In New York, hotel offer is plentiful. It is also very expensive. Accommodation rates in New York vary greatly depending on the services offered and the period of the rental.
What budget and options for your New York accommodation
New York is known for being an expensive city to live in. Accommodation is no exception to this rule. Studies conducted on this topic show that the average price of a night’s stay is $300.
Fortunately for all those who have to respect a reasonable budget, there are many solutions to find good and cheap accommodation in New York. Here is a small overview of the different types of accommodation in the Big Apple.
Ways to find affordable accommodations
The Manhattan area is without a doubt the one that houses the most expensive accommodation solutions. If you want to access more affordable housing rates and especially if you want to have a wider choice, it is, therefore, reasonable to move away from it. The boroughs of Brooklyn or Harlem are close to all the centers of interest and the quality/price ratio is much more interesting.
Surfing the Internet, it is relatively easy to find good deals, especially on online sites that promote price competition through the comparison of hotel offers (Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com…) or homestays or even rental accommodation (Abritel).
Some advise booking as early as possible to take advantage of the best rates, while others recommend taking advantage of last-minute opportunities. If you have specific dates for your trip, opt to book as early as possible as New York remains in the top 5 favorite destinations.
Youth hostels
There are more than a dozen hostels in the city. All of them are privately owned except the one located on the Upper West Side (near 103rd Street).
It is affiliated with the Hostelling International group. With 700 beds, it is the largest of its kind in the United States and the second largest in the world. It is renowned for the excellence of all its services, whether in terms of welcome, cleanliness, or equipment.
Among the ten or so other hostels, you will find all levels, from those that are very good to those that are much less so.
Dormitories range from $30 to $60 per night. Some hostels offer basic double rooms, but given the price, it is preferable to book in a motel that will be better equipped.
Hotels
There is a very large and complete offer of hotels. Even if a large number of hotels are concentrated in Manhattan, you will still find inexpensive hotels in the boroughs of Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens.
These hotels offer all the usual types of accommodation from single rooms with a single bed to double rooms with more or less large beds. Of course, the services vary greatly depending on the price you pay.
Most of these residences offer rooms equipped with television, air conditioning, a small office area, and a private bathroom. Exceptions still exist, but free Wi-Fi is available in all hotels. It is also not uncommon for a computer to be made available to guests in a room organized as a business center (printer, fax…).
Breakfast is rarely included in the price of the night. Travelers are used to getting their coffee and muffins in a Starbucks café or similar restaurant. Finally, there is a parking lot in front of or behind the building where you can park your car safely.
The more economical hotels will limit all of their amenities. Some have shared bathrooms; these are kept very clean throughout the day.
The prices of these hotels vary according to the season and especially the level of occupancy. Rooms that are still available in the early afternoon are sold out on specialized websites. You can find unpretentious double rooms for about a hundred dollars in the low season. Count triple for the same room in high season
Rooms in the homes of local people
With the development of collaborative economies, in New York and elsewhere in the world, the hotel sector is being transformed. Bed & Breakfasts (B&B), guesthouses, and other homestays are good alternatives.
The best-value options are located in Harlem and Brooklyn.
For a room of 10 to 12 square meters with a bathroom to be shared with the family that hosts you, count on 25 to 50% less than the average rate offered by hotels at the same time.
Renting furnished apartments
In the same vein, renting furnished apartments for a short period by private individuals can also be a beneficial offer, especially when traveling as a family.
This allows you to have a large space and to prepare your meals on the spot, which represents another significant saving. To find this type of furnished accommodation, you need to go to specialized platforms such as Homelidays. Before confirming your rental, you will be able to read the opinions of people who have been there before you.
Indeed, there are all kinds of buildings in New York, old or new, maintained or neglected, noisy or perfectly isolated… You might as well know where you are going to put your suitcases and also check the proximity of tourist sites.
To find a place to stay in New York, open up your search by browsing the Internet, and don’t hesitate to move away from the center of Manhattan if you want to reduce your accommodation costs in New York.
