Where to stay in New York? My guide by neighbourhood and budget

I go to New York every summer and have stayed all over: in Brooklyn, in Tribeca, and several times around Grand Central. My favourite neighbourhood to stay in is Midtown East, around the station, because everything starts there.

In this guide: the right neighbourhood for your trip, the real cost of a night, six hotels per neighbourhood across three budgets and, for each one, the nearest deli for a proper bagel. I point out the hotels I’ve stayed in. The others, I’ve checked one by one.

Updated on 29 September 2026. This article contains affiliate links: if you book through these links, I earn a small commission at no cost to you.

How to choose your neighbourhood in New York

Manhattan breaks down into three sections. Downtown, to the south: Financial District, Tribeca, Chinatown, Lower East Side, SoHo, Greenwich Village. Midtown, from 34th to 59th Street. Uptown: the Upper West Side and Upper East Side on either side of Central Park, then Harlem.

Across the East River are Long Island City (Queens) and Brooklyn. Across the Hudson, Jersey City and Hoboken, connected by the PATH train.

The station matters more than the address. Aim for less than 5 minutes’ walk, or 350 to 400 metres: 4 to 5 north-south blocks, or a block and a half between avenues. And several lines if possible.

The classic trap: the “central” hotel 10 minutes from its station. By contrast, Court Square, in Long Island City, is 12 minutes by subway from Times Square, roughly the same as Fulton Street (14) or the Upper East Side (14).

Check the journey back at night too. To Times Square, allow 4 minutes at 10:00 and 7 minutes at 2:00 from Hell’s Kitchen. From the Upper West Side, 6 and 11; from Long Island City, 12 and 19; from the Financial District, 14 and 34; from Dumbo, 23 and 44.

As for noise, Times Square is busy, especially at night. Around Grand Central, it’s noticeably quieter. The residential Upper West Side is peaceful at night. Wherever you stay, ask for a high floor, away from the lift, facing the courtyard.

As for safety, the neighbourhoods I recommend staying in are safe. Around Times Square, the crowds attract pickpockets: keep an eye on your phone and bag. East of Grand Central, the neighbourhood is very quiet. A poor location mainly costs you time.

Neighbourhood	Ideal for	Less suitable if	3* per night from (Oct. / Feb.)	Subway → Times Square
Midtown, Times Square	First trip, Broadway	You’re a light sleeper	€410 ($465) / €125 ($140)	0-5 min
Midtown East, Grand Central	First trip, walking everywhere	You want nightlife nearby	€435 ($494) / €160 ($182)	3 (Grand Central)
Hell’s Kitchen	Theatres, restaurants	Your hotel is west of 9th Ave.	€420 ($479) / €120 ($134)	4
Lower Manhattan, FiDi	Quiet evenings, 9/11 Memorial	You’re returning late from Midtown	€380 ($434) / €115 ($133)	10-15
Chelsea	High Line, restaurants	You’re on a tight budget	€410 ($464) / €125 ($143)	5
Greenwich Village	Nights out within walking distance	You’re on a tight budget	€340 ($387) / €120 ($135)	8
SoHo	Shopping, second visit	You’re on a budget	€345 ($395) / €115 ($133)	11-13
Upper West Side	Families, Central Park, peace and quiet	You want nightlife	4*: €480-650 ($548-739) / €165-250 ($185-282)	6-10
Upper East Side	Museums	You’re on a tight budget	€555-590 ($632-672) / €255-420 ($289-476), 2 hotels	12-14
Long Island City	Value for money, families	You’re near Queensbridge (only one line)	€290 ($329) / €100 ($115)	11-15
Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights	Second visit, views	It’s your first trip	Almost no 3* hotels	18-23
Williamsburg	Bars, second visit	You’re returning late	€225 ($255) / €105 ($117), mixed list	16
Sunset Park	Food lovers, dim sum, budget stays	It’s a short first trip	€225-305 ($256-348) / €105-130 ($119-147), 2 hotels	30-38
Harlem	Gospel, jazz, budget stays	You’re spending evenings Downtown	€170-205 ($192-235) / €80-95 ($90-106), 2 hotels	14
Roosevelt Island	A cable car ride	You want to stay overnight: no hotel left	No hotel since Nov. 2025	18
Jersey City (PATH)	Budget stays, families, views	Your hotel is far from the PATH	€505 ($575, 4 hotels) / not checked	25-35

“From” prices: one night in an inexpensive three-star hotel in the neighbourhood, including taxes and fees. Subway: weekday average at 10:00, including waiting time, excluding walking. From JFK, $11.75 by AirTrain and subway; from Newark, $20.25 by AirTrain, NJ Transit and subway.

How much a night in New York costs (the real price)

I checked all the prices in this guide on 29 September 2026, for a weeknight stay for two adults, including taxes and fees. High season: Tuesday 20 October 2026. Low season: Tuesday 2 February 2027.

I used the total shown by Google Hotels for the hotel’s official website or, failing that, for Booking, then converted it at that day’s exchange rate ($1 = €0.879) and rounded to €5.

For each hotel, the first price is for October, the second for February. “From” indicates a price found only through a reseller. “No fees” means the hotel showed no destination fee when I checked.

For the same room, a Tuesday in October costs around 2.5 times as much as a Tuesday in February: the usual nightly rate goes from €240 ($271) to €600 ($681). October is high season: for the 20th, several hotels were already refusing one-night stays.

