Best Hotel In New York Freehand New York
Located at the heart of Midtown, Freehand New York is our top choice for where to stay in New York City. This hotel is close to the best landmarks, museums, and restaurants in New York.
Rooms are spacious, comfortable and outfitted in a modern-rustic décor. The hotel has a coffee bar, dry cleaning service, and on-site restaurant and bar.
Top 10 Best Areas To Stay In New York City
Planning to visit the Big Apple for the first time? Well, you are in for treat because the city never sleeps! From dynamism, different cultures and heterogeneity, this city will make you feel brand new indeed. Sometimes it feels like a whirlwind to even roundabout the countless places where you can stay in New York City.
New York City offers excellent places to stay at and there is always something available for everyone. Since there are thousands of places to choose from, one might find themselves in a dilemma. If you are one of them, dont worry, I got you covered! This guide will help you choose the best areas to stay in New York City.
*Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*
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Other Attractions Worth Seeing:
Rockefeller Center Top of the Rock: get one of the best views of the Empire State Building
Visit the Empire State Building for an awesome view of the city
Take a tour of NBC Studios and see a live taping of an NBC TV show.
Check out the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
Visit the New York Public Library
Visit Fifth Ave for some expensive high-fashion shopping. This area is great during Christmas season when shops will leave you in awe with their best holiday displays.
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Queens John F Kennedy Airport
Lets just get this option out of the way shall we? Both of NYCs major airports, La Guardia and JFK, are in Queens. You can get in between them via Grand Central Parkway in about 30 minutes with traffic.
There are very few reasons Id imagine anyone visiting NYC would want to stay near the airports. However, I found myself thinking I shouldve done this when I booked a midnight flight from JFK Norway in January. Let me tell you getting from midtown Manhattan to JFK in January is not my idea of a good time. If I were to do it again, Id probably stay over night near the airport because theres the very cool lookingTWA Hotel thats designed to look its an airport from the sixties!
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| Booking, Hotels |
Where To Stay In Nyc For 2022 By Neighborhood
New York City is an iconic destination that literally everyone should visit if possible. The city is so massive and every city block is packed with things to do. Amazing food, speak easies, cool hotels, broadway shows, and more. This guide will break down the Big Apple by its best neighborhoods so you know where to stay!
NYC Neighborhoods Well Cover:
- SoHo
- Midtown
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Midtown Where To Stay In New York City For The First Time
Midtown is the neighbourhood at the center of Manhattan. Stretching from the Hudson River to the East River, this neighbourhood is home to famous architecture, vibrant streets, and world-renowned landmarks.
Midtowns most famous attraction is undoubtedly Time Square. Nicknamed the crossroads of the world, this part of Midtown is awash with bright lights, entertainment and shopping.
No first trip to New York City is complete without a visit to Broadway. A historic and cultural landmark, the Great White Way is famous for hosting some of the greatest theatre and musical performances of all time. Whether youre a longtime culture vulture or new to the scene, you wont want to miss the chance to see a show on Broadway.
When it comes down to it, Midtown is quite touristy, but this means its home to some of the best attractions in NY. Thats why Midtown is our pick for where to stay in New York for sightseeing.
Independent Basement Apt2 Bedrooms
New York is famous for being an expensive destination, so when you find affordable places to stay like this apartment, dont let them slip away. Located in the multicultural neighborhood of North Corona in Queens, youll be close to Flushing Meadows Corona Park and the subway to get into Manhattan.
Whats incredible about this Airbnb is how spacious and comfortable it is given the price. Within this basement apartment youll have two separate bedrooms, both with queen beds, plus a sofa bed, allowing it to sleep up to five guests. Between the rooms theres both a living room and dining area, meaning groups and families have a common area to spend time in together.
Superhost Fernando and his wife also live in the building, which explains the relaxed, familiar style of the apartment. It also means you can benefit from their local knowledge and warm hospitality during your stay. Other benefits of staying here include laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, cable TV, fridge, and microwave.
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Things To See And Do In The Lower East Side
- Check out the arts, crafts, and food at the Hester Street Fair.
- Get tickets to a music performance at the Bowery Ballroom.
- Satisfy your sweet tooth at Economy Candy, an old-fashioned candy emporium.
- Grab a bite to eat at the famous Russ & Daughters Jewish grocery.
- Stroll through the outdoor Museum of Street Art.
- Visit the Angel Orensanz Foundation, the citys oldest synagogue.
- Get a tasty treat at the Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery.
- Learn a bit of history at the Tenement Museum.
- Walk or cycle the Williamsburg Bridge .
- Check out one of the year-round events like Pickle Day or Lower East Side Film Festival.
