Where you stay while visiting
New York City is obviously dependent on many factors, ranging from your budget to what your goals are while visiting New York. Our comprehensive Hotel Section should be able to assist you in finding appropriate accommodations. You can also rest easy in knowing you are getting the lowest rate available, as we guarantee all of our rates!
What is it really like staying in a hotel in Manhattan, which has the greatest population density of any city in the entire Western Hemisphere? While we provide fantastic rates on thousands of different hotel rooms here in New York, this guide is intended to offer some guidance in how to choose and what you can expect.
For our foreign and domestic visitors who have never visited here, the first experience of New York can be fascinating, enjoyable, overwhelming and confusing--usually all these things at once. You might be tired after a long flight and trip from the airport, and therefore doing some advanced research makes a big difference towards your stay here in the big city.
Where to stay?
Although Manhattan has many neighborhoods, it's no surprise that most of its hotels are concentrated in Midtown from 34th to 59th Streets. With Broadway and the theatre district, major attractions, many restaurants, bars and many businesses located in Midtown, you'll encounter a busy area humming with activity. If you prefer a more off the beaten track location, the Upper West Side and Upper East Side surround Central Park and offer a bit more tranquility—although at a much higher price on the luxurious Upper East Side. South of Midtown, you'll encounter Chelsea, Greenwich Village, the West Village and East Village, each of which offers far fewer hotels but has a neighborhood feel amidst less taller buildings. With trendy restaurants and bars, parks, and proximity to the waterfront, some tourists prefer the boutique hotels, wild nightlife and generally younger crowds in these areas. Below the villages are trendy SoHo and Tribeca, which also offer luxury accommodations mixed with chic boutiques, hot restaurants and sizzling nightlife. Finally, the Financial District—also known as Lower Manhattan—has made a remarkable recovery since 9/11 and now boasts an increasing number of hotels. Despite some new restaurants and residential apartments, nightlife is limited in this area and you won't find many people on the streets here after dark.
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What Budget Hotels Are Available in New York City?
From surprisingly affordable boutique hotels like The Franklin Hotel in Manhattan to popular chains like the affordable Ramada Bronx, New York City has dozens of budget choices. Business travelers can get exceptionally affordable rooms at the Holiday Inn
New York City – Wall Street, Holiday Inn Express New York City – Wall Street, and Club Quarters, Wall Street. Visitors will find several cheap New York City hotels on the Upper West Side, including Days Hotel Broadway, Belnord Hotel, and Park 79 Hotel. Try the Aloft Harlem for affordable lodging if you're vacationing in Harlem. Cheap New York City hotels in Chelsea range from the Colonial House Inn with just 22 rooms to the Chelsea Savoy Hotel with nearly 100.
What Cheap Hotels are Available Outside Manhattan?
Visitors in Queens should head to Long Island City. Among low-cost hotels here are the Best Western City View Motor Inn – Long Island City, Ramada Long Island City, and Wyndham Garden Long Island City Manhattan View. Try the Hotel Le Bleu or Hotel Indigo Brooklyn for cheap rooms in Brooklyn. The Howard Johnson Express Inn Bronx and the Ramada Bronx offer low-cost rooms. Staten Island features affordable lodging with diverse options ranging from the Victorian Bed & Breakfast of Staten Island to the Ramada Staten Island.
What Are Luxury Hotels Like in New York City?
Midtown is an ideal destination for visitors who want a hotel near some of the best shopping and entertainment in the city. Locations like the Hilton Times Square, Crowne Plaza Times Square, InterContinental, and Element by Westin put guests steps from Times Square and Fifth Avenue. The Jewel Facing Rockefeller Center enjoys a location so prime it’s featured in the name. Guests here can snag a room with views of Rockefeller Center or St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Visitors who can’t wait to glimpse the Statue of Liberty can get a spectacular view from their hotel room in the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, the only luxury hotel on the waterfront. Rooms where guests can't easily see the iconic statue with their bare eyes feature telescopes for a closer look.