At checkout, 14.75% in taxes and $3.50 per room per night are added. Independent hotels and some chain brands add destination fees: $17 to $57 a night, often $30 to $45.

Do the maths. A €175 ($200) room becomes €205 ($233) with taxes, then €245 ($278.90) with a $40 fee, which is also taxed. That’s 39% more than the advertised price, and 16.5% without the fee.

Category	Low season (Tuesday 2 February 2027)	High season (Tuesday 20 October 2026)
Hostel (dorm or shared bathroom)	€75-150 ($88-168)	€110-190 ($125-217)
Budget	€95-175 ($106-200)	€220-485 ($250-550)
Mid-range	€175-265 ($200-300)	€485-705 ($550-800)
A treat	€265-615 ($300-700)	€705-1 940 ($800-2 209)
Family of 4, one room, breakfast included	€210-290 ($238-331)	€545-790 ($621-900)

A standard room is around 28 m², and 9 to 14 m² in micro-hotels (Pod, Moxy, citizenM). Breakfast is rarely included in Manhattan: I’ll come back to that below, with a better idea.

Midtown (Times Square, Bryant Park, Grand Central, Hell’s Kitchen)

Ideal for: a first trip, Broadway, getting everywhere on foot or with a three-minute subway ride.

Less suitable if: you’re a light sleeper staying near Times Square, or you’re looking for a room for five.

Times Square is packed from morning until late at night. Stay one or two blocks away from the crowds: around Grand Central, near Bryant Park, or in Hell’s Kitchen between 8th and 9th Avenue (further west, the subway is 8 to 15 minutes away).

Practical details: Times Sq-42 St (12 lines), Grand Central (4, 5, 6, 7, S), Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W) and 50 St (C, E). Typical nightly rate: €700 ($798) / €205 ($233). During UN week in late September, 1st and 2nd Avenues close between 42nd and 48th Streets.

JFK: 38 to 54 minutes by AirTrain and the E line, or 28 to 38 minutes plus waiting time by LIRR ($14 to $16), and $90 to $100 by taxi including tolls and tip. Newark: 39 to 62 minutes. LaGuardia: 30 to 39.

Midtown East, around Grand Central: where I stay

My favorite place is the former Dylan Hotel, now The Chemists’ Club Hotel, at 52 East 41st Street. Grand Central is a two-minute walk away, and from there, the subway goes everywhere.

I remembered paying around $400 a night. That’s the February rate: €340 ($389) at the lowest for 2 February 2027, €440 ($499) on Booking. For a Tuesday in October, expect to pay more like €620 to €730 ($704 to $830).

On Google, it’s now called Eurostars The Chemists’ Club Hotel (rating 4.1). A $35 nightly fee plus taxes, breakfast not included.

Right next door, at 12 East 41st Street, Sunrise Mart is an inexpensive Japanese grocery store: homemade onigiri for a late breakfast or a quick lunch. It opens around 10:00.

I’ve also stayed at the Lexington, on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 48th Street, and I thought it was very good. My room was quiet. The hotel dates back to 1929 and has kept its grand marble lobby.

It’s now called The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection (511 Lexington Avenue) and costs €820 ($935) / €380 ($433), with a $35 fee plus taxes. Its rooms with two double beds sleep three or four people, and the subway is 4 minutes away.

Six hotels in Midtown to suit your budget

On a budget, Pod 51 (230 East 51st Street) is the cheapest bed in my part of Midtown: €370 ($423) / €105 ($119). In October, that’s the price of a pod with bunk beds and a shared bathroom. A $29.84 fee, a rooftop terrace, and the subway 4 minutes away.

Pod Times Square (400 West 42nd Street) costs €510 ($583) / €105 ($122), with a $29.84 fee and Times Square station 4 minutes away. The rooms are tiny: for a solo traveler or a couple.

In the mid-range, the Hampton Inn Manhattan-35th St/Empire State Bldg (59 West 35th Street) is the straightforward choice for a family of four. Expect to pay €595 ($679) / €195 ($224), and €695 ($790) / €285 ($326) for a room with two double beds, breakfast included, with no fees. Herald Sq is 2 minutes away.

The Hyatt Centric Times Square (135 West 45th Street) is on a quieter street in the theater district: €680 ($773) / €260 ($296), a $40 fee, rooms with two queen beds for three people, and the subway 5 minutes away.

For a treat, the LUMA Hotel Times Square (120 West 41st Street) is one of Midtown’s highest-rated hotels (4.6 on Google). No destination fee, and the blackout blinds close automatically: €840 ($954) / €345 ($391), with the subway 2 minutes away.

The Lotte New York Palace (455 Madison Avenue), a historic five-star hotel opposite St. Patrick’s Cathedral, drops from €1 940 ($2 209) in October to €535 ($606) in February for a room that sleeps four people. In February, that’s less than a boutique hotel in Chelsea in October. A $28.69 fee.

For five people, the Homewood Suites Times Square-South (312 West 37th Street) offers a studio with two queen beds, a stovetop and breakfast, for €785 ($895) / €205 ($233).

On a budget, Pod 39 (€455 / €110) is 4 minutes from Grand Central, and Candlewood Suites (€600 / €205) has a kitchen and a very low destination fee of $17.21. Avoid the Hyatt Grand Central, which is open but slated for demolition.

For food nearby: Ess-a-Bagel (770 3rd Avenue, between 47th and 48th Streets), 5 minutes from Pod 51 and 2 from the Lexington, for an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese. Liberty Bagels (462 7th Avenue), 5 minutes from the Hampton Inn, for an everything bagel with salmon. Its second location, at 5 East 47th Street, is 5 minutes from the Lotte.

