Upper Stories upgrade: what you get and when it’s worth the fee
Upper Stories is a paid top-floor upgrade at Thompson Central Park New York that adds private check-in, access to a 3rd-floor lounge, and complimentary breakfast plus evening snacks. It’s worth the fee if you value quieter high-floor rooms, a small private lounge for working or quick bites, and included breakfast that offsets downtown meal costs.
In this guide
What the Upper Stories upgrade includes
Upper Stories is a paid room-tier upgrade offered on the hotel’s top floors. The hotel describes the collection as providing private check-in, access to a 3rd-floor lounge, and complimentary breakfast and evening snacks for guests who pay the upgrade fee.
The lounge and private arrival experience are intended to be extras above the standard guest services; Upper Stories is an add-on to your booked room rather than a separate building or adults-only area.
- Private check-in (separate from the main lobby desk)
- Access to a 3rd-floor lounge for upgraded guests
- Complimentary breakfast each morning for Upper Stories guests
- Complimentary evening snacks in the lounge
| Amenity | Included for Upper Stories guests? |
|---|---|
| Private check-in | Yes |
| 3rd-floor lounge access | Yes |
| Complimentary breakfast and evening snacks | Yes |
Which rooms and views you can expect
Upper Stories refers to rooms on the highest floors of the hotel. The property’s room types include Deluxe Room, Room (High Floor, Lounge), Room (including Room, Bathtub), Studio Suite (High Floor, Lounge), Room, Park View (High Floor Lounge), and Studio Suite, with Sofa bed. High-floor options are the ones most commonly associated with the Upper Stories experience.
If getting a Central Park outlook matters, ask at booking or check the room description for Room, Park View (High Floor Lounge) or high-floor Studio Suite listings; many high-floor rooms offer views over Central Park South’s trees and skyline.
- Deluxe Room (1 King Bed) — standard top-floor option may be eligible
- Room (High Floor, Lounge) — noted as a high-floor, lounge-linked room
- Room, Park View (High Floor Lounge) — high-floor rooms that can offer park views
- Studio Suite (High Floor, Lounge) — larger high-floor suite option
| Room name (exact) | Bed options |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Room | 1 King Bed |
| Room (High Floor, Lounge) | 1 King Bed or 2 Double Beds |
| Room, Park View (High Floor Lounge) | 1 King Bed or 2 Double Beds |
When the upgrade pays off (who benefits)
Choose Upper Stories if you plan to use the lounge for work, to avoid busy breakfast lines, or to rely on the included morning food and evening snacks instead of paying separately each day. For short stays of 1–2 nights, calculate whether the time and convenience are worth the extra nightly charge; for longer stays the daily extras can add up to a clear saving.
Upper Stories also makes sense when you prioritize a higher floor for quieter rooms and better skyline or park views. If you plan to be out all day sightseeing, the lounge perks and private check-in may be less valuable and the fee less worth it.
- Good value if you will use breakfast and evening snacks daily
- Useful for business travelers who need lounge space to work between meetings
- Handy for families who prefer a quieter, higher-floor room and quick morning food
- Less worth it if you’ll be away all day and won’t use lounge or breakfast
| Traveler type | Upper Stories worth it? |
|---|---|
| Business traveler who needs lounge/work space | Often yes |
| Family who wants park views and quicker breakfast | Often yes |
| Traveler on a tight budget out sightseeing most of the day | Maybe not |
How it changes arrival, check-in and daily routine
Upper Stories includes private check-in, so you may bypass the main front desk for arrival formalities. Standard hotel check-in time begins at 3:00 PM; early check-in can sometimes be arranged for a fee and is subject to availability.
Daily routines change most around meals: breakfast is complimentary to Upper Stories guests in the lounge, and the lounge offers evening snacks as well. The hotel also offers 24-hour in-room dining for guests who prefer to eat in-room.
- Standard check-in at Thompson Central Park New York is 3:00 PM; Upper Stories provides a private check-in option
- Early check-in and late check-out can be arranged for a fee, subject to availability
- 24-hour room service remains available to all guests
| Service | Notes |
|---|---|
| Private check-in | Included with Upper Stories |
| Breakfast | Complimentary in lounge for Upper Stories guests |
| 24-hour room service | Available to all guests |
Other perks, fees and the destination fee link
The hotel charges a nightly Destination Fee on paid stays; listings show that fee separately from room rates and that it includes items such as premium internet, fitness-center access, concierge business services, and a small daily credit toward fitness/spa. Hyatt award (points) stays may waive the Destination Fee.
Upper Stories is a separate paid upgrade; the hotel’s materials and third-party listings do not publish a universal published price for the upgrade here, so confirm the fee at booking or with the front desk before you pay.
- Destination Fee typically appears on paid reservations and covers specified property services and local discounts
- A $25 daily credit is noted for use toward exhale fitness classes or spa treatments (applies to bookings per property materials)
- Hyatt award stays may waive the Destination Fee
| Fee or credit | Mentioned in hotel materials |
|---|---|
| Destination Fee | Yes — charged on paid stays (amount varies by listing) |
| $25 daily fitness/spa credit | Yes — available for bookings to apply toward exhale services |
| Upper Stories upgrade fee | Yes — charged separately; confirm amount at booking |
Practical tips for booking and using Upper Stories
Ask at reservation or on arrival which specific room numbers or floors are part of Upper Stories — hotel inventory can change and listings vary. If a park view is important, request Room, Park View (High Floor Lounge) or a high-floor Studio Suite and confirm the view before arrival.
If you value quiet, request a top-floor room away from the elevators; if you need late check-out or early check-in, ask about fees and whether any loyalty benefits might waive them.
- Confirm the exact cost of the Upper Stories upgrade before payment
- Request a specific room type (for example Room, Park View (High Floor Lounge) or Studio Suite (High Floor, Lounge)) if you want park views
- Ask whether the Destination Fee or loyalty status affects any of the upgrade inclusions
| Action | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Confirm upgrade cost before you pay | Costs vary and are not published uniformly |
| Request a high-floor Park View room by name | Ensures the view you expect |
| Check if loyalty benefits waive fees | Some elite members get early/late checkout or fees waived |
