New York City is known as the city that never sleeps, and it’s quite true; there’s always something to do in the city. As a result, there are plenty of hotels in New York, and some are quite affordable. That is often a big issue with travel to the Big Apple: how to go there, and stay in a cheap hotel that doesn’t look cheap?
The first step in finding hotels in New York that are affordable is by getting to know the layout of the city. Downtown Manhattan is the focal point of the city. That’s where Times Square, the shopping centers, the theater district, and all the other main parts to the city are. So, naturally, that’s where the biggest and nicest hotels are. Unfortunately, they are not cheap. Now, if money is not a problem, then check out the hotels in that area. They are the best of the best, and feature great amenities: room service, pools, spas, and full services to help you see the sights of the city.
Once you get outside of the downtown area, you can find hotels in New York that are more economical. Up in the neighborhoods surrounding Central Park are many affordable hotels; affordable for the city! A good place to look for is an old apartment building that’s been converted to a hotel. The places tend to be old, and may not have some of the fancier amenities, but they make up for that with their price and location.
The locations of the hotels in New York you look at are important. The further uptown on the island of Manhattan you get, the cheaper the hotels in New York get, but you also get into neighborhoods that aren’t as safe. Crime is a very real problem, so keep that in mind when looking for affordable accommodations.
There’s also the issue of travel about the city. If you have a car, you’ll want to look at hotels in New York that have parking garages; because trying to find a parking space is just about impossible! There are public lots, and parking is allowed on some streets, but they’re usually only allowed during certain hours and on certain days. So, you’ll be forever moving your car to another space. This is not how you want to spend your time in New York City. The most economical form of travel is the subway. Get yourself a map of the different subway lines, and then use it. It’s a cheap means of getting around. Also, a taxi can be a cheap way of getting around, so long as you don’t travel too far. Their fees can easily roll up if you don’t keep an eye on the meter!
If you don’t mind going a little further a field, there are hotels in New York just over the bridges from Manhattan, out on Long Island, Jersey City, and Hoboken; to name only a few places. These hotels tend to be very economical, but then you have travel to the city to see the sights. If you intend to stay outside the city, then use the internet to check out the hotels in New York in the areas you’re interested in, and then see what forms of transportation are available. Some hotels even provide shuttles into the city, or have discounts on the subway tickets.
Vast areas of New York are easily accessible by walking. Yet, if a member of your party is handicapped, this can be a problem. Here again, use the internet to check for hotels in New York that are handicap accessible. Some of the older places may not be.