At Pio Bagel (528 9th Avenue), 3 minutes from Pod Times Square, the bagels are hand-rolled: get the bacon egg and cheese. Also in Hell’s Kitchen, my go-to burger is at 5 Napkin Burger (630 9th Avenue, on the corner of 45th Street), one of the best in the city.

And if you’re staying near Herald Square, go to Macy’s (151 West 34th Street), which is too often overlooked. It’s one of the world’s largest department stores, at over 200 000 m², with good deals on clothes.

Lower Manhattan and the Financial District

Ideal for: quiet evenings, the 9/11 Memorial, the free Staten Island ferry, walking to Chinatown.

Less suitable if: you often return late from Broadway, or want restaurants on every corner.

The Financial District is an office district, empty in the evening. Only the waterfront, near the heliport, is noisier. Restaurants are scarcer than in Midtown: in the evening, you head to Tribeca, Chinatown or the Lower East Side. For roughly the same price as Midtown, you get more peace and quiet.

Practical details: Fulton St (2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, Z, step-free), Chambers St, Canal St, South Ferry and Wall St. Times Square is 10 to 15 minutes away, and 34 minutes away at 2:00. Typical nightly rate: €670 ($765) / €265 ($299).

JFK: 49 to 66 minutes on the E, 39 to 49 by LIRR. Newark: 45 to 55 minutes by NJ Transit and PATH ($15.55). LaGuardia: 43 to 49.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Manhattan/Financial District (161 Front Street) is the neighbourhood’s only budget option: €465 ($529) / €155 ($178), breakfast included, no fees. Wall St is 6 minutes away, just beyond my rule.

The Wall Street Inn (9 South William Street) is at the upper end of the budget range: €470 ($537) / €245 ($276), starting at €385 ($440) / €150 ($172). No fees, continental breakfast, rooms with two double beds for three or four. It overlooks Stone Street, a quiet street.

In the mid-range, the Hilton Garden Inn Financial Center (6 Water Street) has a fridge and microwave in every room: €580 ($659) / €170 ($193), no fees, 1 minute from South Ferry and the Staten Island ferry.

The Cloud One New York-Downtown (133 Greenwich Street) is on a very quiet block near the 9/11 Memorial: €690 ($783) in October, €530 ($605) on Booking, and €185 ($212) in February, no fees, subway 3 minutes away.

For a treat, my pick in the area is The Roxy Hotel New York (2 Avenue of the Americas), in Tribeca. I’ve stayed there: a very beautiful hotel and, a big plus, Chinatown isn’t far away. It will appeal to anyone who likes jazz or an old-school rock vibe. It’s expensive, but I like it.

Expect to pay €940 ($1 071) / €380 ($430), a fee of $39.95 plus taxes, breakfast not included. In the basement, the jazz club The Django has music every evening. Canal St is 3 minutes away, Chinatown a 12 to 15 minute walk.

The Ludlow Hotel (180 Ludlow Street), in the Lower East Side, has studios with terraces and a Google rating of 4.5: €910 ($1 035) / €425 ($485), no fees, F line 4 minutes away.

For families, Sohotel (341 Broome Street) offers two queen beds for four, €600 ($683) / €275 ($312), and a room for five. There are no other budget options in the neighbourhood; the Moxy Downtown (€690 / €295) comes closest.

For food nearby: Leo’s Bagels (3 Hanover Square), 1 minute from the Wall Street Inn and 5 to 7 from the Hilton Garden Inn and the Fairfield, for “The Leo” (smoked salmon, eggs, onions). Ess-a-Bagel (115 Broadway) is 2 minutes from the Cloud One.

Near the Roxy, Zucker’s Bagels (143 Chambers Street, 9 minutes away) makes a plain bagel with lox. Near the Ludlow, Russ & Daughters (179 East Houston Street, from 8:00 to 16:00, 2 minutes away) serves bagels with lox.

For cookies, go to Funny Face Bakery: I prefer them to the more famous ones at Levain. The Seaport shop (6 Fulton Street, 10:00-21:00) is 2 minutes from the Fairfield, and the NoHo shop (319 Lafayette Street, 10:00-21:30) is 10 minutes from the Ludlow. To compare them with mine, here’s my American cookie recipe, which is my mother’s.

Chelsea, Greenwich Village and SoHo

Ideal for: the High Line, galleries, walking to nightlife, a second visit.

Less suitable if: you are on a tight budget, as this is one of the most expensive areas in October.

Residential streets and restaurants everywhere, with the widest choice around Union Square. Evenings are lively, and both SoHo and the Village are noisy at night. These streets remain safe late at night.

A date to note: on Saturday 31 October 2026, the Halloween parade closes 6th Avenue from Canal Street to 15th Street.

Practical details: 23 St (C, E), 14 St/8 Av, W 4 St (7 lines, step-free), 28 St and 23 St (line 1). Times Square is 5 minutes from Chelsea, 8 from the Village, 11 to 13 from SoHo. Typical nightly rate: €725 ($822) / €260 ($293).

JFK: 43 to 62 minutes on the E, 30 to 47 on the LIRR. Newark: 39 to 62. LaGuardia: 35 to 47.

On a budget, The Leo House (332 West 23rd Street) has the cheapest private room in Chelsea, in both October and February: €305 ($349) / €180 ($206), no fees, hot breakfast Monday to Saturday.

