You're going to New York City on vacation. Now you need to decide where to stay. The possibilities are endless. You'll need to make some decisions on which of the many NYC hotels you prefer. Is cost the most important factor? Perhaps location is. Will you be spending most of your time on the east side or the west side, midtown or downtown? New York and especially Manhattan are very walkable, so finding the best location can make a big difference.
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Choosing a NYC Hotel
If the theatre is why you are there, you probably don't want to stay downtown. Getting to the theatre district will take time and could get very expensive if you take taxis. So think about where you'll be spending most of your time - for example if you plan on buying theater tickets for a couple of shows on broadway - and then start looking for New York City hotels in that area. When you go to New York can make a big difference on the type of deal you can get at hotels. Hotels deals vary by the time of year. For example, the difference in cost between August and September can be dramatic. Manhattan hotels tend to fill up the middle of September when the UN General Assembly convenes. Hotel prices go up. That doesn't means you can't find a NYC hotel deal, it just gets a little tougher.
The Christmas season is also a busy time in NYC. People love to come to town for the shows and all the sights. Actually many New York City hotels will have deals with show tickets as part of the package. In New York, there is every type of hotel you can imagine. Using a travel agent can help you find the hotel that will fit you best. You may also want to consider a tour package in which airfare and hotel is included.
Manhattan Hotels
You name a major hotel group and you can be sure they have a presence in New York. If you are part of a specific group's frequent stay program you can both accumulate points and use them at New York City hotels.
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On the high end, you'll find groups such as the Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental. Also on the high end are such places as the Plaza, the Helmsley Park Lane and the Waldorf Astoria. The national chains such as Wyndham, Sheraton, Hilton, Doubletree, Marriott, Ramada and Holiday Inn all have a presence in Manhattan as well as lower cost chains such as Motel Six and Red Roof Inn. There are also a lot of older independent hotels around Manhattan. Places Like the Chelsea Hotel. You can also find some wonderful boutique hotels and suite hotels in Manhattan, like the Beekman Tower near the UN.
Cheap hotels are probably not what you are looking for in Manhattan. You may be able to find a good hotel deal, meaning something cheaper or less expensive, but if you find something that you would call "cheap," be very careful. Make sure it is safe and clean. Cheap is not something you usually find in Manhattan.
If you are staying more than a couple of days consider looking into extended stay hotels or apartments and condos. They can provide you with even better deals.
Extra Costs
Beware about extra costs at Manhattan hotels. If you are coming by car, it's going to cost you. Parking is at a premium in Manhattan so parking your car is going to cost extra, sometimes as much as thirty dollars a day or more.. Additionally, if internet service is important to you, find out the hotel's policy on wi-fi. Some hotels provide wi-fi for free; others charge you on a daily basis. Those extra costs can add up.
And don't forget about transportation. If your hotel is close to where you will be doing most of your sightseeing, that can save you a bundle in taxi fares.
