We know how difficult it is to find a hotel in New York that fits everything you are looking for. We fully understand the doubts you have, especially when it comes to choosing a location to stay in New York. And yes, the fact that there are thousands of options in the city doesn’t help with this choice.
Looking back, we can say that one of the queries we receive the most is about where to stay in New York, especially after travelers realize that the options in the city tend to be unlimited and in most cases, at very high prices.
Although throughout this article we give you many tips and recommendations, the first thing we think it is important to know is that although there are many options, if it is your first trip to the city, the recommendations are quite reduced, so probably this initial screening will make the process of finding accommodation in New York much faster and easier.
Based on the several times we have visited the city, the last one to update the New York guide, we want to let you know what are for us the best accommodation options in New York and the best neighborhoods. Let’s get started!
Neighborhoods where to stay in New York
Before you start looking for a hotel in New York, the best thing to do is to get an idea of the situation of the city and how it is divided, so that you can make a selection of accommodation in a clear and focused way to meet your travel needs.
The city has 5 boroughs or districts, which are known as Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island and within these, the most recommended or usual ones to stay in, would be Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, being the first the most expensive and the most demanded by most travelers.
In turn, these districts are composed of different neighborhoods and Manhattan for example, has among its neighborhoods with Harlem, the Financial District, Little Italy, Chinatown, SoHo … etc..
Generally speaking, most first-time travelers to the city choose Times Square and the surrounding area as the place to stay in New York, as it is one of the most famous places in the city and also a good base to visit most of the must-see places in New York.
Despite this and taking into account that it is one of the most expensive areas of the city, we stayed the first time in the city at the Holiday Inn Times Square, we understand that perhaps this is not a suitable place for all travelers, so in addition to all the recommendations, we want to leave you other options that may fit your budget and your trip, to make the most of the things to do in New York.
Manhattan, the best area to stay in New York City
As we said before, Manhattan is the best option where to stay in New York, especially if it is your first trip to the city. Being an island of almost 22 kilometers long by almost 4 kilometers wide, we could say that this is divided into 3 main areas, which in turn, are divided into different neighborhoods or areas.
- Downtown: this area is located south of the island and includes some of New York’s best neighborhoods such as West Village, Greenwich Village, NoHo, East Village, ABC City, SoHo, Little Italy, Bowery, Lower East Side, Tribeca, Chinatown, Civic Center, White Hall, Wall Street and Southern Tip, all below 14th Street.
- Midtown: this could be said to be the middle area of Manhattan and is where we find the neighborhoods of Clinton, Theater District, Midtown, Turttle Bay, Sutton, Beekman, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, Garmet District, Midtown South, Kips Bay, Medical City and Gramercy Park, all of them between 14th and 59th Streets.
- Uptown: this area is the northernmost area of Manhattan and consists of the neighborhoods of Lincoln Square, Lenox Hill, Central Park, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Upper West Side, Yorkville, East Harlem, Harlem, Mornigside Heights, Hamilton Heights, Fort George and Inwood, all north of 59th Street.
As you can see, the options where to stay in New York are endless and all of them have their good and bad things, so we think it is best that you try to focus on the best known and recommended areas, which we will talk about below and always, based on your trip and budget, choose the best hotel in New York.
Lodging in Midtown Manhattan
For us, this is one of the best areas to stay in Manhattan, basically for being the place where some of the main attractions of the city are located. This area is located between 14th Street and 59th Street, right where the famous green lung of the city begins, where you can’t miss following this list of must-see places in Central Park.
The price of accommodation in Midtown Manhattan is usually 300 euros per night.
Lodging in Times Square
Despite being one of the busiest and most touristic areas of the city and also one of the most expensive places to stay in New York, if your budget allows it and it is your first trip to the city, we recommend this area. However, don’t forget that it is also one of the noisiest and most chaotic, so if you want to enjoy the tranquility at night when you get to your hotel after touring the city, this may not be the best option.
The price of accommodation in Times Square is usually between 150 and 200 euros per night.
Lodging in Union Square and the Flatiron District
Within Midtown Manhattan are the areas of Union Square and Flatiron District, two of the most central areas of the city, with transport connections to all tourist attractions and with a great gastronomic offer.