At this price, the shower is down the hall; with a full bathroom, it costs €185 ($213) in February. Family suites for four to six, subway 3 minutes away.

West Village Eurohostel (113 Jane Street), the former Jane Hotel, rents bunk-bed cabins with shared bathrooms, alongside Hudson River Park: €190 ($217) / €150 ($168). Good for a solo traveler, but the subway is 10 minutes away.

In the mid-range, SpringHill Suites Chelsea (140 West 28th Street) is a safe choice for a family of four: 19 m² studios with two double beds, a fridge, a microwave and full breakfast included. It costs €725 ($822, average over two nights) / €255 ($290), no fees, line 1 is 2 minutes away.

Freehand New York (23 Lexington Avenue) has rooms for three, a “Private Quad” for four (€740, or $842, in October) and bunk-bed rooms, handy for friends sharing one bill. Expect to pay €720 ($821) / €240 ($275), a $40.17 fee, subway 3 minutes away.

For a treat, Hotel Chelsea (222 West 23rd Street) has an excellent Google rating: 4.7. Kitchenettes and minibars, €915 ($1 039) / €590 ($669), no fees, line 1 is 2 minutes away.

The Marlton Hotel (5 West 8th Street), half a block from Washington Square Park, includes breakfast in every rate I have seen: €960 ($1 092) / €395 ($449), no fees. The rooms are small, so avoid it with a family, and W 4 St is 5 minutes away.

Other options: Hyatt Place Chelsea (140 West 24th Street; €710 / €205, breakfast included) and Washington Square Hotel (€690 / €335, W 4 St is 3 minutes away).

For food nearby: Zucker’s Chelsea (242 8th Avenue), 2 minutes from The Leo House and 3 from Hotel Chelsea, for an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese. Its second location, 40 East 23rd Street, is near Freehand. Bagel Pub has two locations: 350 7th Avenue, 3 minutes from SpringHill, and 418 6th Avenue, 4 from The Marlton.

Sofia’s Bagels (535 Hudson Street) is 8 minutes from the Eurohostel. Macy’s is 7 minutes from SpringHill, and for Funny Face cookies, see Lower Manhattan.

Upper West Side and Upper East Side (Central Park, museums)

Ideal for: families, Central Park, museums, quiet nights in Manhattan.

Less suitable if: you stay out late, or most of your sightseeing is Downtown.

Two residential neighborhoods, on either side of Central Park. To the west, each block is about 5 minutes from the 1, 2, 3 or B, C lines, but the B and C stations on Central Park West only have stairs. To the east, the Upper East Side has the 4, 5, 6 and Q lines, but no hotels below around $250 in February.

Two dates to note: the Thanksgiving parade starts at Central Park West and 77th Street on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the marathon finishes in Central Park on Sunday, November 1.

Practical details: Times Square is 6 minutes away by express train from 72 St, 8 to 10 from 79 St and 86 St, and 12 to 14 from the Upper East Side. Typical nightly rate: €560 ($638) / €205 ($234).

JFK: 50 to 65 minutes from the west side, 42 to 56 from the east side. Newark: 44 to 68. LaGuardia: 34 to 50.

On a tight budget, HI New York City Hostel (891 Amsterdam Avenue) offers a dorm bed for €140 ($160) / €75 ($88). It also has private and family rooms, which I couldn’t get prices for. The 1 line is 3 minutes away, Central Park 10.

The West Side YMCA (5 West 63rd Street) is half a block from Central Park: around €110 ($125) / €75 ($88), plus a $10 daily membership fee for the pool and gym. Mostly shared bathrooms, Columbus Circle 5 minutes away.

In the mid-range, The Lucerne (201 West 79th Street) is the cheapest hotel on either Upper Side in October, excluding hostels: €480 ($548) / €195 ($219), with no fees. Its suites with two queen beds have a kitchenette, and the 1 line is 2 minutes away.

The Hotel Beacon (2130 Broadway) makes a good family base for five nights or more: a kitchenette in every room and a 59 m² Double Suite for four. It costs €555 ($631) / €250 ($282), with no fees according to the hotel, and 72 St (1, 2, 3) is 4 minutes away.

For a treat, The Gardens Sonesta ES Suites (215 East 64th Street), on the east side, offers 39 m² junior suites with two queen beds, a sofa bed and a full kitchen: from €590 ($672) / €420 ($476), a $42 fee plus taxes, and the subway 4 minutes away.

The Loews Regency (540 Park Avenue) offers Park Avenue luxury, with no fees: €605 ($689) in February, and in October a minimum stay of three nights at an average of €1 225 ($1 392) per night. Central Park is 5 minutes away.

Other options: the Arthouse (€600 / €205, $45.90 fee) and its 42 m² junior suites for four, and on the east side, voco The Franklin (€565 / €240), 2 minutes from 86 St and 10 from the Met.

For food nearby: Bagels & Co (391 Amsterdam Avenue) is 1 minute from the Lucerne. At Bagel Talk (368 Amsterdam Avenue), 4 minutes from the Beacon, get a plain bagel with scallion cream cheese. 2788 Bagels (2788 Broadway, the former Absolute Bagels) is 7 minutes from the HI hostel. Broad Nosh Bagels (314 West 58th Street), 7 from the YMCA, for a bacon egg and cheese.

