Finding Your Bearings In New York
At around 8.5 inhabitants, New York is the city with the biggest population in the United States.
Theres a reason Manhattan is packed with skyscrapers: All those people have to fit into a relatively small area, and over 50 million tourists who visit New York every year need a place to stay, too.
Of course, that means it can be a bit overwhelming at first if youre used to comparatively tiny and laid-back European cities.
New York City consists of 5 large districts, which are known as boroughs.
- Manhattan
- Queens
- Staten Island
If youre traveling to New York for sightseeing, Manhattan is your only real option. All the most famous and important sights of New York are located here. 4 of the 5 areas in New York that we recommend are in the borough of Manhattan.
If You Recovered From Covid
If you recovered from a documented COVID-19 infection within the past 90 days , you do NOT need to get a test 3-5 days after travel. People can continue to test positive for up to 90 days after diagnosis and not be infectious to others. You also do not need to self-quarantine after travel. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms after travel, isolate and consult with a healthcare provider for testing recommendations.
Tribeca: Hilton Garden Inn
The Hilton Garden Inn is an affordable stay option if you would like to be close to everything in Tribeca, but without breaking the bank with accommodation fees.
Rooms have high-speed wi fi connections, and an onsite restaurant with excellent food is available too.
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Lower East Side: Best Area To Stay In New York For Hipsters
The Lower East Side is everything artsy and creative. While trendy shops have moved into the neighborhood, the LES is still the place to find vintage shops and hidden-entrance speakeasies with artisan cocktails. The diversity in the neighborhood has also created a foodies dream with all kinds of ethnic cuisines and creative food options for some of the hottest restaurants in the city.
For Luxury Lovers Upper East Side

The Upper East Side is the right area to stay for you if you like things a little quieter, you want to go for a run in Central Park in the morning, and you plan to explore the museums of New York.
Although the Upper East Side has changed a bit over the years, people still think of it as the neighborhood of the rich and beautiful, with expensive clothes and tiny dogs in handbags.
Of course thats a bit of a stereotype, but theres more than a kernel of truth to it. In spite of that, or perhaps because of it, its worth staying in the Upper East Side.
Its full of beautiful buildings and luxury boutiques, with Central Park as a scenic backdrop. 5th Avenue, which runs east of Central Park, is home to the citys most famous museums.
This part of 5th Avenue is also known as Museum Mile. There youll find the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Jewish Museum, the Goethe Institute, and the Neue Galerie.
Pros of staying in the Upper East Side:
- Within walking distance of many of the citys major museums
- Central Park is right next door
- Quieter than the other districts
Cons of staying in the Upper East Side:
- Hotels are a bit more expensive than in the other districts
- Smaller selection of restaurants and bars, especially in the lower price ranges
- Slightly longer journey to the sights in the south of Manhattan
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Central Spot In The Garment District Blocks From Tourist Sights Theaters And Parks
Manhattan Broadway Hotel has a nondescript entrance on West 38th Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues . This area is known as the Garment District, which lies within the larger Manhattan area of Midtown West. Guests who stay here choose the hotel for two reasons: cheap rooms and a central location that puts them within blocks from the Theater District, Times Square, Bryant Park, Port Authority and Penn Station. A longer walk gets guests to Rockefeller Center, shops along Fifth Avenue, and Central Park. Nearby Penn Station has several subway lines to access other neighborhoods: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, and to get to Queens, the 42 Street 7 train can take passengers all the way to the Mets ballpark.
There is a CitiBike station outside the hotel entrance — bikes are not always available during peak commute hours — but when they are, guests can ride a few blocks west to get to Hudson River Parkway for a path that goes for miles in either direction. Guests can purchase essentials at several convenience stores, and dining options for budget travelers — especially ethnic food — can be found in this area as well as a few blocks north in Hell’s Kitchen.
- 10-minute walk to Bryant Park
- 10-minute walk to Penn Station and Madison Square Garden
- 11-minute walk to Empire State Building
- 12-minute walk to Times Square
- 13-minute walk to Theater District
- 15-minute walk to nearest High Line park entrance
- 20-minute walk to Rockefeller Center
Staying In New York As A First
Especially when you are in New York for the first time, you want to experience a lot of the citys highlights this is best done directly in Manhattan because the distances are short and you can reach all the sights of New York on foot. Many people are drawn to the Theatre District around Times Square and Midtown, but Soho, the Financial District and the West Village are also famous.
The adjacent neighborhoods of Brooklyn and parts of Queens like Long Island City attract many visitors. However, if you want a wide selection of trendy bars and restaurants near your New York hotel in the evening, Williamsburg, the East Village and the West Village are your best bet.
