The Best New York Hotels For Every Type of Traveler

I spent eight years living in New York and at least a decade visiting the Big Apple before making it my home. I’ve learned in many ways that New York hotels are never cheap and that you usually get what you pay for.

Travelers visiting New York can expect to pay an average of $363 a night, according to STR, a company that tracks hotel price data. Even staying in Brooklyn, Queens or New Jersey won’t save you as much as it used to, especially once you factor in transportation costs. Of course, there are a few things travelers can do to ease the hotel price sticker shock in New York City.

When To Look For NYC Hotel Deals 

Prices for New York hotels tend to fall in January and February after peaking around the holidays in December. January—a month when more people are worried about paying off their holiday bills than booking trips—brings deals on hotels as well as theater tickets and restaurants, making it an especially affordable time to travel to the city. 

If you’ve got your heart on long summer days in the city, free concerts and endless street festivals, travel in July or August when city dwellers head east to the Hamptons and steamy temperatures deter some travelers.

Where To Stay in NYC

Heading to Brooklyn used to be one way to save on New York City accommodations, but Brooklyn prices aren’t far behind Manhattan prices nowadays. Travel during Santacon in December, and don’t be surprised to see a Hampton Inn in Brooklyn going for over $400 a night. 

If you’re not traveling at a peak time, look for lower prices at hotels in the Financial District and or in Long Island City. Consider national chain brands like Hyatt Place, Holiday Inn, Doubletree, the Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites. Chain hotels like these tend to have reasonable prices and spacious rooms, especially by New York standards. Some also throw in extras like free breakfast. 

After years of watching the Ball Drop on TV from Times Square, you might be tempted to book a hotel room in this area. There are far better options and hotel deals outside of Times Square, which may get old more quickly than you think.

If you insist on visiting New York to see the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, expect to pay a significant premium over New York prices to book a room or restaurant dinner with a view. Think $400 for dinner at the Olive Garden before you step outside for the New Year’s Eve countdown and confetti drop.

For the best prices and widest selection, aim to book your NYC hotel about three months ahead of your trip. Friday nights tend to be the most expensive while Saturday nights tend to be cheapest. It is possible to find last-minute deals as long as it’s not a peak travel time or around a major event.

Best New York Hotels For First-Time Visitors

If you’re a first-time visitor to New York City, prepare yourself. Not only are hotel rooms more expensive here, they’re often smaller than expected. Chain brands like Hampton Inn, Doubletree and Marriott, tend to have more spacious rooms than boutique hotels and at better prices. If you are a first-time visitor, consider booking one of these properties. I’ve stayed at or sent friends and family to several of them over the years, and they’re consistently solid bets at reasonable prices.

The DoubleTree Hotel Chelsea offers relatively spacious rooms, some with Empire State Building views, and welcomes guests with warm chocolate chip and walnut cookies. I like this hotel for visiting Koreatown and architectural gems like the Empire State Building and the Flatiron. It’s near Madison Square Garden and offers easy access to several Subway lines. It’s a short walk to Keens Steakhouse, where the bar is a literary aficionado’s dream, the high-end Italian restaurant Scarpetta, and the best Korean restaurants in the city.

The Hampton Inn Times Square North was one of the hotels I most frequently recommended to friends and family looking for spacious, conveniently located accommodations at an affordable price. The hotel is just north of Times Square, making the iconic attraction easy to visit while providing a slightly calmer, quieter home base in the heart of Manhattan. This hotel serves breakfast for free and is a great option for travelers in town for Comic-Con or those who want to eat their way around the world in Midtown West, shop designer boutiques or wander around Central Park. This is also a great option for anyone visiting Broadway or looking for a central location that makes it easy to access each of New York’s five boroughs.

The Courtyard by Marriott on Greenwich Street is an excellent option for first-time visitors whose agendas include the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn or the World Trade Center site and for cruise travelers departing from or arriving to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. The guest rooms are clean and spacious by New York standards, and there are lots of great casual food options nearby. The bathrooms are tight but functional. Breakfast is free, and there’s parking at the hotel for an additional charge.

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Best New York Hotels For Solo Travelers & Couples

The CitizenM Times Square is located just far enough north of Times Square that it feels like a different place. This hotel welcomes guests with art even before they walk inside. It’s got a bar that’s well-priced by New York standards, a separate terrace bar, and functional rooms perfect for solo travelers or couples. And while the rooms here are small, they’re well-designed and each comes with a king-size bed.

To save money without having to sacrifice too much comfort, check yourself into the World Center hotel. These rooms are spacious by New York standards and get great natural light, which isn’t a guarantee in a city of skyscrapers. There’s also a top-floor restaurant with a view. The location is perfect for visiting the One World Trade Observatory, the World Trade Center Memorial and the Statue of Liberty. It’s a short train ride to Brooklyn, and you can take the Subway here from JFK or the train from Newark International Airport.

Best New York Luxury Hotels

If you’re looking to spoil yourself on your New York vacation, you’re in luck. New York’s luxury hotels are some of the best in the world, and there are lots to choose from.

The Plaza is one of Manhattan’s finest hotels and one you may recognize from movies including Home Alone 2, Sleepless in Seattle, or The Way We Were. This pet-friendly property has modern and classically styled standard rooms and some of the most luxurious suites in town. Some suites at The Plaza come with private outdoor space, one of the most coveted things in Manhattan. There’s also a champagne bar in the lobby and one of the most elegant afternoon tea services you can have in the U.S. Bergdorff Goodman is just around the corner.