On the east side, Bagelworks (1229 1st Avenue, lox and capers) is 7 minutes from the Gardens Sonesta, and Liberty Bagels (16 East 58th Street) is 6 from the Loews Regency. My burger spot also has a location here: 5 Napkin Burger (2315 Broadway, on the corner of 84th Street), 7 minutes from the Lucerne. Check opening hours before you go.

Long Island City (Queens), the best value for money

Ideal for: families, budget travellers, a smart first trip, an arrival at LaGuardia.

Less suitable if: the hotel is on the Queensbridge side (only one line), or you want a bagel deli right outside your hotel.

Long Island City is one or two stops from Manhattan. From Court Square, Times Square is 12 minutes away by subway. Allow 11 from Vernon Blvd and Hunters Point Av, 14 to 15 from Queens Plaza: just as fast as from the Upper East Side or the Financial District.

It’s the closest neighbourhood to JFK by public transport (28 to 42 minutes, $11.75). LaGuardia is 20 to 25 minutes away.

In Long Island City, a night generally costs €435 ($497) in October and €160 ($181) in February, compared with €700 ($798) and €205 ($233) in Midtown, or 38% less in October and 22% in February. It’s the only neighbourhood where a four-star chain hotel under $150 in February is common.

Not every part is equal. Most hotels are around Court Square and Queens Plaza, with good transport links, but the 7 line runs above ground here: avoid street-facing rooms. Dutch Kills, around 39 Av (N, W), is quiet.

On the Queensbridge side, 21 St-Queensbridge has only one line: the M on weekdays from 6:00 to 21:30 (the F and M lines swapped routes in December 2025), the F in the evening and at weekends. The Hunters Point waterfront, near Gantry Plaza State Park, is the quietest area, but has few hotels.

The neighbourhood is safe, day and night, including for a woman travelling alone. The risk with a poorly located hotel is the late-night trip back.

The weak point is bagels. The only proper shop is Utopia Bagels (26-11 Jackson Avenue, from 6:00 to 16:00). LIC Bagel doesn’t make its own bagels, and the Rollin Bagels truck sets up at Court Square on weekdays, from 7:30 to 12:30. Luckily, the neighbourhood’s chain hotels serve breakfast.

Practical details: Court Sq (7, G, E, F), Queensboro Plaza (7, N, W), Queens Plaza (E, F, R), 39 Av-Dutch Kills (N, W) and 21 St-Queensbridge. Times Square is 11 to 15 minutes away, and 19 minutes away at 2:00. Newark is 48 to 66 minutes away.

On a budget, the Hampton Inn by Hilton Long Island City (38-04 11th Street), which opened in spring 2026, has the cheapest private room with breakfast in the neighbourhood, in both October and February: €290 ($328) / €95 ($106), no fees, hot breakfast.

It has a 4.7 rating on Google (387 reviews). Its drawbacks: only one subway line, 9 minutes away, and Utopia Bagels is 22 minutes away.

The Hyatt Place Long Island City (27-03 43rd Avenue) has seven lines less than 6 minutes away. Expect to pay €415 ($473) on Booking / €190 ($216) on Hotels.com, with no fees. Breakfast was included in the rates I saw: check when booking, and ask for a high floor, away from the tracks.

In the mid-range, the Home2 Suites LIC/Manhattan View (39-06 30th Street) is a favourite with French families: kitchenette, quiet neighbourhood, 4.4 rating. Online listings advertise one queen bed and a sofa bed, but families describe two queen beds and a sofa bed.

Expect to pay €545 ($621) / €220 ($249), and €225 ($258) for four in February, breakfast included, no fees. The 39 Av station is 2 minutes away.

The LIC Hotel (44-04 21st Street), one stop from Manhattan, has a rooftop terrace and small rooms, better suited to a couple. Expect to pay €435 ($497) / €205 ($233), starting at €305 ($346) / €145 ($163), with breakfast included in some rates. Court Sq-23 St is 3 minutes away, the Rollin Bagels truck 4.

No hotel in Long Island City falls into my “treat yourself” category. For a room with a view, the Aloft Long Island City-Manhattan View (27-45 Jackson Avenue) has rooms facing the skyline: €525 ($599) / €190 ($214), Queens Plaza 4 minutes away, Utopia Bagels 3.

The Ravel Hotel (8-08 Queens Plaza South) has balconies facing Queensboro Bridge, a rooftop terrace and a suite for six at €495 ($565). The standard room costs €435 ($496) in October (February not listed). The drawback: the M line is 9 minutes away.

For families, the LIC Plaza (fully booked on 20 October) listed a February rate of €140 ($161) for a room with two queen beds, breakfast included, 4 minutes from Queensboro Plaza. On a budget, the TownePlace Suites (€365 / €130) has suites with kitchens and breakfast included, with the M line 6 minutes away.

For food nearby: Utopia Bagels, 1 to 3 minutes from the Hyatt Place and the Aloft, 8 from the LIC Hotel and 14 from the Home2, for a bacon egg and cheese. If you’re far from Utopia, the hotel breakfast does the job.

Brooklyn (Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, Sunset Park)

Ideal for: a second visit, views of Manhattan, Williamsburg bars, food lovers in Sunset Park.

Less suitable if: this is your first trip and it’s a short one, or you often come back from Midtown after midnight.

For a first trip, Long Island City is quicker. Brooklyn works if you stay near a direct line: in Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights, Times Square is 18 minutes from Clark St or High St and 23 from York St, but 40 to 44 at 2:00.

In Williamsburg, allow 16 minutes from Bedford Av on the L line (28 at night), and around twenty from Downtown Brooklyn, near Borough Hall. Dumbo and the Heights have almost no three-star hotels: Downtown Brooklyn is the cheapest base.