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Queens: Ramada By Wyndham Flushing Queens
The Ramada by Wyndham Flushing is a moderately-priced hotel option that affords all the amenities and luxuries that you would expect at double the price.
Spacious rooms and comfortable beds make the Ramada worth it, and amenities like highspeed wi fi add to the attraction.
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Where To Stay Near Broadway
By | Submitted On January 12, 2010
Broadway is the oldest north-south avenue that runs through the full length of Manhattan and continues into Bronx. Originally, this avenue snaked along the length of the Manhattan Island. On arrival of the Dutch, this avenue became a thoroughfare in the city. This avenue was called “The Boulevard” until the end of the 19th century when it was renamed to Broadway. The entire length of Broadway was once a two way traffic street but currently the traffic on Broadway is only southbound.
The intersection of Broadway and the Seventh Avenue at Manhattan is called Times Square. This place is significant for the annual New Year celebrations, packing thousands from around the world to bring on the new year.
The New York Marriott Marquis is closest to Times Square as it is situated on Broadway amidst the hustle bustle of the Times Square. This non smoking hotel towers with 49 stories, 1,949 guest rooms and suites offers the best view of the underlying Times Square and Manhattan. Half a block away from Times Square is The Paramount Hotel. This hotel features a library bar and a paramount bar. An exciting feature of this hotel is that they allow you to carry your pets along.
If you’re planning a trip to New York for New Years or even to see a local play, you can find great discounts on hotels near Broadway if you book far enough in advance.
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Brooklyn: Carlton Arms Hotel
The Carlton Arms Hotel is one of the best hotels in Brooklyn, and its claim to fame is the official two-star rating.
This might seem a little paltry, but the superb location of this hotel is the real kicker.
A great hotel for a few day stay-over, rooms arent big on the view, but everything else is perfect. Amenities like free wi fi are included, and you have the option of larger or smaller rooms in the Carlton Arms.
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Williamsburg Coolest Place To Stay In New York City
Across the East River in cool Brooklyn, youll find Williamsburg, a hipster hood that oozes cool around every turn.
Williamsburg isnt just the coolest neighbourhood in New York City it routinely ranks as one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the world, characterised by its thriving arts scene and vibrant nightlife. This is the place to see and be seen in New York.
At the centre of Brooklyn, Williamsburg is well connected to Manhattan and easy to reach from the rest of NYC. Its home to eclectic restaurants, boutique shops, stylish bars, hip tattoo parlours, and rustic rooftop patios.
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Our Personal Top Hotel Recommendation For New York
Our favorite hotel in New York is the citizenM Hotel just off of Times Square, which offers excellent value for money in a perfect location. We had already stayed at a citizenM in Rotterdam before and were really impressed with it.
Each hotel only has a single room category, and all the rooms have the same layout with super-modern furnishings. Were total fans of citizenM and would recommend the hotel to anyone.
A new CitizenM recently opened in the Bowery. If youve been to New York before and dont want to stay around Times Square, then the citizenM in Bowery is a great alternative.
Where To Stay In New York City The Best Area For First Timers

Planning a city trip to New York City? Cool! Youre going to love the Big Apple! But finding a hotel in New York can be really stressful. Especially if its your first time traveling to New York. In this post, well help you get your bearings in New York. Well show you the best areas to stay and share our personal hotel tips.
Your trust is really important to us: This post contains so-called affiliate links. More information
Your trust is very important to us: This post contains affiliate links. If you book your hotel using one of these links, we get a small commission. It wont cost you any extra and its an easy way for you to support our work. Thanks, we really appreciate it! Jenny & Basti
Hi! We are Jenny & Basti.
Were head over heels in love with photography and traveling. On our travel blog, we share useful travel tips and give you practical photography advice.
Were head over heels in love with photography and traveling. We turned our shared passion into our profession and have been at home everywhere in the world ever since. On 22places we share everything about our travels: with a lot of attention for details, inspirational, authentic, and above all: always honest. On our travel blog, we share useful travel tips and give you practical photography advice.
Its no secret that New York isnt exactly the cheapest destination for a city trip.
But lets be honest: This sprawling metropolis is most definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
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Best Airbnb In Lower East Side Cozy Room With Street Facing Window And Memory
Renovated two-bedroom apartment , with a private room is furnished with brand-new amenities, including a desk, ultra-comfortable queen-size memory foam mattress, soft towels and a 26 flat-screen TV with Netflix. This is an ideal place for where to stay in New York City if you want to have a home away from home.
Things To See And Do In Upper West Side New York
- Order a big salad or simply enjoy a cup of coffee at Toms Restaurant, a must-visit for Seinfeld fans.
