NYC Hotels for Tourists
Finding hotels in New York City can be a daunting task. There are so many choices, and so many price points, that it’s hard to make a decision on where to stay. Here are some tips, divided by category:
Stay outside Manhattan:
The best options here include hotels near Newark Airport, in Secaucus, New Jersey, or in Long Island City. Newark is the farthest, but is near the airport and there is an outlet mall (Jersey Gardens) nearby for shopping. Best options there are the Renaissance if you are looking for a nicer hotel, or Hampton Inn if you are more price conscious. In Secaucus, we recommend the Embassy Suites and the Homewood Suites. The Embassy Suites is the best hotel in Secaucus for the money. In Long Island City, the Marriott Fairfield Inn is a great choice. The good thing about Long Island City is the subway is very easy to use to get to Times Square or Time Warner Center/Columbus Circle. If you stay outside of Manhattan, you will need to learn the transportation options to and from the city. Expect to pay $100 for a cab from Newark hotels to Manhattan, each way. There are other options, however, such as the subway or pickup and dropoff from sightseeing tour companies like OnBoard New York Tours.
Stay in Manhattan, Expensive Big Hotel:
Best options here are the Renaissance in Times Square or the New York Hilton . Both are larger, upscale hotels. Both are in great locations. You won’t save much money here, but you’ll be in the middle of the action. Another option is the Grand Hyatt at Grand Central Terminal. It’s a great hotel, but unless you are planning to become an expert on the subway system, skip it.
Here are some more big New York Hotel Suggestions.
Stay in Manhattan, Save Money:
I think the best bet in Manhattan right now is the Marriott Fairfield Inn on 40th Street, across from the Port Authority. Not the most exciting locality, but for the money it’s the most convenient low-priced option. There is a Four Points Hotel by Sheraton next door to it. We haven’t stayed there, but it looks comparable to the Fairfield. The other low-priced option is the Hotel Pennsylvania. I don’t recommend it. Lines are long at check-in. Hotel is run down. Services are limited. They have rooms without closets and without desks. If you have to save money, just read lots of online reviews so you know what you are in for.
Stay in Manhattan, Watch Out for “3 Star” Hotels:
Remember that star ratings say nothing of quality. They only mean that the hotel has certain amenities. There are a number of 3 and 3 1/2 star hotels that you will wish you didn’t travel to. Many of them have tiny rooms, no desks, barely room to walk around the bed, and often no place to hang your clothes. Hotel 30/30, Hudson Hotel, Park Central, and similar hotels look fantastic, but you will be disappointed in the room size and amenities.
This article is written by Tom S., for OnBoard Tours.
This entry was posted on Friday, June 18th, 2010 at 9:29 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.