Downtown Brooklyn is noisy, and Williamsburg, with its bars, is especially noisy at night. As for safety, Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn and northern Williamsburg are safe. Avoid Red Hook and places served only by bus.

Practical details: High St (A, C), Clark St (2, 3), York St (F), Bedford Av (L), Jay St-MetroTech, Hoyt-Schermerhorn; in Sunset Park, 36 St (D, N, R) and 8 Av (N). Typical nightly rate: €620 ($706) / €250 ($283), and €265 ($302) / €115 ($133) in Sunset Park.

JFK: 47 to 75 minutes, or 36 to 46 plus waiting time on the LIRR to Atlantic Terminal. Newark: 50 to 80. LaGuardia: 41 to 65.

For a budget stay, Pod Brooklyn (247 Metropolitan Avenue), in Williamsburg, rents out bunk-bed pods and small queen rooms: €330 ($376) / €120 ($136), a $22.95 fee, Bedford Av 5 minutes away. For solo travelers or a group of friends.

The Insignia Hotel Brooklyn (741 61st Street) is the only hotel along the main strip of Brooklyn’s Chinatown, in Sunset Park: €225 ($256) / €105 ($119), breakfast included, no fees. In October, it’s about half the price of Long Island City. The 8 Av (N) station is 1 minute away, but Times Square is 38 minutes away and the Google rating remains modest (3.8).

In the mid-range, the Hampton Inn Brooklyn/Downtown (125 Flatbush Avenue Extension) costs €595 ($675) / €155 ($178), breakfast included, no fees, with a 4.4 rating (2 700 reviews). Jay St-MetroTech is 8 minutes away, beyond my rule.

The Ace Hotel Brooklyn (252 Schermerhorn Street) has seven lines within five minutes, including Hoyt-Schermerhorn (A, C, G) at 2: €575 ($656) / €250 ($283), a $40 fee plus tax.

For a treat, the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge (60 Furman Street) has the Manhattan skyline across the water: €800 ($911) / €510 ($580), a $45 fee plus tax, rooms for three or four at €540 to €570 ($614 to $649) in February. High St is 9 minutes away, Clark St 12.

The Wythe Hotel (80 Wythe Avenue), in Williamsburg, is one of Brooklyn’s highest-rated hotels (4.5 on Google): €620 ($706, average over two nights) / €335 ($381), no fees, Bedford Av 8 minutes away. Nearby, The William Vale (€1 125 / €310, a $45 fee) has a balcony in every room and a rooftop pool.

For food nearby: Bagelsmith (189 Bedford Avenue), 4 minutes from the Pod and 8 from the Wythe, for a bagel with scallion cream cheese. La Bagel Delight (104 Front Street), 9 minutes from the 1 Hotel, makes the “Mr. Bagel” (everything bagel, eggs, ham, bacon, cheese), to eat in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Pio Bagel has two locations: 6 Flatbush Avenue, 4 minutes from the Ace, and 136 Lawrence Street, 7 from the Hampton Inn. In Sunset Park, the nearest bagel is 18 minutes away: in the morning, head to the Chinese bakeries instead.

Sunset Park, my Brooklyn for food lovers

I stayed in Sunset Park, in Brooklyn. It’s a pleasant neighborhood: you’re next to the park and Brooklyn’s Chinatown, on 8th Avenue, where you can eat excellent roast duck and dim sum.

For dim sum, go to Bamboo Garden (6409 8th Avenue), 5 minutes from the Insignia: the carts make their rounds until 14:00, and on weekends, arrive before 11:00. For roast duck, East Harbor Seafood Palace (714 65th Street, steps from 8th Avenue) is listed in the Michelin Guide, and Park Asia (6521 8th Avenue) does both.

The downside is the distance: Times Square is 30 to 38 minutes away, so Sunset Park is better suited to a second visit. For a stay here, there are two hotels: the Insignia and the Wyndham Garden Sunset Park (457 39th Street).

The Wyndham costs €305 ($348) / €130 ($147), a $20 fee plus tax (included in the displayed prices, according to the hotel), and €405 ($463) in October for a room for four. The 36 St station is 6 minutes away, Bagel Pub (313 36th Street) 7.

Other options (and the ones I advise against)

Jersey City is only worth it if you stay next to a PATH station. The train runs 24 hours a day for $3.25. From Exchange Place, the World Trade Center is one stop away, and from Grove Street, Times Square is 25 to 35 minutes away. But Jersey City is no cheaper than Long Island City: around €505 ($575) near the PATH in October, compared with €435 ($497).

Only the Hyatt House (1 Exchange Place) holds up in comparison: €380 ($433) / €210 ($238), two queen beds, a kitchen and breakfast, 2 minutes from the PATH. The Hyatt Regency (€610 / €330) has rooms facing Lower Manhattan.

In Hoboken, the W Hoboken (€600 / €385) has rooms facing the skyline, 7 minutes from the PATH. For a bagel, Hoboken Hot Bagels makes an everything bagel with nova.

Harlem is for gospel and jazz. The Aloft Harlem is 4 minutes from 125 St station (A and D express trains), 14 minutes from Times Square: fully booked on October 20, €250 ($286) in February, BO’s Bagels 10 minutes away.

Roosevelt Island has had no hotel since November 2025. Go for the tram, which costs the same as a subway ride, and for the view.

