Accommodations Overview
NYC ACCOMMODATIONS OVERVIEW
This page will give you some basic info and advice about finding the right accommodations for your New York City getaway. I’ll talk about rates, location, and other factors to consider when choosing your hotel.
To skip this page and go straight to my short list of recommended hotels, click here.
For tips about researching and booking accommodations, click here.
Rates: Ouch!
No two ways around it — NYC hotel rooms are expensive.
Expect to pay over $200 for a decent 3-star hotel; $300 - $400 is still considered “moderate” by NYC standards. Four-star luxury may cost upwards of $400. Want a room with a view at a five-star hotel? It’ll cost you $700 or more per night!
Rates are usually lower in the summer, and on weekends throughout the year.
Most of Lipstick Getaways recommended hotels will be in the “moderate” or “high moderate” 3- or 4-star range. These are hotels I can recommend with confidence. I’d like to add a few budget-minded properties soon.
If you have a favorite money-saving hotel — or even an expensive-but-worth-it luxury splurge — please share it with us by posting a comment.
Location: Midtown is easiest, and probably your best bet.
Midtown has the highest concentration of hotels in the city, so you can easily find a room.
Easy access to the fun stuff!
From midtown you are within walking distance to theater, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal, Rockefeller Center, and many other popular sights. You’ll easily get to the rest by taxi, subway, bus, or on foot.
However, I generally do not recommend staying in midtown’s Times Square/Theater District area. Too hectic, noisy, crowded, and touristy to serve as a pleasant “home base.”
Remember: even if you are planning to go to the theater every night, you can stay in a much nicer neighborhood just a few minutes’ walk away.
Other Neighborhoods
If you feel confident about finding your way around town, or are planning to spend most of your time in a particular neighborhood, you might also consider the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Union Square/Murray Hill, or SoHo.
You can sometimes get more for your money by staying outside of midtown.
For now, all my Lipstick Getaways recommended hotels are in midtown.
I did stay in SoHo once after I knew the city, and it worked out fine. On my next trip I plan to try another neighborhood, and will let you know how it works out.
Why I love smaller independent hotels!
Consider checking into one of New York’s interesting smaller independent hotels. Unlike those big, familiar, corporate-clone hotels you can find everywhere, at an independent hotel you will find:
- An intimate, personal atmosphere.
- No huge lobbies and long lines at check-in.
- The staff will be friendly, helpful, and genuinely interested in making your getaway a success.
I’ve included several smaller independents in my list of favorite NYC hotels.
That said … I’ve also stayed at some big corporate hotels, and it was just fine. Of course if you belong to a frequent-stay or corporate program, or you find a great deal online, that will influence your choice.
Tip:
Remember that NYC hotel rooms are notoriously tiny, so try to look for larger rooms, especially if you are sharing.You can find square footage information on most hotel websites.
Unless otherwise noted, all the hotels in this guide have reasonably large rooms.
Now, are you ready to find a hotel in New York City?
Click here for my short list of recommended hotels. (I don’t get a commission or anything for my recommendations. I will tell you if that changes.)
If you want to do your own research, but could use some helpful tips, click here.
Go … Have Fun!
Carol
