New York Accommodation - Hotels - Cheap Deals - Luxury - Budget - 5 Star
With more than 66,000 hotel rooms to choose between finding the right accommodation in New York can seem a little daunting.
The good news is that there's something out there to suit every taste and wallet; whether you're looking for the kind of opulence usually reserved for a Texan oil baron, or are prepared to rough it like a bum on Skid Row.
Accommodation in New York isn't cheap and your hotel room is likely to be your biggest single expense. If you're on a budget there are several ways you can save money (see finding a cheap hotel at the end of this page), but your best bet is to spend some time shopping around on the Internet and make sure that you make a booking well in advance.
During the high season (Christmas and the summer months) rooms fill up quickly and if you arrive without a reservation; not only will you find yourself out of pocket, but you may find yourself out on the street. If you make a booking over the phone it's always worth asking if there are any special discounts or if the hotel is running any promotions. Leaving your credit card details ensures that you won't be gazumped and loose your hotel room.
If you haven't managed to book any accommodation prior to arrival the New York City Official Visitor Information Center on Seventh Avenue (www.nycgo.com - Tel: 212 484-1222) should be able to provide you with a comprehensive list of the city's hotels.
Hotel reservation agencies are an American phenomenon and a good starting point if you're looking to save money. By block-booking hotel rooms in advance these agencies are able to offer substantially discounted accommodation and they're happy to search for a room in a specific hotel, area or price bracket.
Service in New York is second to none, possibly because many of the jobs in the service industry (including bellhops, cleaning and waiting staff) are traditionally low paid and rely on tips to supplement their income.
New York hotels: Recommended
In fact, if you were fortunate enough to live for 181 years; you could stay in a different hotel room each night without having to see the same wallpaper twice.
New York also knows a thing or two about luxury; and one of them is that you've got to pay for it. Top hotel suites can rival the GNP of developing nations, but if you can make the financial grade it's the stuff that memories are made of. The big apple has more grand dames than a tea-party has at Buckingham Palace, but two regularly fight it out for the guidebook number one spot: The Plaza on Fifth Avenue www.theplaza.com which has featured in movies including: North by Northwest (wikipedia.org/North_by_Northwest), The Great Gatsby (en.wikipedia.org/The_Great_Gatsby) and Crocodile Dundee (en.wikipedia.org/"Crocodile"_Dundee). The other being the sumptuous New York Palace (www.newyorkpalace.com) on Madison Avenue. Slightly more affordable luxury can be had at revamped art deco masterpiece that is Park Avenue's Waldorf-Astoria (www.waldorfastoria.com).
Designer and boutique hotels represent the more contemporary face of New York's chic hotel scene, and things don't get more hip than Ian Schrager's downtown Royalton (www.royaltonhotel.com)or the painfully sophisticated Mercer (mercerhotel.com). If any further proof is needed just flick through the pages of their guest book, which read like a copy of Who's Who (www.internationalwhoswho.com).
With a bit of detective work you should be able to get a decent mid-range hotel for somewhere between $150-200. You'll get a substantially better deal if you're prepared to plump for one of the well-known international chain hotels, although you might have to compromise on style. Top dogs include: Comfort Inn (www.comfortinnlowereastside.com), Best Western (bestwesternnewyork.com) and Ramada Inn (www.ramada.com).
New York has plenty of budget accommodation options including one and two star hotels, bed and breakfasts and hostels. The latter are hands-down the cheapest, and you should be able to get a comfortable dormitory bed in a clean hostel for $50. Many hostels (including all the YMCAs) have single and double rooms, but don't expect to get much change from a $100 note. While putting your finger on what makes a good hotel is relatively straightforward, the social aspect of hostelling makes it a more subjective experience. The question is 'do you want a good time or do you want a good nights' sleep?' The following hostels are well-known for offering both: Jazz on the Park (www.jazzhostels.com - Central Park West), Vanderbilt YMCA (www.ymcanyc.org/vanderbilt/ - East 47th Street) and Hostelling International New York (www.hinewyork.org - Amsterdam Avenue).
Finding a cheap hotel in New York :
It's hardly surprising that in such a style-conscious city; the right address comes with a hefty price-tag. You're more likely to stumble across the Holy Grail than find a decent, cheap hotel downtown. However, if you consider that New York has one of the best public transport systems in the world it doesn't really matter where you stay. Popular uptown options include: Greenwich Village, Chelsea and Upper West Side.
If you're determined to get a bargain the best months to visit are between January and April. Conversely prices go through the roof on national holidays, especially at Christmas and Thanksgiving, and during autumn. During the low season room rates can fall by as much as half.
The good news for anyone planning to stay over a weekend is that many business orientated hotels offer great Saturday and Sunday rates in a bid to fill rooms vacated by the city slickers heading home.
The Internet is prime hunting ground for anyone hoping to track down a cheap room. There are a growing number of online hotel reservation agencies who block-book rooms and are then are able to pass savings onto the customer. It's also worth checking individual hotel websites for special promotions (and this includes all the 'big-hitters' who slash prices during slack months). If you book online you should reasonably expect to make savings of between 10-20%.
Another way to take the financial sting out of booking a room in the big apple is to do it well in advance. New York's popularity means that rooms fill up quickly and you'll find yourself paying a premium if you leave everything to the last minute.
New York also has some great hostels for anyone traveling on a tight budget.
Continue with this guide to:
> Flights to NY
> New York History
> New York Tours
> Things to do