Hotels in New York

Best time to visit New York City

NYC is an all-year-round destination. The peak tourist season is June – August, especially for families travelling with children. Average temperatures range from 25 – 30 degrees Celsius and humidity levels are fairly high at this time of the year. In autumn, a cool breeze and changing colours of the trees, create a beautiful orange-red landscape making this a good time to visit NYC. However, the hotel rates continue to be on the higher side. In peak winter, from January – February, accommodation rates drop and there is plenty of snow on the ground. If you can brave the freezing temperatures, plan your visit around this time and enjoy a less crowded side of the usually busy and bustling NYC. From March – May, the temperatures range from 5 – 15 degrees Celsius and fresh spring blooms create a striking scenery all over the city’s parks. Hotel rates are moderate and there are fewer tourists, making this a great time to visit NYC.

Getting around New York City

Large parts of NYC, particularly in Manhattan, can be explored on foot. While the streets are laid out in a numbered grid pattern, if you feel you are lost, don’t hesitate to ask for directions. Most New Yorkers love giving directions and would be happy to help! The next best option to get around NYC is the fast and efficient subway system. Fares for a single ride start at $3.00 USD. Buses are slightly cheaper and have a flat fare of $2.75 USD per ride, but the traffic jams in the city can often cause considerable delays in your bus journey. The hop-on-hop-off buses are always an interesting way to see the popular NYC sites and attractions. If you want to opt for a taxi, there are plenty of yellow taxis which can be hailed directly on the streets.

Buy a New York Pass

Consider buying the New York CityPASS, New York Explorer Pass or a Build Your Own Pass for substantial savings on over 90 NYC sites and attractions. You can purchase a 1-Day Pass for $109.00 USD. There are also options available to buy a 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 Day Pass.

Best places to stay in New York City

A fusion of ethnicities and cultures, New York City (NYC) is the hub of trend-setting food, fashion, art, theatre and business. The city is made up of 5 boroughs: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, plus several smaller neighbourhoods that have their own unique character.

Upper West Side

Surrounded by Central Park and Riverside Park, the Upper Westside neighbourhood has plenty of family-friendly accommodation and activities. Enjoy a roof-top pool and elegant accommodation at the Empire Hotel on 63rd Street or an art deco and industrial chic décor at the NYLO New York City hotel. Minutes away from the American Museum of Natural History, you also have The Lucerne Hotel on 79th Street.

Tribeca

With cobbled stone streets, high-end shopping and eateries, and refurbished industrial lofts which are now home to the rich and famous, you are sure to spot a celebrity or two in this neighbourhood. Consider the luxurious Conrad New York hotel in Battery Park City or the mid-range accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn New York/ Tribeca. For a glamorous retro ambience, stay at the Roxy Hotel in the heart of Tribeca.

Times Square and Midtown

The 24-hour neon glitz and glamour of Times Square is best experienced when you stay right in the middle of this vibrant and buzzing neighbourhood. For family-friendly accommodation, stay at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel New York City – Times Square or the Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan hotel. While Times Square extends from 42nd Street to 47th Street, Midtown is made up of the overall area from 31st Street to 59th Street. You will find that the East Side of Midtown is slightly quieter, but both Midtown West and Midtown East make for ideal locations to stay in NYC. You will be within walking distance of several major sites and attractions, as well as shopping and dining. Consider staying at the Distrikt Hotel New York City on 40th Street or the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel on 35th Street very close to Penn station. For a luxurious stay in Midtown East, the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on Madison Avenue is an interesting option. Hotel Waldorf Astoria New York on Park Avenue near Rockefeller Centre is another luxury accommodation and the iconic building has featured in several Hollywood movies.

Meatpacking District

Just north of the West Village, the Meatpacking District is a glamourous neighbourhood where you can enjoy sitting at quaint little coffee shops in the day and witness the area’s transformation into a club haven every night. Stay at The Standard High Line New York, a stylish boutique hotel in the heart of the Meatpacking District. Or for a luxury accommodation touting 360-degree panoramic views of NYC, book the Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC hotel.

SoHo

Aptly named for its location South of Houston Street, SoHo offers some of the best shopping experiences from clothes to home décor and from bargain stores to top brand labels. Enjoy a boutique hotel stay at the Crossby Street Hotel or stay in luxurious loft style rooms at The Mercer hotel, close to Little Italy and Washington Square Park.

Cheap hotels in New York City

Many of the international chain hotels such as Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, and others offer low cost accommodation at their properties located closer to the New York airports. You could also look for budget accommodation at Comfort Inn Times Square West in the heart of Times Square or The Broadway Hotel & Hostel in the Upper West Side area. In the Greenwich Village, near SoHo, you have The Jane Hotel or in Midtown on 25th Street, there is the popular Carlton Arms Hotel. The small but practical rooms at the Pod Hotel is another budget accommodation option on 51st Street.

With so much to see and do, creating a NYC itinerary may be a bit challenging. Pick and choose a few of these activities based on the neighbourhood that you are visiting or passing through.

• In the Upper West Side area, visit the American Museum of Natural History. Visit Central Park, where you can walk, ride a bike, hike up to the Belvedere Castle, grab a bite at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or just pack a picnic basket and sit on the Great Lawn.
• At the centre-spread of glitz and entertainment, soak in the lively atmosphere of Times Square and Broadway, watch a Broadway show and wander through the weird displays at Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Go to the top of the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Centre for impressive city views during the day or even after sundown. Spend some time admiring the ornate neoclassical architecture of the Grand Central station.
• In the Financial District, head to Battery Park and catch a ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island so you can get a closer look at the grand Statue of Liberty. Stroll down Wall Street and admire the tall glass façade skyscrapers that form the legendary New York skyline. Don’t miss the chance to take a selfie with the iconic bull on Wall Street! Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoy the graffiti and messages all across the walls as you go. Take a ride on a night time water-taxi or one of the night cruises on the Hudson river for a unique view of the city’s top sights.
• In the Greenwich Village, visit the 9/11 Tribute Centre, spend time at the Washington Square Park and go on a shopping spree in SoHo.
• Experience 2 distinct cultures and taste some delicious ethnic food when you visit Little Italy and Chinatown.