A First-Timer's Guide - Choosing a Hotel (1)

NEW YORK CITY ACCOMMODATIONS

New York City has a virtual plethora (I don’t know what that word means, but I like how it sounds) of hotels and motels in every price range. The adage and caveat that “You get what you pay for” must be observed, though.

Generally speaking, hotels in the popular midtown Manhattan Theatre District are somewhat more expensive than, say, a local John’s Notell Motel in another part of the US. Consider however that a Sheraton, Marriott or Hilton in midtown Manhattan is going to be within walking distance of the best live entertainment in the world (Broadway), the best shopping avenue in the country (5th Avenue), the most famous park in the world (Central Park), the most famous skyscraper in the world (Empire State Building), the largest department store in the world (Macy’s) and the 24-hour neon glamour of Times Square.

So can you get a cheap hotel room in New York? Sure. Just beware. There are several factors that determine why a hotel room is cheap:

1. Location. If you want to be in the middle of all that New York City has to offer, your cheap hotel room probably won’t put you there. Instead you’ll be spending money on taxis, parking and tunnel or bridge tolls. Wouldn’t you rather have a conveniently-located hotel so you can get an early start – or a late night – and still have a place to relax in between?


2. Features and amenities. Don’t need your own private bathroom? Don’t need a doorman or security guard to make sure your temporary residence is off-limits to intruders? Don’t need someone to ask directions or get you a taxi? Don’t need heat or air conditioning? Don’t need a wake up call? Don’t need a quick cup of coffee or tea in the morning? Aha! C’mon, live it up. Spring for the private bathroom. Feel safe and secure when you finally turn in at night. Treat yourself to a good hotel. You deserve it.


3. Age and cleanliness. These two factors don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand, but they’re both important. When was the hotel last remodeled? Shag carpeting is a giveaway.

“But really,” you might ask, “how much time will I spend in the room anyway?” “Well,” I might answer, “at least a third of your vacation!”

So how does the novice New York-bound traveler know where to stay? Here’s good advice:
You or your travel agent should check with a New York City expert like New York City Vacation Packages (NYCVP). They not only can make sure you’re staying where you want to be, but their prices are very good too. For a listing of Manhattan hotels, and some general information about each, click here.

Here's some more advice that will NYCVP will give you: there is real value to be found by utilizing your travel agent and NYCVP. You'll learn that you can save a lot of money by understanding the seasonality of New York City.

For instance, if you stay away from the City's PEAK SEASON and instead travel during its LOW SEASON you'll save a ton on hotel accommodations. As an example, a 5-star hotel room that's $700 a night in peak season is under $300 a night in low season. A 4-star hotel room that's $650 a night in peak season is under $200 a night in low season!

So when is "LOW SEASON"? January, February, July, August, Christmas week and certain holidays like Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends - great times to be in the Big Apple because you'll save lots of money!

There are more ways that your travel agent and New York City Vacation Packages can save you money. Give them a holler and you'll find out that New York City doesn't have to be an expensive place to visit!

Coming up - more valuable money-saving info. Stay tuned.