- Try delicacies at one of the famous Jewish eateries like Katzs Deli and Kossars Bialys.
The Plaza New York Is One Of The Most Festive Hotels For The Holiday Season
5 Stars | The most famous hotel around Central Park is likely The Plaza. Opening in 1907, the world-renowned luxury hotel represents a piece of New Yorks rich history. Of course, it cant be missing from any such list of the best hotels during Christmas in NYC. The Plaza has become a real New York landmark. So many stars and other illustrious guests have walked through the doors of this iconic building over the years. You likely notice the hotel from the 90s classic movie Home Alone 2.
The façade in the style of the French Renaissance and the impressive interior design can also be seen in many other famous productions. The Plaza is located at the southern end of Central Park, not far from 5th Avenue.
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Cheap Accommodation In Queens
Queens is the right district to stay for you if youre looking for cheap accommodation in New York. Youll get a lot more value for your money and wont have to spend upwards of 200 dollars for your room.
Weve deliberately chosen Queens as our sole recommended district outside of Manhattan because its just a short ride from there to Midtown by subway . And it has some really nice hotels at a fair price.
If you dont mind taking the subway from Queens to Manhattan every day and you want more for bang for your buck, then Queens is the right place for you.
Pros of staying in Queens:
- Better value for money than in Manhattan
- Cheaper, but still fairly close to the most important sights
- Queens offers a beautiful panoramic view of the New York skyline
Cons of staying in Queens:
- Located outside of Manhattan
- You always have to take the subway to go sightseeing
Our personal hotel recommendations for Queens:
Why Stay In Upper East Side
Featuring the museum mile and various upscale buildings, dining, and department stores, this is the area to stay in if you want a swanky, quiet area not far from Central Park with lots to do. You could easily spend your entire trip visiting galleries and museums being based here and not even start on the usual sights of Manhattan. If upscale shopping is your thing, then youll also be very happy here.
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Overview Of The Best Areas To Stay In New York City
NYC consist of five different boroughs and there are hundreds of distinct neighborhoods throughout the boroughs. Although Manhattan is the smallest of the five boroughs, its undoubtedly the most popular one among tourists looking for the best areas to stay in New York City.
New York City is a place that has something for everyone. Generally speaking, in order to avail the best offers and the best experience, you need to look out for the low seasons. However, there is no surprise that New York City is filled with globetrotters all year round. So, one of the best NYC travel tips I can give you is that if you found a great place to stay, make sure to book well ahead of schedule!
Heres a quick overview of the best areas to stay in New York City with hotel recommendations for each area.
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Things To See And Do In Williamsburg
- Sink your teeth into a good old fashion hot dog at Crif Dogs.
- Dine on flavourful modern Thai fare at Amarin Café.
- Work up an appetite at the Black Flamingo, an exciting dance club that serves incredible late night tacos.
- Sample a wide variety of delicious dumplings at the Vanessa Dumpling House.
- Walk across the Williamsburg Bridge and take in the outstanding view of Brooklyn and New York City.
- Enjoy cheap drinks and delicious pizza at the Alligator Lounge.
- Shop for trinkets and treasures at the Brooklyn Flea Market.
- Dance until dawn at Output, a renowned club with a vibrant and lively dancefloor.
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Best Area To Stay For Arts And Sightseeing Upper East Side
Museum Mile really does not disappoint in terms of attractions.
Museums, galleries and special exhibits are never in short supply in Upper East Side, so you will have your itinerary pretty full.
You have the likes of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Smithsonian Design Museum, The Met Breuer, The Frick Collection and so many others.
The best part is the diversity in all these exhibits including everything from historical treasures to modern art installations.
The Upper East Side also has some pretty awesome must-visit restaurants for you to try out.
One of their finest is the Tanoshe Sushi Sake Bar.
Upper East Siders love their sushi and when you are in the Upper East Side you must live as they do. This restaurant is simple and serves a wide variety of delicious sushi.
Suggested accommodations in this area:
- AirBnb & Apartments: Upper East Studio , Central Park Apartments , Upper East Side
Soho And Tribeca Where To Stay In New York For Shopping And Classy Restaurants
You have probably heard about Manhattans various upscale neighborhoods, and this is certainly the case with the areas South of Houston and the Triangle Below Canal Street, more commonly known as Soho and Tribeca.
Quite a few television and film celebrities have lived in this district for many years, and you should not be surprised if you run into a celebrity if you choose this district when you stay in New York.
Art galleries, museums, classy restaurants, chic bars, and very expensive boutiques are among the highlights of Soho and Tribeca. Many visitors say that this part of Lower Manhattan feels like it has been transplanted from a luxury city neighborhood in Europe.
