New York City attracts millions of tourists each year. Are you headed to the Big Apple? If so, you are going to have an amazing time. After a long day and night of exploring the city and its nightlife, you’ll need a place to rest. No worries, we have some “expert advice” for you.
Let’s take a look at what are our options for budget accommodations in New York City.
HOTELS
New York is not the cheapest place you can travel to. Hotels are rather expensive there. Prices usually start from $90 – $200, but the reviews and ratings are not always the best. If you are looking for hotels with higher ratings, be prepared to pay a minimum of $250-$400 per night, per room. That said, if you are traveling in a group, the cost gets shares.
Our Tip: Search for hotels in advance. Sometimes, (if you are lucky), you can find a discount up to 40% and book a double room for $100. New York is a popular destination throughout the year, it is necessary to make reservations well in advance. If you plan to be in the city during the height of the tourist season, booking months in advance would be wise.
HOSTELS
If you are on a small budget, the hostel would be the best choice for you. In New York, you have many variants to pick from. They may not be of high quality. Only a few of them have a higher rating (running a Hostel is not an easy business).
The first rule, expect nothing of quality or comfort, and you will be happy when a hostel of your choice exceeds your expectation. Read the reviews before booking. This is a must. Hostels can range from $50 and above. Some cater exclusively to students (you’ll need an ID). You should make your reservations months in advance.
Here some Hostels to get you started.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS RESIDENCE
This hostel is located in Brooklyn, in just a 2-minute walk from the subway, which will get you to Manhattan. The rooms have air-conditioning, lockers, and a free Wi-Fi access. There is a common area with two flat-screen TV sets and a fully equipped kitchen for your service.
The price of the bed in the shared dorm starts from $40 per night, and there are only-female dorms, in case you are a single female traveler.
CENTRAL PARK WEST HOSTEL
This hostel is located on Upper West Side, just a couple of minutes away from the subway station. You can use luggage storage, a shared kitchen and a big lounge with a TV set. Also, there are lockers in the rooms and a paid Wi-Fi connection.
The price tag is just $44-$50 for a bed in a shared dorm (per night). The free cancellation is possible, so you can change your plans if you want. But, everything has a cut-off deadline, so please, always pay attention to the fine prints.
JAZZ ON COLUMBUS CIRCLE HOSTEL
This hostel is just a 4-minute walk away from Central Park and Columbus Circle. There are mixed and only-female shared dormitories available, at a price of $53 – $54 per night. Each room has a private bathroom and a flat-screen TV set. Free Wi-Fi connection is available in all areas. Also, you can cancel your booking for free, if you need.
AIRBNB
There is a wide variety of such accommodations in New York, which you can find on Airbnb. There are rooms for just $50 and entire apartments for over $500 a night. They differ in price, location, facilities provided, the number of guests accepted and so on.
Anyway, from such a wide choice, everyone will be able to find something to his taste. Airbnb is only growing with each passing year, so make sure to look into it.
COUCHSURFING
In the city as expensive as New York, you should never forget about Couchsurfing. From over 140 thousand of hosts in New York City, you are sure to find someone, with whom you feel comfortable and safe. Not only will you save money on accommodation, but also make new friends and have non-tourist fun in the Big Apple.
STAY WITH LOCALS
Have you got a friend who lives in the City or nearby, such as New York Boroughs, New Jersey or south and western Connecticut? The residents of New York take pride in their city, love showing off, and they also understand that hotels are expensive here.
Taking an old friend out to dinner one night in return for accommodation is far more economical than staying in a hotel. Plus, you get to catch up. And, who knows, your old friend can even take you around and that way you will get a real take on New York as opposed to just the tourist attractions.
Alternative Options
To enjoy Manhattan, you don’t have to sleep in Manhattan. There are nearby New York Boroughs and places which are cheaper and has great train (subway) connectivity.
Queens
Queens is being developed by the city as its new “hotel zone.” There are over 20 good and safe hotels in the region just across the bridge from Manhattan. Accommodation here can cost as little as $50 per night. Take advantage of it! Since the subway runs all night, you can go out in Manhattan and come back at any time.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn City has a sprawling amount of hotels. In the neighborhood of Park Slope alone, here are over 5 hotels. With great access to public transportation and quick trips into Manhattan Brooklyn is definitely a borough you should look into.
New Jersey
Just over the Hudson River and outside the city limits, in New Jersey, there are cheaper hotels, and Manhattan is easily accessible by a short 15-minute ferry ride, by train, by bus, or by a more expensive cab ride. However, public transit to and from New Jersey does not run as often as transportation within New York City, especially after midnight. Taking a cab to New Jersey can be both expensive and time-consuming.
Hotels close to Newark Airport can cost as little as $50 per night if booked online. However, to travel to Manhattan with public transportation can be complicated . Multiple transfers are required (airport shuttle to airport; #62 to Newark Penn Station; PATH train to the city), and services are of low frequency. Expect 1.5 to 2 hours each way from your Newark airport hotel to Manhattan.
Jersey City can be easier as it’s only a short hop from there to Midtown on the PATH.
Staten Island
Another option for customers coming from Newark Airport is to stay in Staten Island. Some Staten Island hotels, such as The Hilton Garden Inn at 900 South Avenue, offer free shuttle buses or are on bus lines to the free St. George Ferry to Manhattan. Do be aware though that Staten Island is a lot farther than it seems from the main attractions.
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