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Travelers with a fear of heights or an aversion to high room rates should steer clear of this posh new luxury hotel, which occupies the 35^th to 54^th floors of the monumental Time Warner Center at the southwest corner of Central Park.

Accommodations at the Mandarin Oriental combine state-of-the-art technology with elegant Asian-influenced interiors and 1940s-style furnishings, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame lofty views over Midtown Manhattan, Central Park and the Hudson River. Guests also may enjoy the view from the soaking tubs in each extravagant marble bathroom, or from the hotel's 75-foot lap pool, 6,000-square-foot fitness center or 14,500-square-foot spa — not to mention the chic lobby lounge and French-Japanese fusion restaurant, Asiate. If you get tired of looking out the window, switch on the wide-screen high-definition LCD digital television with surround sound, part of the $27,000 worth of communications and entertainment gear in every room.

Rates generally vary according to altitude and orientation, with the most expensive rooms and suites on the upper floors facing the park. For the best deals, check out the Internet rates posted on the Mandarin Oriental Web site, where you'll sometimes find rooms available for around $500 a night. Various package deals are available as well, including bed-and-breakfast rates and reduced rates for guests who extend a weekend stay through Sunday night.

Mandarin Oriental, New York
80 Columbus Circle
New York, N.Y.
212-805-8800
www.mandarinoriental.com/newyork