In this area is the famous Union Square, Madison Square Park and Flatiron Building, the famous building of the Big Apple.
Both options are perfect if you want to sleep in New York in a very central area but not as crowded and touristy as Times Square.
The price of accommodation in Union Square and the Flatiron District usually exceeds 250 euros per night.
Lodging in Chelsea
Located on the west side of Manhattan, Chelsea is another of our favorite neighborhoods where to stay in New York, for being a place where you can find many dining options, as well as being the place where the High Line and Chelsea Market are, two places you can not miss in New York. In addition, it is a very central but at the same time quiet area, where you can even live in the neighborhood.
The price of accommodation in Chelsea is usually 150-200 euros per night.
Lodging in Midtown West
Known for being the neighborhood where the Empire State Building, one of the best viewpoints in New York, Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center are located, Midtown West is another of our favorite areas to stay in New York, especially if you want to be in a central location and do not mind being an active part of the city that never sleeps.
The price of accommodation in Midtown West is usually around 200 euros per night.
Lodging in Downtown Manhattan
Undoubtedly, Downtown Manhattan is another of the most recommended areas where to stay in New York. Known for being the area where some of the most famous neighborhoods of the city are located, such as SoHo, Tribeca or China Town, it is also where the city was born and where the famous Financial District is located, one of the places you can not miss on a tour of New York at night.
This area starts south of 14th Street and ends at Southern Tip.
The price of accommodation in Downtown Manhattan is usually 200 euros per night.
Lodging in Financial District
Although it is an area with several of the most important tourist attractions of the city, such as Wall Street, the World Trade Center or in the east side the Brooklyn Bridge, besides being the place from which the famous Helicopter Tour starts, for us this would not be the best option where to sleep in New York as it is quite far from the rest of the tourist attractions, although it is well connected by public transport with the rest of the city.
The price of accommodation in the Financial District is usually 150 euros per night.
Lodging in Tribeca
Located below SoHo and north of Battery Park, Tribeca is one of the trendiest neighborhoods to stay in New York and currently the location of many fashionable locales, which have made this area a must for any traveler looking to stay in a unique and charming place.
The price of accommodation in Tribeca is usually 300 euros per night.
Lodging in Chinatown
Although for us it is not the best option to look for a hotel in New York, we do know that there are many travelers who choose Chinatown as it is a central area with accommodation prices much more affordable than in neighboring areas, especially because they are of much tighter categories. In addition, it has many restaurant offers perfect for lovers of Asian cuisine.
The price of accommodation in Chinatown is usually 100 euros per night.
Lodging in SoHo
South of Houston, popularly known as SoHo, is one of the most famous neighborhoods in New York, both for its style and for its wide range of restaurants and for being the location of many luxury stores and art galleries, where the fire escapes of the buildings will make you feel like you are in a movie.
It is also currently one of the most recommended areas where to sleep in New York, although due to the high demand, prices are not always affordable for all budgets.
The price of accommodation in SoHo is usually 300 euros per night.
East Village and West Village
Under the 14th and on the east and west side of Manhattan are East Village and West Village, two less known neighborhoods where to stay in New York, but that can be good options if you are looking for atmosphere, especially in the first one, where there are plenty of alternative places and where we are sure you will not get bored.
Whatever your choice, in both you can enjoy a central location and a wide range of quality restaurants.
The price of accommodation in the East Village and West Village is usually 120-150 euros per night.
Lodging in Uptown Manhattan
Although this is probably not the first choice where to stay in New York for most travelers, after having stayed in East Harlem for almost two months, we have to say that it is a great option, as long as you stay in an area with good communication with subway and as long as you are close to Central Park, one of the places you can not miss in the city and which is undoubtedly one of its main attractions.
This area starts at 59th, south of Central Park, with Columbus Circle as one of the highlights of the area.
The price of accommodation in Uptown Manhattan depends a lot on the neighborhood, but in general terms, it is usually 150 euros per night in the northernmost area and about 250 euros in the south.
Lodging in Upper East Side
This neighborhood, mostly residential, is known for being located on the east side of Central Park and for having some of the most incredible museums in the city such as the MET or the Guggenheim.