Staten Island: the ferry is free, but with a 25-minute crossing and a wait of up to 30 minutes, allow 45 to 75 minutes to reach Times Square. I advise against it. Same verdict for the Bronx: at 25 minutes away, that’s time lost every day.

Airport hotels are only useful for a late arrival or an early flight. The TWA Hotel, at JFK terminal 5, costs €395 ($449) / €270 ($308), with fees not published.

One last example of what to avoid: a cheap family room beside an expressway near LaGuardia means bus rides and road noise. A cheap hotel on a bus route is something you pay for every evening.

Depending on your trip

First trip or short stay

For a first visit or four to five nights, stay in Midtown. My pick is still Midtown East: the Chemists’ Club or the Lexington if your budget allows, Pod 51 otherwise. Further west, the Hampton Inn 35th Street, the Hyatt Centric and the LUMA are well located. On a tight budget: the Hyatt Place in Long Island City.

Stick to one hotel: between check-out and check-in, switching costs you half a day. Only switch if you’re staying seven nights or more, to try two neighbourhoods.

With family

The catch is the beds. Ask for two queen beds rather than two double beds: an American double bed is narrower, and two people in a 120 cm bed won’t sleep well. Add a sofa bed, breakfast included and a station less than 5 minutes away.

Check the exact address: the same brand accommodates four people in one suite in Long Island City, but in two rooms in Times Square. And book four to six months ahead.

My picks: the Homewood Suites Times Square-South (up to five), the Hampton Inn 35th Street, the Residence Inn Times Square (studios for four), the Home2 Suites in Long Island City, the Hotel Beacon and the Gardens Sonesta (four), Sohotel (five), the suites at the Leo House (four to six) and the Hyatt House in Jersey City.

A kitchenette mostly means a fridge and a microwave. To cook, you need a proper stovetop: the Homewood, the Gardens Sonesta, the Shelburne Sonesta (near Grand Central), the Candlewood, the TownePlace and the Beacon have them.

Bring a lightweight umbrella stroller and aim for step-free stations: Grand Central, Times Sq-42 St, Herald Sq, Fulton St, W 4 St, 72 St, Court Sq and Queens Plaza. Wall St, Franklin St and the B and C stations along Central Park West only have stairs. With grandparents who can’t walk far, a hotel near Penn Station makes the train trip to Newark easier.

On a tight budget

Keeping costs down starts with the date: a Tuesday in February, breakfast included. My picks: Pod 51 and Pod Times Square, the Hampton Inn and the Hyatt Place in Long Island City, the Insignia, the Leo House and the hostels (HI, West Side YMCA).

Check the fees: $29.84 per night at the Manhattan Pod hotels ($22.95 at Pod Brooklyn), $30 to $40 at the Moxy hotels. And cheap accommodation in Manhattan offered by private message is a scam.

For a treat or a view

In Manhattan: the LUMA, the Lotte New York Palace, the Hotel Chelsea, the Marlton, the Ludlow, the Loews Regency, and the Roxy, where I stayed, for jazz lovers. For the skyline, head across the water: the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, The William Vale, the Aloft in Long Island City, the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City and the W Hoboken.

Practical booking information

Entry requirements

British citizens with right of abode and Irish citizens can enter without a visa for up to 90 days, with a biometric passport and an ESTA authorisation. British National (Overseas) passport holders and other British nationality types need a visa. ESTA costs €35 ($40.27): the fee rose from $21 to $40 on 30 September 2025, then to $40.27 in January 2026.

ESTA is valid for 2 years, or until your passport expires. Apply only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov or through the official app.

For those eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, a visa is still required if you have visited Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since 2011, or Cuba since 2021, and for dual nationals of these countries. Declaring social media accounts on the ESTA is only a proposal.

Taxes, fees and deposits

A New York hotel adds 14.75% in taxes and $3.50 per room per night. Independent and “lifestyle” hotels also charge destination fees of $17 to $57 a night, which are rare at budget chains and all-suite hotels. On 29 September 2026, rates were GBP 0.754 per USD (1 GBP = 1.33 USD) and EUR 0.879 per USD.

Under FTC rules (12 May 2025) and New York City rules (21 February 2026), the displayed total must include mandatory fees, but taxes can still be listed separately. On Booking, open the price breakdown and read the “pay at the property” line.

On arrival, the hotel places a hold of $50 to $200 per night on your card. Bring a credit card: debit cards are often refused. Many hotels also require you to be 21.

Breakfast: grab a bagel

If you’re used to B&Bs at home, don’t assume breakfast is included, though paying extra for a full breakfast will be familiar from city hotels. Breakfast is included at Hampton, Home2, Homewood, Residence Inn, Fairfield, SpringHill, Holiday Inn Express, Hyatt House and Riu (check at Hyatt Place). Elsewhere, hotels charge $22.50 to $50 per person, while a plain bagel costs $1.45 at Leo’s.

My advice: skip the hotel breakfast and grab a bagel at a proper deli. Four orders to know.

A bagel with cream cheese, which New Yorkers call a “schmear”. The same with scallion cream cheese, a cream cheese spread with scallions. Lox, with smoked salmon, capers and red onion. And bacon egg and cheese, served hot.

Airbnb

Local Law 18, in force since 5 September 2023 and still enforced in 2026, bans renting an entire apartment for fewer than 30 nights. The only legal option: a room with a registered host who is present, with a maximum of two guests. For more space, book an all-suite hotel or a family room.