What Airbnbs Are Available in New York City?
New York City room shares and home rentals offer a truly unparalleled way to experience the city. With more than a thousand rentals available on Airbnb, travelers can find nearly any type of accommodation in this city. Reserve space on a friendly host’s couch for less than $50, or find a private room in a shared apartment for under $100. Some of the best deals available are for renting entire apartments. Travelers can book a one-bedroom apartment for rates comparable to a budget hotel room in the city. With access to a full kitchen, guests can save even more by preparing meals at home than dining out at pricey NYC restaurants. Instead of searching for cheap hotels in New York City near Central Park, visitors can rent an apartment or private room overlooking this iconic attraction for far less than the price of nearby hotel rooms.
Are Boutique and Independent Hotels Available in New York City?
For a stunning look at the skyline, the Peninsula in Manhattan is a popular choice. Views are exceptional not only from the hotel’s guest rooms, but also from the rooftop Salon de Ning and from the floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding the spa pool. For breathtaking views of Queens, the Z NYC is the best hotel in the borough. Guest rooms are designed around the stunning views they offer, with decor that enhances the sprawling city outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Take in Manhattan from this choice location just across the East River. This hotel even offers free shuttles to and from Manhattan so visitors can stay just outside the clutches of this bustling borough, while keeping the bright lights in sight. The Standard High Line gets its name from the view. Wall-to-wall windows in the guest rooms overlook the High Line as well as the Hudson River. The seasonal rooftop bar is another prime spot for taking in stunning city views. Faux grass covers the picturesque rooftop, and the dance floor features a plunge pool right in the center, for an experience unlike anything else in New York.
What are the Advantages of Booking a Hostel?
Visitors can find several cheap hostels in the city with accommodations a fraction of a
New York City hotel room's cost. Some hostels even offer private rooms at rates that are about half of what hotel rooms run. Most hostels offer communal kitchen facilities that help travelers pad their budgets even more by making it easy to prepare simple meals from scratch. Travelers who don’t mind foregoing a little privacy for the sake of a lower rate can slash their travel expenses significantly by opting for one of the many New York City hostels. Many visitors particularly enjoy the opportunity that these hostels present to get to know fellow travelers and congregate in cozy common rooms. Hostel stays offer a cheap and highly social way to experience New York.
What Hotels Are Available Near the Airport?
If you want to stay near John F. Kennedy International Airport, the Comfort Inn JFK Airport, Best Western Jamaica Inn and Fairfield Inn by Marriott JFK Airport are reasonable choices. Near LaGuardia Airport, some options include the Parc Hotel Flushing, Clarion Hotel LaGuardia, and LaGuardia Plaza Hotel. Airbnb options are also available here.
When Are the Best Times to Travel to New York City?
New York City is a popular destination year-round, but savvy travelers can score better deals during certain months. Though it’s nearly impossible to find cheap hotels in New York City for less than $100, you can find rooms just over this price by targeting the city’s slowest season after the holidays. While the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's are the most expensive time to hit the city, the post-holiday slump doesn’t take long to hit. Travelers who schedule a visit during the time period from mid-January through April will enjoy some of the best deals on New York City hotels. A few exceptions pop up around special events like Fashion Week, but for the most part this season is slow, cold, and affordable. Summer is the next-best time to visit New York. Locals typically leave town on the weekends, making attractions more accessible for tourists. The drawbacks to a summer visit are that attractions are packed with school vacationers and the soaring temps make sightseeing a challenge. Autumn kicks off the city’s busiest time, as New York gears up for its famous holiday festivities.
What Should I Know Before Sightseeing?
Manhattan is one of the most popular boroughs in New York for travelers taking in the sights. Many of the most iconic spots in the city are found here, including Central Park, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, and Times Square. Spanning 12 miles north to south, Manhattan encompasses many diverse neighborhoods.
What Is There to See in Uptown?
Harlem, the hub of African-American culture in New York City, is home to the Apollo Theater, Studio Museum in Harlem, the Black Fashion Museum, and the African-American Wax Museum.
