

It wasn’t the most comfortable I’ve seen in a hotel. Bedding was a big issue for me. (More on that soon.) But the room was clean, and the towels were certainly big and fluffy (“thirsty” is definitely an interesting adjective, I’ll give them that.).

Staypineapple New York Celebrity King Room

Most of us who have visited New York many times know that its standard hotel rooms vary in size. Some are tiny. Others are quite large. It’s a bit of luck of the draw.

The Celebrity King Room at Staypineapple New York is the tiny kind.

The desk is a pull-out table from one of the bedside tables. There is no dedicated seat. So, maybe head to a cafe or somewhere else if you need to work (comfortably) during your Staypineapple stay.

This is the first time I have visited a hotel room with its own instruction sign.

Even the bed comes with instructions. And there is a reason for that.

Yeah, it was too complicated for that blond.

I would have settled for “regular” bedding that doesn’t require instructions – or something more silly-proof. I didn’t sleep as well as I had hoped. The pillows and mattress were comfortable, but that comforter kept baring my feet.

There are electrical outlets and USB ports above the bedside tables on both sides of the bed.

Because there is not much space, you can put your luggage on this little trolley under the bed and slide it backwards!

There’s this little personal assistant.

I didn’t really need the assistant, but it looks pretty cool.

Elsewhere in the room, there is a cupboard and a coffee maker.

The bathroom is quite nice.

Shower water pressure was great, but make sure you bring your own toiletries. Shower gel and shampoo are attached to the wall.

Final approach

Staypineapple New York was a decent find for my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card$200 Airbnb credit promotion (currently expired). Be aware that the area is far from ideal at night. Nevertheless, Penn Station – home to the subway and the LIRR – is close. This is a big plus for passengers on the metro and other trains.

The small Celebrity King room is not ideal for people who need to work in a hotel room. And bedding can be unnecessarily confusing for some people. My room was clean and the staff was great.

I wouldn’t mind staying here again – but I don’t think it will be my first choice next time I visit New York.

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