'I don't like the idea that one hotel could be better than another. In any city, I try to find a hotel that has the identity of that place - Claridge's in London, the Danieli or Cipriani in Venice. In New York, I stay at the Mercer Hotel; it is so much in the character of SoHo.'
Which hotel would you recommend?
It’s one of the most asked questions when planning a NYC trip.
Choosing a hotel is not like mathematics. There is more than one correct answer. There are literally hundreds! And just like colors, not everyone likes pink (I know! I’m baffled too!), the opinion about hotel rooms is very personal.
So here are 5 tips to help you find the perfect hotel according your wishes!
Tip 1: Location, location, location!
This one tip counts for 3!
Trust me it’s that important! It’s like real estate. The better the location, the higher the demand…the higher the price. Luckily for you, NYC offer hotels at all price levels. And when you look a bit further, you’ll find great location and great price!
Firstly, let’s talk areas.
Planning a trip in which 90% is spend in the Financial District, I would not recommend a hotel in the Bronx :). You figured that out already? Didn’t you?
Before you choose a hotel, make a rough program to see where you’ll spend most of your time. (You can read a few trips on planning here and here.) Are you planning a daily run around J.K. Onassis Reservoir the Upper East Side or the Upper West Side is your area to look for a hotel.
On top, the hotel area is the area you’ll explore the most. Walking around for morning coffee. Discovering little hidden gems near your hotel. I stay in a different area each time I visit. This helps me to really get to know each neighborhood better.
First timers look for a hotel in Midtown. Many major sightseeing locations are just a few blocks away. But keep in mind so are many tourists ;).
Got something better in store for you! Look a bit further than just Manhattan. Like say…Long Island City! Don’t run away! I’ll explain.
Location, location, location. Not just the area of the hotel. But also the few blocks around the hotel. If it’s located near a subway stop, you are in business! It takes you anywhere. Anytime. So no need the spend all your money on a Manhattan hotel. Just put some on the OMNY card and use the rest for cocktails at 230 5th! You are welcome ;)!
The subway is just down the street at the Paper Factory Hotel and takes you to Midtown in 10 minutes.
Tip: use Google Maps to see if there are any subway stops near your hotel.
The Paper Factory Hotel, 7-06 36th St, Long Island City
Tip 4: Budget
I’ll admit! This girl dreams of staying at the Mandarin Oriental, but till I win the lottery I have to ask myself the same question as you…
What do you want to spend?
We have to talk numbers when booking hotels. And that number is different for everyone. So no judging here. Personally I prefer extra spending money so I don’t go for highend hotels. Instead I look for a hotel with a great deal. I always tell myself: ‘you will only be there to sleep. Spend your money wisely’.
I’m not good with spending money wisely! Spending money. Yes. Spending it wisely. No.
So I need some help from a friend. In this case, my friend is called Connections!
‘A travel agency? Why? You can book online!’ I hear your thinking! But trust me on this. You will be as addicted as I am!
Cause honey, haven’t you learned anything from Covid? Low cost agencies (and flights) turn out high cost in many cases. You don’t want to read all the horror stories of people loosing all their travel money after booking online or with a low cost agency. No, you don’t have to agree with me. But if you are living in the Belgian area, trust me Connections is your go to! #notsponsored #reallylovethem
Great deals! Best service! Amazing advice! Great staff! You can thank me later!
Not living in the area? Do check their site for some hotel inspiration.
A budget hotel I love is BW Bowery Hanbee. The rooms are rather big, at least for NYC standards ;). Great location. No correction. Amazing location!! Near a subway. And most importantly just a few blocks from all time favorites like Pietro Nolita and Sézane ;)….
You do want to have breakfast elsewhere…you can’t have it all for this money.
Sites like Booking.com and Agoda will give you the option to explore hotels based on the money you want to spend. A great filter to limit the choices. But before you book through those kind of sites, make sure to check the hotel itself. It might give you more value for the same money! Read: upgrade it is!
Check out my Pinterest board for some hotel inspiration.
Tip 5: Reviews vs Recommendations
I don’t know about you. But reviews stress me out! Big time! All these people having different opinions about the same place! Arhgh! Who to believe?
Had the reviewer a bad day when writing it? Or was the concierge going through a really bad break up? Or was the stay really hell? I’ll never know!
The other day I met someone who was madly in love with the Jane Hotel.
I hated my stay there! Really! Never ever again*. Smallest rooms ever, bad heating that could not be controlled, lots of noise. She on the other hand goes there every time. It’s her all time favorite.
Reviews really depend on what you as a traveller value & need and how the specific hotel answers those. Please keep that in mind when reading the opinions of online strangers having a bad Monday cause they are no longer in NYC ;).
*FYI, this hotel was booked based after a Google search…I still had a few things to learn back then.
The Jane Hotel, 113 Jane Street, NYC
What is your favorite NYC hotel? Let me know in the comments!
Always in an Empire State of Mind,
xoxo,
B
PS: What about Airbnb? Well…renting on short term (under 30 days) is rather complicated and not 100% legal in NYC. So make sure everything is legit before you book. There are plenty of Craigslist memes to prove the questaionably off rental ads.…
You are warned, but if you like traveling on the edge. You go honey!
IN A RUSH? PIN IT FOR LATER!
IN A RUSH? PIN IT FOR LATER!
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