Lodging recommendation for Soho and Tribeca include:
Upscale:The Dominick Hotel is for travelers with ample budgets. Aside from being very aesthetic, this hotel offers four restaurants and a spa. The upper levels of The Dominick have floor-to-ceiling windows that provide panoramic views of the Hudson River and part of the skyline.
Mid-Range:Sohotel is very close to the Little Italy restaurant district, and it is often chosen by visitors who want to experience great dining when they stay in New York. Even though this is a reasonably priced hotel, it offers 24-hour concierge service because that is what you would expect from a Soho property.
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Best For Ethnic Restaurants: Hells Kitchen
This is a neighbourhood located in the west side of Midtown. It is known for its numerous ethnic restaurants, and is home to many aspiring young actors / Broadway performers. A fantastic value-for-money accommodation here is The French Quarters Guest Apartments, a boutique hotel that provides classy and comfortable rooms. And it is just a five-minute walk from Times Square!
Upper West Side Best For Architecture Buffs
Located on the west side of Central Park, Upper West Side is hands down one of the best areas to stay in New York City. The Upper West Side area is famous amongst architecture lovers who can stroll along Central Park West, West End Avenue, and Riverside Drive to marvel at the large, ornate buildings and apartments.
The Upper West Side area is also known for housing pristine institutions like the Lincoln Centre, Juilliard School, Fordham University, and American Museum of Natural History. If you are a Beatles fan, staying at Upper West Side could be the best way to feel close to them by paying homage to John Lennon at the Strawberry Fields memorial.
Pros and cons of staying in Upper West Side
PROS
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Upper East Side Best Neighborhood In Nyc For Museums
Every corner of this district feels evokes the feeling of affluence, and this goes back to the time when New York was a Dutch jurisdiction known as New Amsterdam. Shortly after the English took possession of the territory from Dutch colonies, wealthy families began settling in the Upper East, and this tradition remains to this very day.
This district is filled with interesting museums It is home to Museum Mile, including the world famous Metropolitan Museum of Art, or The Guggenheim, and a lot of less known museums as the Park Avenue Armory.
Park Avenue Armory is an arts space that used to house the Seventh New York Militia before being used by a combat regiment of the United States National Guard, and its soldiers used to be known as silk stockings infantrymen because they came from elite families.
If you choose to plan your stay in New York in this district, you will invariably spend more.
Here are some recommendations for staying in the Upper East Side:
Mid-Range:The Bentley Hotel looks like a very expensive hotel, but it is actually pretty reasonable unless you book a suite with panoramic views of the East River. Guests have access to a fitness center, a business conference room, ironing board in every room, and breakfast a la carte. The eight major museums of the Upper East Side are within walking distance.
Why Stay In Midtown West
One of the most coveted spots for tourists in New York, this area makes up Times Square, Broadway and stretches all the way West to the Hudson River. When you picture New York, this is the area people usually imagine and is perfect if you want to be in the middle of all the action in terms of bright lights, performances, shopping, and people. Youll also be within walking distance of these key areas as well as Macys, Madison Square Garden, plus the areas in Midtown East making it ideal if you want to traverse New York by foot. Its also perfect transport wise since most of the major subway lines and bus routes run through this area.
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Soho & Tribeca: Best Place To Stay In Manhattan For Shopping
Soho is south of Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village and Tribeca is a bit further downtown, south of Soho. Both neighborhoods have trendy boutiques and classy restaurants that draw visitors and locals alike. Soho is also where to find upscale art galleries and street vendors selling local/original art and trinkets. Every spring, Tribeca hosts the annual Tribeca Film Festival which features up and coming films, Q& A sessions with the directors and casts, music events, and more.
Cheap Accommodation In New Jersey
New Jersey is another state, but is located right across from Manhattan on the other side of the Hudson River.
Jersey City is right across from Manhattan and especially the hotels right at the water habe a beautiful view of the Manhattan Skyline. However, the hotel prices are not cheaper than in Manhattan, simply because you can get there pretty fast by subway.
If you really want to save money, you should look at the hotels in Newark. They dont offer a view on Manhattan, since Newark is located a little further outside, but a good room costs between 120 and 170 dollars.
You should definitely book a hotel close to the Newark Penn Station. With the red PATH Train Line you will need 22 minutes to the World Trade Center. A one way ticket costs 2,75 dollars .
Pros of staying in Newark:
- You get more for your money than in Manhattan
- If you land in Newark, you are closer to the airport
Cons of staying in Newark:
- You will need 20 to 30 minutes to get to Manhattan
- You dont have a view on the skyline, so you dont get that authentic New York feel
Our personal hotel recommendations for Newark:
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