New York Hotels
NEW YORK HOTELS
When I recently read that the average price of a hotel in New York is $303 per night, I was surprised … that it’s this low. While you can eat for a reasonable price in New York and there are shopping bargains galore, anything directly related to the sky-high cost of real estate is through the roof.
Add to this New York hotel tax, which is 13% plus $4 per room occupancy tax. Before you book be sure you know the rate with fees and taxes added on. For example, a hotel rate of $340 will turn out to be $388.98 when you factor in taxes and fees.
It takes a bit of effort to score a good deal in New York. Step 1 Ask your travel agent to pass along the cruise line’s pre- and post-cruise packages, including information on transfers. If the rates seem reasonable, the hotel in a good location, I suggest taking it.
Step 2
Since you’re reading Step 2, I assume you want to scout out deals on your own. First, it’s important to decide which area of Manhattan you want to stay in. For the purpose of sightseeing or shopping, the area is quite large. Below are recommended areas of Manhattan:
Midtown. This ranges from 42 and 59th street. I wouldn’t go further east than Lexington Avenue or west of 9th Avenue.
Upper West Side. This ranges from 59th to 86th Streets.
Lower Manhattan. This is below 42nd Street, including the East and West Village, Soho Chelsea, Noho, Chelsea, the Financial area. So much shopping and plenty of sightseeing is found in this area (including the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Wall Street, the historic West Village and Little Italy). Areas to Avoid: The Upper East Side, because many hotels aren’t convenient to the subway. And, I suggest bypassing the other boroughs of New York unless you want to stay there for a specific reason. Step 3
Frequently you can get a better rate by calling the hotel directly (not the toll free number). For those who want to book rooms directly, here are several I recommend. If you want to narrow your selection by picking a few hotels, I recommend reading hotel reviews on Trip Advisor. However hotel prices may be better elsewhere, or by calling the hotel direct.
Buckingham Hotel. An all suite hotel in a great location (West 57th Street and 7th Avenue). I suggest calling direct to see if you’ll get a good rate. Great for families since rooms have sofa beds and kitchens.
Hampton Inn. There are three Hampton Inns in Manhattan, all in good areas. The company promises a better rate if you call them directly. Metro-Home Apartments. An alternative to pricey hotels is staying in an apartment. This company offers studio to large apartments, all in good areas.
Radio City Apartments is a complex of apartments near Times Square. I’ve heard very good reports and the average year-round price is $201. Highly recommended for families with children. Chelsea Savoy Hotel is a nice hotel on West 23rd Street. Quad rooms accommodate up to four people for $145-$225 per night. Colonial House Inn. On West 22nd Street, this hotel is in a brownstone and doubles as an art gallery. Rooms with private bath are $160, less if you want to share a bath, including continental breakfast. Avoid: The Pennsylvania Hotel garners lots of complaints from tourists who stay there. Step 4. It’s time to search the web for the best New York hotel deals. One web site that has deals from many Internet booking sites is Sherman’s Travel. Check the New York Hotel Deals for the best discounts at Expedia, Travelocity, and Hotels.com. - I’ve scored some terrific deals on Priceline’s “Name Your Own Price” area. You pick out the area, select the star level and then bid for a hotel.
- Another excellent search engine is Kayak, which searches the entire internet for good deals.
- For a list of all travel portals, I recommend Travel Best Tips. You’ll even find portals for luxury hotels.
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