Airports and subway

There are many daily direct flights to New York from LHR, LGW, MAN, EDI, DUB and SNN, taking about 7-8 hours westbound. From JFK, the AirTrain ($8.75) and subway ($3) total $11.75, while the AirTrain and LIRR cost $14 to $16. A taxi costs $76.75 outside peak hours, before tolls and a tip, so $90 to $100 in practice.

From Newark, NJ Transit to Penn Station costs $17.25 including the AirTrain, for a journey of around 30 minutes. From LaGuardia, the Q70 bus is free, followed by a $3 subway ride.

A subway ride costs $3: tap your contactless card or phone on the OMNY reader. After $35 in seven days, rides become free, with one card per person. The MetroCard is no longer sold, and the Staten Island ferry is free.

When to go

The cheapest nights are in January and February, outside Chinese New Year (6 February 2027). The most expensive: late October, with Halloween on Saturday 31 October and the marathon on Sunday 1 November 2026, then Thanksgiving (26 November 2026), December through New Year and UN week.

Tipping and small details

Tipping will be familiar, but New York’s restaurant tips are higher than the 10-12.5% service charge familiar in the UK and are rarely included. At restaurants, leave 18 to 22% of the pre-tax bill. Allow $3 to $5 per night for housekeeping, $1 to $2 per bag for the porter and 15 to 20% in taxis.

Check-in is at 15:00, check-out between 11:00 and 12:00, and most hotels store your bags, either free or for around $5 per bag: ask. Power sockets are type A or B, at 120 V. For insurance, first check what your bank card covers.

My tips for paying less

Choose the month first: a Tuesday in October costs around 2.5 times as much as a Tuesday in February. Then book early, with free cancellation, and check the price again and rebook if it drops. Always compare the hotel’s website with Booking: the difference over a stay can be significant.

Avoid the big dates: Halloween-marathon weekend (31 October and 1 November 2026), Thanksgiving (26 November), the Rockefeller Center tree lighting in early December, New Year, UN week, Chinese New Year (6 February 2027) and February Fashion Week.

A hotel without destination fees saves you $30 to $57 a night. The Lucerne, LUMA and Hotel Beacon do not charge them, and I have not seen any at Hampton, Fairfield, SpringHill, Residence Inn or Homewood. Choose breakfast included, or a bagel at a deli rather than a $22.50-50 hotel breakfast.

Stay in Long Island City: 38% cheaper than Midtown in October, 22% in February, with the same travel time to Times Square. And sign up for a free loyalty account: at Homewood Suites, the member rate was €750 ($851) in October, compared with €785 ($895) at the public rate.

Pay by credit card. If a message asks you to “reverify” payment for a booking, it is phishing: call the hotel on its official number.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best neighbourhood for a first stay in New York?

Midtown, preferably around Grand Central or Bryant Park rather than right on Times Square. Subway lines going everywhere are 3 to 5 minutes away, and both Central Park and Times Square are within walking distance. That’s where I stay. On a tight budget, choose Long Island City, 11 to 15 minutes from Times Square.

Is it better to stay in Manhattan or Brooklyn?

For a first trip, Manhattan or Long Island City, for quicker journeys. Brooklyn works for a second visit, near a direct line: Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, or Williamsburg on the L line. Allow 16 to 23 minutes to Times Square, up to 45 after midnight.

Is Long Island City far from Manhattan?

Just one or two stops. Court Square is 12 minutes from Times Square, the same as Fulton Street or the Upper East Side. JFK is 28 to 42 minutes away, LaGuardia 20 to 25. Aim for a hotel less than 5 minutes from Court Square, Queens Plaza or 39 Av.

Can you still rent an Airbnb in New York?

Not an entire apartment for fewer than 30 nights: Local Law 18 has banned this since September 2023, and it is still enforced in 2026. The only legal option is a room with a registered host who is present, for a maximum of two people. For a family, book a hotel suite.

How much does a hotel night in New York really cost?

For a mid-range hotel, €175 to €265 ($200 to $300) including taxes and fees on a Tuesday in February, €485 to €705 ($550 to $800) on a Tuesday in October. The advertised price excludes 14.75% in taxes, $3.50 per night and, at independent hotels, fees of $17 to $57.

Which neighbourhoods should you avoid staying in when visiting New York?

It’s mainly a question of time. Avoid hotels more than 10 minutes from a station, places served only by buses, the Bronx, Staten Island and airport hotels for an entire stay. In Long Island City, choose Court Square and Queens Plaza over the Queensbridge side.

Where should you stay in New York with two or more children?

Look for two queen beds and a sofa bed, with breakfast included, less than 5 minutes from the subway. For five in one room, Midtown has little to offer: Homewood Suites Times Square-South. For four: Hampton Inn 35th Street, Home2 Suites in Long Island City or Hotel Beacon. Book four to six months ahead.

Is breakfast included at hotels in New York?

Rarely in Manhattan, except at the Hampton, Home2, Homewood, Residence Inn, Fairfield and SpringHill chains, and a few independent hotels (Leo House, Wall Street Inn, Marlton). My advice: skip it and get a bagel at a deli, with cream cheese or salmon.

How far in advance should you book your hotel?

As soon as your dates are set, with free cancellation. Then check the price again every week and rebook if it drops. For a family room or a stay from October to December, allow four to six months. For June, one month ahead is already late.

On your first morning, head to the nearest deli and order your first bagel: you’ll soon understand why I skip the hotel breakfast. And back home, New York lives on in my kitchen with New York cheesecake, American pancakes, carrot cake and brownies.