For Central Park views and a location steps from some of the city’s best shopping, head to the Mandarin Oriental at the edge of Columbus Circle and Central Park South. The Mandarin Oriental brand takes hospitality to a whole other level, and this is an excellent place to experience it.

For understated luxury on Fifth Avenue, check in to The Langham, another five-star hotel. If you prefer St. Regis, Ritz Carlton or Park Hyatt, you’ll find each nearby.

Best New York Hotel For The Holidays

If you’re traveling during the holidays and want to stay in a winter wonderland in the heart of the city, try the Lotte New York Palace. The hotel’s courtyard Christmas Tree is one of the city’s best, and the hotel is perfectly located for enjoying the best of the city’s holiday festivities. The Lotte Palace is just a few blocks from iconic landmarks like Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall where the Rockettes perform their Christmas Spectacular and the Saks Fifth Avenue holiday light show. Some rooms have views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

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Best For Business Travelers and Remote Workers

If you’re visiting New York for work and prefer a desk to working from bed or an uncomfortable chair, check out the Club Quarters Hotel, which has locations in Midtown and the Financial District. This hotel chain is designed for business travelers, and most locations offer spacious, functional rooms with perks like free drinks and daily food for hotel guests. I’ve stayed at the Club Quarters World Trade Center and joined happy hour at the Club Quarters Midtown a few times. I’d recommend both for travelers looking for more space or booking longer trips.

Best Midtown Manhattan Hotels

Midtown is home to Manhattan’s greatest concentration of hotels. You’ll find everything from low-budget rooms to sprawling high-end suits in soaring glass towers here. These are my favorite midtown hotels.

The Pierre is a luxurious Taj hotel just east of Central Park. It’s expensive, but its service and rooms deliver. Stay here for easy access to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s also a great option for anyone looking to shop on Fifth Avenue.

If you consider yourself a literary or history buff, keep heading south to the Algonquin Hotel. This historic hotel is now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, so you can earn Marriott Bonvoy Points when you stay. The Algonquin has long been popular among actors and writers. It’s where The New Yorker magazine was founded in 1925 and where musician Harry Connick Jr. launched his career. The location near Bryant Park is perfect for Broadway trips and for anyone who wants to wax nostalgic about old New York.

For a location near Lincoln Center on the west side of the city, try the Empire Hotel. The rooms are small, but the rooftop bar alone makes staying here worth it.

Best Downtown Manhattan Hotels

There are fewer hotels in Lower Manhattan, the bottom section of the island than there are in midtown. Still, there are plenty of options to choose from whether it’s a boutique property or a favorite brand you’re looking for.

Soho, Chinatown, Nomad, and the Village can be great home bases for shoppers and anyone visiting New York University. Head further south to the Financial District for lower prices, bigger rooms, lots of history and even better access to subways. There are several hotels within a short walk of Wall Street.

For an upscale hotel that hosts live jazz and will make you feel like a superstar every time you walk in, check in to the Roxy Hotel. This hotel is just over a block from the Firehouse that served as headquarters in the Ghostbusters movie. It’s a few blocks north of the African Burial Ground National Monument.

If your goal is to jump straight onto a bike to explore the city on two wheels, consider the Arlo Hotel in Soho. The hotel is just a few blocks from the scenic Hudson River on Manhattan’s western edge and has a collection of bicycles guests can borrow to explore the waterfront and beyond.

The quirky CitizenM hotel chain has a location in the Bowery that makes for an excellent home base steps away from the bars and clubs of the Lower East Side and East Village. The rooms are small, but they’re clean, colorful, and in one of the most fun parts of Manhattan. If you happen to be traveling over a Monday night, pay a visit to Arlene’s Grocery. It’s a 10-minute walk from the CitizenM and Monday night karaoke is well worth staying up late for.

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Best Uptown Manhattan Hotels

The further north you go in Manhattan the fewer hotels you’ll find. Luckily, you only need one good one. Live out your In The Heights dreams at the four-star Radio Hotel in Washington Heights. This hotel is just a few years old. It’s plush, comfortable, and has an idyllic courtyard for relaxing after a long day of sightseeing. This is a particularly convenient location for visiting the Bronx Zoo, catching a Yankees game or diving deep into Washington Heights’ Dominican roots.

Best Brooklyn Hotels

You won’t have to go deep into Brooklyn to find an unforgettable place to stay. 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge sits just across the river from Manhattan and is the best new luxury hotel in the borough. This waterfront hotel offers spacious rooms of 300 square feet or more, some with Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline views.

The five-star William Vale is the hotel that elevated Brooklyn hospitality, and makes for an excellent home base for exploring Williamsburg, one of the borough’s most charming—and most popular neighborhoods. The William Vale is one of the few New York hotels with a swimming pool, and it’s terrace bar offers some of the best Manhattan skyline views in the city.

While you’re in Williamsburg, go have a beer at Brooklyn Brewery, eat your way across Smorgasburg Williamsburg, check the concert schedule at Brooklyn Bowl, shop independent boutiques, browse street art and spend some time in McCarren Park. I once spotted a guy walking a cat, a dog and a parrot through this park, and I’ll never forget it.

*Support this site by booking through our partner links. While we earn commissions when you purchase through our partner links, editorial reviews are independent and not subject to review by the companies mentioned.