Every once in a while we get a chance to test drive a destination club property. As noted in previous articles we don’t necessarily think it’s entirely representative of a typical visit, but our experience is no doubt a good indicator of the level of service and luxury a club provides in a given location.

So when we were in New York recently, we called Quintess at the last minute to see if they had any availability at their Manhattan properties (full disclosure: Quintess has an advertising relationship with Helium Report). We stayed in both their one and two bedroom units at 1600 Broadway, a building in the heart of midtown where several destination clubs have bought or leased condos.

Bottom line? Though our time there was certainly a five star experience from the concierge service to the ultra-lux quality of the apartment, there were a few areas with room for improvement.

The visit got off to a great start. We arrived well after midnight so the building’s doorman, rather than concierge, greeted us with a set of keys. Inside the apartment, based on our request, the refrigerator was stocked with food for breakfast. There was a welcome note, wine and fruit on the table as well as a variety of New York guides, including current copy of New York magazine, which was a nice, simple touch. Music was on in the apartment, as were the lights. The next morning, the Quintess concierge called, welcomed us to New York and offered to do a walk-through of the apartment.

Day Two

The next day, as previously planned, Quintess had to move us to another apartment. Since we were out, we got another phone call making sure we were comfortable with the concierge moving our luggage. The move was handled flawlessly, and after picking up another set of keys, we were settled in the new apartment. Better yet, no unpacking required. Our clothes were already hanging in the closet. Even some of the top five-star hotels don’t offer that service.

Both apartments were very upscale with a modern decor (think W Hotels meets St.Regis) while the linens and towels were, not surprisingly, appropriately luxurious. While both Manhattan spreads offered comfortable living spaces, we found a few areas that can be improved.

For instance, each apartment had a desk area with a computer and printer but lacked a power strip with extra outlets to plug in the multiple cell phone, laptop and iPod chargers that no doubt every traveler has in tow. The only alternative was a hands and knees hunt for a free outlet.

The daily maid service didn’t offer the option to not to change the towels. Since our visit was short, we would have taken the environmentally-friendly option to use the same towels in order to save the energy. In fact, many five-star hotels now offer that choice.

We would have preferred more email communication, as well as voicemail messages, from the concierge. Email complete with full contact information can be easier to store and reply to when on the move.

Finally, we noticed that our concierge changed when we moved apartments. The reason behind the change wasn’t clear but it seemed unnecessary and no doubt creates the opportunity for a mix-up or confusion.

Hotel London

After our stay at the Quintess apartments, we moved to the new Hotel London, a small, luxury hotel run by the LXR Group. For about $800 a night, we had a modern luxury “mini-suite” measuring about 500 square feet. After a two night stay, it was clear that the Quintess properties offered a comparable level of service, but combined it with a larger, more complete accommodation with a full kitchen.

Of course, the choice between a destination club and a five-star hotel isn’t always a given. After all, destination clubs cannot always offer the last-minute availability of a luxury hotel. Also hotels will always carry their own appeal from the swanky lobby to the chic bar that can especially appeal to solo travelers.