A boutique hotel that welcomes children can be difficult to find in Manhattan, where many of the boutiques scream luxury and the staffs’ faces drop the moment they see a child. But at Hotel Giraffe, a quiet, intimate Art Deco hotel located in the Eastside’s Gramercy district, the smiles are real when children walk through the door.

While the hotel doesn’t offer any amenities that appeal specifically to kids — no kids club, no game room, no play area, no onsite restaurants or kids’ menus — the hotel’s location in the heart of Manhattan, large accommodations (for New York), and family packages make it a good choice for families who want a nice place to rest their weary feet and heads after days exploring all that New York City has to offer.

With just seven guestrooms per floor, the Hotel Giraffe feels secluded in a crowded city teeming with people. Spread out across 12 floors, the hotel features 72 guestrooms that include 21 suites and a penthouse on the 10th floor. For families, a number of large rooms are available.

Guestrooms and Suites
The deluxe guestrooms with two double beds is 325 square feet in size, while a one-bedroom suite offers 385 square feet with a king-sized bed and separate living room with pull-out sofa. Larger rooms are available in the terrace one-bedroom suite, at 424 square feet, which can be interconnected to a deluxe guestroom to form a two-bedroom suite totally 749 square feet.

All rooms are non-smoking and equipped with 27-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, a DVD player to enjoy the hotel's complimentary DVD library, and free Wi-Fi access.

Although the hotel does not have any family activities or amenities, just one block from the hotel is Madison Square Park, which occupies a full block and offers a fenced in, rubber-floored playground with picnic tables, slides, swings and all the standards of a neighborhood park.

Other than that, this is New York City. What are you doing staying inside? Get out there and enjoy its spoils: ride to the top of the Empire State Building, just a few blocks north, visit Central Park and its zoo (using the free tickets you get with your hotel package), fill up on candy at Dylan's Candy Bar and sip frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity, and see a Broadway musical like "The Lion King" or "Mary Poppins." There's never a lack of things to do in New York.

The boutique hotel does not have an onsite restaurant, but provides complimentary European-style breakfast daily in its lobby, 7 to 10:30 a.m. Pastries, bagels, cereals, fruit, and juices are available, as well as complimentary newspapers. Throughout the day, the lobby provides complimentary cappuccino, cafe au lait, espresso and fruit and cookies. Complimentary wine and light hors d'oeuvres are available every evening from 5 to 8 p.m. as well.

All About the Extras
The hotel features a special family package. Upon arrival, families will receive two Metro all-day subway passes, one adult and one child ticket to the Central Park Zoo, and maps of the city, as well as a stuffed giraffe. At turndown, children receive milk and cookies while mom and dad receive a bottle of Prosecco and a fruit and cheese plate.

Hotel Giraffe has a rooftop garden on its 10th floor. With plenty of comfortable seating, it's a quiet spot in a noisy city, and a great place to sit back and relax after exploring the city.

Although a fitness center is not located on the premises, complimentary passes to the New York Sports Club are provided at the front desk.

A laptop and printer in the hotel lobby are reserved for airline check-in so you can print tickets before arriving at the airport.

The Art of Smart Timing
There is never a bad time to visit New York -- with so much to see and do, New York is bustling winter, spring, summer and fall. After the holidays and in the dead of winter may be the "quietest" time of year to visit, as well as fall when back-to-school means lowered rates across the city, but when the weather is great, the city really becomes popular. It's a holiday and vacation destination, so visiting during school breaks may not be a novel idea.

Getting There
Hotel Giraffe is located at the corner of Park Avenue South and 26th Street. The hotel is easily accessible via taxi, subway or car, with two major international airports servicing New York, La Guardia and JFK International Airport.

If driving into New York, the hotel provides valet parking service for a daily fee (extra for oversized vehicles). If arriving by subway, the hotel is across the street from 6 subway line, and two blocks from the N,R, W subway line.

Getting Around
Everything is within walking distance of the hotel but the hotel is also easily accessible via taxi, subway or car,

For Mom and Dad
A nightly wine and cheese reception is held in the lobby from 5 to 8 p.m. with live music by the hotel's resident pianist.