- Dive deep into history, culture and the natural world at the incredible American Museum of Natural History.
- Take a virtual tour of the universe and beyond at the Hayden Planetarium.
- Enjoy five floors of fun at the Childrens Museum of Manhattan, where kids of all ages can experience interactive exhibitions and colourful displays.
- Indulge in sweet treats, cakes, and cookies at Levain Bakery.
- Pack a picnic and explore expansive and iconic Central Park, where youll find a pond, zoo, and plenty of walking paths.
- Dine on delicious and authentic Italian fare at Carmines Italian Restaurant.
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Manhattan: The Central Park North
Central Park is an iconic Manhattan landmark, and heres the hotel that gets you If youre in New York City wondering which landmark to hit up first, look no further than Central Park, located between the Upper West Side and Upper East Side of Manhattan.
The 843 acre Central Park is an iconic Manhattan landmark, popular with locals and tourists alike, and heres the hotel that gets you within the closest walking distance.
A simple boutique hotel with a bed and breakfast feel, featuring large and small rooms available, the Central Park North will make you feel right at home. Most rooms have a great view of New York City, especially Central Park.
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Brooklyn: The Library Hotel
The Library Hotel is one of the best places to stay if you want an advantageous position thats close to literally everything in town.
Youll find the nearest subway station just a few minutes away from the Library Hotel, and you can get to most museums and landmarks in NYC from here. Set in an old building, small rooms and suites are available. An on site restaurant completes the picture.
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Pcr Testing Sites For Uk Tourists In Nyc
Looking for a reliable PCR testing site in NYC to return to UK this week. Advice will be much appreciated
39 replies to this topic
It can be an antigen to return too. Possibly cheaper and also results will be quicker too
I think Gov website states PCR or lateral flow.Ill check again Thanks
Edited: 04 December 2021, 22:09
New rules just announced say Pcr test within 48 hours of departure from 04.00 Tuesday 7th
Not sure if the day 2 requirement still stands as we had booked this for our return on 9th
Edited: 05 December 2021, 01:56
#4 – Day 2 PCR still required also. UK Gov has basically gone back to the summer travel testing regime.
The pre flight test can be Lat Flow or PCR. The test within 2 days of return has to be PCR.
Thank you. Pre flight tests completed. Its getting home that is a concern. New rules announced yesterday change everything.
Apparently the pop up tents around the city have free testing for tourists. The results are emailed to you phone for you to use at the airport.
Let us know how you get on.
I’ll probably need to do this in a few weeks unless the overreaction has been reversed by the UK govt.
New York City
In Photos: 13 Grand Historic Hotels That Once Lined Broadway
Michelle Young is the founder of Untapped Cities and the author of the book Broadway, released on April 7, which contains nearly 200 vintage and present-day photographs. The following piece is adapted from the book.
The history of Broadway, from its origins as a Native American trail to its iconic status today, tells the story of the city of New York as it grew from a Dutch colony into a world-class metropolis. The avenue has been the site of many firsts and many superlatives: the city’s first subway line its tallest buildings. The Great White Way is one of the longest streets in the world. As the city moved northwards, so did the various political, commercial, and cultural institutions. Hotels were part of this migration, serving first the colonial settlement and later a growing population as a confluence of trade and politics brought new immigrants and transient labor into New York. Even pleasure gardens19th-century entertainment venueswould relocate to wherever the city’s new outer boundary would be at the time.
Astor HouseAstor House was the first luxury hotel in New York City, situated on Broadway between Barclay and Vesey Street across from City Hall. It had running water before the Croton Aqueduct was completed in 1842, and its distinguished guests included Abraham Lincoln, who gave a speech there before his presidential election. In 1913, the hotel was demolished in phases to accommodate the construction of the subway.
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Things To See And Do In Midtown
- Visit the iconic home of Broadway and watch an incredible play or musical performance.
- Snack on one of NYCs finest bagels at Best Bagel and Coffee.
- Stand at the center of Time Square, surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of New York City.
- Climb to the Top of the Rock and take in the incredible views of NYC from the Rockefeller Center Observation Desk.
- See unbelievable works of art at the Museum of Modern Art .
- Excite your senses at Spice Symphony.
- Grab a pint at the Carnegie Club.
Who Is Best For This Location

People who are particularly interested in sights in Lower Manhattan like this area because it is close to the city, but cheaper than staying in Manhattan. Jersey City Hotels.
Getting Around: From most areas of Jersey City, you can be in Manhattan in under 20 minutes via the PATH. From Exchange Place to the World Trade Center, it takes just six minutes. From the World Trade Center, its easy to connect to the Subway to reach other areas of New York City.
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