Advice for Booking Cheap Hotels in New York

If you haven't been before check out our tips.

Published 27 October 2010 in Featured Articles

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Are you planning your first ever holiday to New York? If you haven’t been there before, then you probably need some tips for finding cheap hotels in New York. There are many different options for finding an affordable hotel and being close to all your favourite tourist attractions. All you need to do is a little research and planning before booking a USA hotel.

First, familiarise yourself with the city. If you don’t know very much about the different districts in the Big Apple you should read up on them before visiting. This way you will have a better idea of the area of town you would most like to stay in.

The most popular part of the city to stay in is Midtown Manhattan. This area practically stretches across the entire island from 34th Street north to the boundary of Central Park at 59th Street. Many tourists choose to stay here since it is centrally located and includes the Rockefeller Center, the Times Square Theatre district and the exclusive Fifth Avenue shopping district. Many of the five star hotels New York has to offer are also found in this area.

Another popular area to stay is Times Square. This area has many theatres, hotels, bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, convenience stores and boutiques. Many luxury hotels are found in Times Square. If you are on a limited budget though, there are also some smaller hotels in the area that are more affordable.

If you cannot afford to stay in New York hotels in the centre of the city, it is always an option to stay further afield. Hotels outside the city centre are often cheaper and more spacious.

Areas outside the city that still offer easy transport include Secaucus, Jersey City and Newark. Secaucus, New Jersey, is only five miles east of the Holland Tunnel and has easy access to Manhattan by car or public transport links. It is known as a business and commercial district that has many moderately-priced hotels.

Jersey City is located across from the Hudson River from lower Manhattan and has easy access to the city through the Lincoln Tunnel or by train or ferry. Newark Airport is less than an hour away from Manhattan by train or bus. Each commute is easy to do, and the hotel prices will be much lower than rooms in Manhattan.

After looking at the different areas and prices, choose which location you would best like to stay. If you are unable to stay right in the centre of the city then place yourself conveniently near public transport links. This way it will be much easier getting around New York.

Consider a hotel near a subway stop. The New York City Subway is extensive and runs 24 hours a day. You can easily get a Metrocard during your stay which offers unlimited rides or pay-per-ride options.

However, if you are in an area where it is easy to walk places, then many recommend doing New York by foot. This way you can avoid all the traffic and get a good tour of the city.

Think about booking early. The earlier you book, the easier it will be to get a cheap deal. Also, by booking in advance you will have all your accommodation sorted out ahead of time. This will make planning the rest of your stay in New York less stressful.

It is also useful to look into small ways to save. For example, some hotels offer a free breakfast, while at other hotels you have to pay more for it. If you choose to stay at a hotel with free breakfast then you could save significantly on meal costs during your stay.

Have flexibility when booking hotels in New York. There are peak and off peak times for tourists to stay at hotels. If you are looking to stay at a leisure hotel then it’s going to be most busy during the weekend. Therefore, you should consider booking during the week for a cheaper rate. When staying at business hotels, look to book on the weekends for cheaper rates.

Just as you should be conscious of the time of week, also consider the season you are travelling in. The popular travel season is from mid-March to December, so by booking a stay during the beginning of the year you can secure a cheaper rate on New York hotels.

New York can be crowded and you will save your sanity and your wallet by booking during the less congested seasons. Autumn, Christmas and spring are the most popular and expensive times of year. The very busiest are the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

Hotels will offer discounts when they are low on numbers. This usually happens in January and February since many avoid the cold temperatures of these months. If you want to book during the busy periods like Christmas then make sure you book way in advance.

If you are flexible with your hotel choices and locations then you will definitely find cheap hotels in New York to stay in. There are hotels for every type of traveller that will offer comfort and affordability. Read up on the different areas, check the city’s events calendar and be mindful of the huge population this city houses. Before you know it you will be at the top of the Statue of Liberty, gazing out at the gridded streets and small dots of people below you.

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