For us it would not be the best option where to stay in New York, especially considering its high prices, its connection with public transport and its poor gastronomic offer.
The price of accommodation in the Upper East Side is usually 150-200 euros per night.
Lodging in Harlem
On the north side of Central Park is Harlem, one of the least considered neighborhoods where to stay in New York, due to its bad reputation, but we believe it is along with East Harlem, a perfect choice if you find a hotel with a subway station nearby and is in the area closest to Central Park.
Besides being in the area you can enjoy a multicultural neighborhood with a great atmosphere, in which we recommend you to follow this guide of things to see and do in Harlem, without missing of course to attend a Gospel Mass and a tour of Harlem.
The price of accommodation in Harlem is usually 100-120 euros per night although in some occasions, it usually exceeds 200 euros.
Brooklyn, another of the best areas to look for a hotel in New York City
Known for being one of the 5 boroughs of New York, Brooklyn is another area where to stay in New York, especially if the accommodation in Manhattan does not fit your budget.
Although here you can find cheaper hotels, we recommend you to look carefully at the location and value that it is close to a subway stop, so that transportation to the most touristic places is easy, fast and comfortable. Despite this you should also keep in mind that in many cases you will find hotels at very similar prices to those in Manhattan, exceeding 200 euros per night, but in the case of Brooklyn, you will have larger rooms and above all, hotels with better infrastructure for the same price.
The price of accommodation in Brooklyn is usually 200 euros per night although you can find hotels at much lower prices.
Lodging in Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO
Within Brooklyn, we would choose Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO as two of the most suitable areas to look for accommodation in New York. Both are the most touristic areas of the borough, next to the famous Brooklyn Bridge, and in them you can find trendy places, a wide range of restaurants and the best, atmosphere but not as stressful as sometimes happens in some neighborhoods of Manhattan.
The price of accommodation in Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO is usually 120 euros per night.
Lodging in Williamsburg
If you want to look for a hotel in Brooklyn and your budget is tight, the best option is to opt for Williamsburg, where in addition to finding more affordable hotels, you can enjoy another of the trendiest neighborhoods today, where there are plenty of charming locals and art galleries.
The price of accommodation in Williamsburg is usually less than 100 euros per night.
Queens, another of the places to sleep in New York City
Although for us it would be the last option where to stay in New York, Queens is another of the districts of the city that offers affordable prices, so it can be a very good choice if you do not mind being a little away from the most touristy areas and your budget for accommodation is lower than the prices of hotels that are usually found in Manhattan or Brooklyn.
If you opt for this district, we advise you to look for a hotel with a subway line nearby, preferably in the area of Astoria and Long Island to reach Manhattan in less than 30 minutes.
The price of accommodation in Queens is usually less than 100 euros per night.
New Jersey, the best place to sleep in New York cheaply
Like Queens, New Jersey would be one of our last options where to stay in New York, taking into account that it is quite far away from the most touristic areas, although by transportation, you can get there in less than 30 minutes.
In case you choose this option, we advise you to look for a hotel with transportation nearby in order to reach Manhattan in less than 30 minutes.
The price of accommodation in New Jersey is usually less than 100 euros per night.
Our recommended lodging where to stay in New York
We leave you the selection of places to stay in New York that we chose during some of the trips we have made to the city, staying in different areas of the city.
- Times Square: this has been the option we have usually opted for the times we have traveled to New York. Twice we have stayed at the Holiday Inn Times Square, in a room overlooking the Empire State Building. The hotel is usually priced at over 200 euros a night, although there are occasionally deals for less than 150 euros. The price/quality ratio is excellent as well as being close to many of the city’s main attractions and having the subway next door.
On our Christmas trip to New York, we stayed at the La Quinta by Wyndham Time Square and it was also great as it has breakfast included in the room price and very good connection to the subway. - East Harlem: in this case, we stayed in an AirBnb apartment for two months in the city. If you want to opt for this option, it is important to know that it is only legal if you are staying for more than a month, so if you stay for less time, they can cancel your reservation. This is not something that happens on a regular basis, as there is a kind of legal loophole, but we believe it is something very important to keep in mind, especially if you are traveling on important dates such as Christmas.