Is Midtown a Good Place to Go Sightseeing?
Midtown boasts some of New York City's best shopping and entertainment opportunities. Visitors can also experience Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The elite Upper East Side is home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, and Madison Avenue. Head to the Upper West Side for a family-friendly vibe, with attractions like the Children’s Museum and Central Park.
What Can I Do Downtown?
Chelsea has long been known for its thriving arts district. Now the area also boasts the elevated promenade known as the High Line. The Financial District and Wall Street are common destinations for business travelers. Battery Park, at the tip of Manhattan Island, is also a major draw with ferry service to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
How Can I Experience Nature in New York City?
Central Park, of course! This nearly 900-acre urban oasis lies in central Manhattan, bridging Midtown and Uptown. Here you can find a zoo, an ancient Egyptian obelisk, two restaurants, a carousel, 21 playgrounds, and the resevoir, where you can take a rowboat out for a spin. Staten Island also offers a vast natural retreat, just a short ferry ride from Manhattan's bustling metropolis. With 12,000 acres of parkland and beaches, this borough provides a quiet setting. Popular attractions include the Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island Museum, Staten Island Children’s Museum, Historic Richmond Town, and Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.
What is There to Do in Queens?
Queens offers several family-friendly attractions for travelers with children. The New York Hall of Science has more than 450 hands-on exhibits to explore, and the Queens Zoo features a charming petting farm.
What Does Brooklyn Heights Have to Offer?
Travelers who want a taste of historic New York City should head for Brooklyn. Brooklyn Heights is one of the city's most historic neighborhoods. This is a protected New York Historic District and home to the Brooklyn Historical Society Museum. DUMBO, short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a popular destination for visitors who look forward to strolling the Brooklyn Bridge, browsing the DUMBO Art Center, or attending the annual Art Under the Bridge Festival.
What's There to See in the Bronx?
To many sports fans, the Bronx is synonymous with the New York Yankees, but this borough is home to many other highlights, including the Bronx Zoo, Pelham Bay Park, and the New York Botanical Garden. Arthur Avenue is the Bronx’s very own Little Italy. Travelers looking for a great bite to eat in the Bronx need look no further. Try fresh mozzarella at the aptly named Casa Della Mozzarella, or indulge in a sweet taste of biscotti at the Madonia Brothers Bakery. All the ingredients for an unforgettable homemade feast are on hand for prices that outdo any grocery store. The Grand Concourse, home to Yankee Stadium, is the architectural highlight of the area with a fascinating blend of Renaissance, Tudor, and Colonial styles.
Is Using the Subway Difficult?
New York City has the largest subway system in the world, with 468 stations that serve 24 lines. Routes are designated by letters or numbers and serve the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. Staten Island is served by the Staten Island Railway. Most people traverse NYC with the subway, so if you want to travel like a local, subway is the way to go
What Is Taxi Service Like in New York City?
Taxis in New York are plentiful and easily recognized. The traditional medallion taxicabs were previously New York's only taxicab class, but these canary-yellow vehicles were joined by apple-green livery cabs, or boro taxis, in 2013. As with most major cities, Uber, Lyft and ride sharing apps are also a transit option.
What Is Bus Transport Like in New York City?
The New York City Transit Authority operates 4,373 public buses, the largest fleet of buses in the world, serving routes not covered by the subway system. They can be very slow, as they stop every couple of blocks to pick up riders, but if you're not in a hurry, you can get a cheap and scenic tour on a New York City bus. The far is $2.25, which can be paid with coins or a subway token, or with a Metrocard.
Should I Drive Around New York City?
Driving is not the most effective way to get around in New York City, especially if you're unfamiliar with the route, but if you have to drive, plan ahead for parking, watch for jaywalkers, and don't turn right on a red light (it's illegal unless posted otherwise). You may get lucky and find a parking place right next to the Empire State Building, but it's more likely you'll have to search for parking. Just remember where your vehicle is.
