Finding a good deal on a hotel in New York City isn’t easy. First, you have to re-define what at “good deal” means, because NYC hotel rates are going to be higher than most other places in the country. Second, you need to be sure that the hotel is comfortable, well-maintained, and in a decent neighborhood. One of the best ways to figure all this out is by using one of the hotel price comparison sites. TripAdvisor is a good one because it includes traveler reviews and even lets travelers upload photos, plus, they show available rates from the major hotel reservations sites, so you get reviews and price comparisons all in one place.
The hotels listed above are 10 relatively affordable hotels that are top-ranked at TripAdvisor. Most of these have rates in the $250 – $320 range, although some may be a little higher or lower, and all rates may be higher during peak travel seasons. You may find much lower rates during the coldest months of winter and the hottest months of summer. Basically, NYC hotel rates vary greatly, even for different dates on the same hotel. Be sure to shop around.
Many Manhattan hotel rates are well over $400 a night. Some are much, much more than that. Rates vary by season and even by day of the week, so try being a little flexible with your travel plans to get the best deal. The best rates are often on the weekend, particularly Sundays.
Be sure to check our hotel deals section before you make your reservations. Sometimes you’ll find promo codes that can save you a little extra money.
Shuttle buses are a balance between convenience and cost-savings. There are several different shuttles that operate from the NYC airports. There’s not too much difference between their fares, but be sure to check each of their websites to see if they’re offering any special deals. Some at least give you a discount for booking your reservation online. The main complaint about the shuttles is that they can be very slow at getting you to your destination. It all depends on who else is on the shuttle, where everyone is going, and what the traffic conditions are like.
GO Airlink NYC. A door-to-door shared ride van service from the JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports to Manhattan. They deliver passengers to their destinations starting with the closest first, so it could take a while to get to your hotel, depending on where it is and where the other passengers on the van need to go. The vans hold 11 passengers. They offer a 10% discount if you book online.
NYC Airporter. These shuttle buses leave the JFK and LaGuardia airports every 20 – 30 minutes. The shuttles have free wifi. They take you to Grand Central Station, Penn Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, or Bryant Park. You then have the option of taking one of their complementary shuttles from Bryant Park to a hotel located between 23rd and 63rd street, or taking a cab or other form of transportation to your hotel.
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Public Transit
The least expensive way to go (and maybe the quickest) is to take public transit. You’ll save money, but you’ll have to make some transfers between buses and trains. This option is probably best if you’re traveling light.
LivingSocial.com is a discount service that offers limited-time deals on dining, entertainment, shopping and services. If you’ve never used LivingSocial before, see how it works They often have good deals on NYC restaurants and entertainment.
LivingSocial sometimes issues special coupon or promo codes that give customers an additional discount on their purchases. We’ll post the last promo code offers here.
The latest promo code discount:
Extra 20% off sitewide with code SITESALE. July 7 & 8 2017.
Manhattan Sideways is an expanding exploration of the side streets of Manhattan.
The Manhattan Sideways team is exploring the numbered streets one by one. They started at 1st Street and will eventually get all the way to 155th. As of August 2016, they’re up to 100th Street. Their thorough explorations are well-documents at Sideways.nyc
Each “Meet the Street” section contains a general overview plus entries for everything on the street. Every place, from parks and parking garages to shops and restaurants, is identified. Many have basic entries with a map, address, hours of operation, etc. The most interesting bits are the “Side Pick” features that provide write-ups and photos of some of the most interesting Manhattan Sideways discoveries. The write-ups, which are often as much about the proprietors of the establishment as about the shop or business, give a real sense of neighborhood. There’s an option on each street page to see the Side Pick entries only, or you can see the complete list of things located on that street.
Bookmark Manhattan Sideways and keep it with your trip planning resources. It’s a great way to discover neat things to see in overlooked parts of the city.
Looking for an option to staying in an expensive New York City hotel? Maybe you should give a vacation rental a try.
Vacation rental sites like HomeAway, FlipKey, and TripAdvisor list lots of rental properties in New York City. Most of the Manhattan rentals are apartments and they can be pretty small, but they’re still likely to provide you with more space than a hotel room. Plus, many rentals sleep at least 3 or 4 people.
HomeAway.com has over 2,000 Manhattan vacation rental properties listed. That’s a lot to choose from! You can sort the list by customer rating, number of bedrooms, price, and availability. Some of the listings are pretty pricey, but there are many that cost no more, or even less, than a hotel room. See New York City vacation rental listings at HomeAway
FlipKey by TripAdvisor has a very user-friendly website that lets you filter results by neighborhood, by amenities provided, and by whether the property is good for people traveling with kids or pets. We saw many rentals priced at under $200 a night at this site.
Finding the best deals on airfare is all about flexibility – yours and theirs. If you can be flexible about your travel dates, you can pick days with the lowest fares. If you need to travel on a specific date, then you’ll want to monitor rate changes to take advantage of shifting prices.
For flexible flyers: If your travel plans aren’t set in stone, Skyscanner has a great tool for finding the cheapest airfares. Go to their site at skyscanner.com and when you click in the departure and arrival date boxes, look for the buttons below the calendar – you can check dates over a few days, a week, a month, or even the whole year. The results will be displayed in both chart and calendar view. You may be surprised at what a big difference it makes to shift your travel plans by a day or two.
Tracking changing airfare rates: You would think that the cost of a flight from point A to point B would always be the same, but it isn’t. Airfare prices flex a lot. They vary by airline, by month, day of the week, and time of flight. Sometimes they change for no apparent reason. In order to find the best deal on airfare, you need a way to keep track of those changes so you can purchase quickly when the prices are good.
Here are two tools that will help you track airline fare changes:
Airfarewatchdog.com – With this simple online tool, all you have to do is enter where you want to fly from and where you want to fly to. Check the little box that says “Send me low fare alerts” and you’ll get an email whenever there are good deals to be had. They even list promo codes and fares that are only available on the airline websites.
TripAdvisor Cheap Airfare Alerts– To sign up to get alerts, do a search on flights to where you want to go. Don’t worry about the date right now, you can enter anything. Then in the left side margin, under the “refine search” area, there will be a “cheap airfare alerts” heading and a “create alert” button. Click the button, enter your email address, and you’re all set. You’ll get alerts when flight prices drop.
It’s time for our annual round-up of New York City holiday activities and entertainment. Each year we provide information on some of the best things to do in NYC during the Christmas season. And since this website is all about experiencing the best of NYC for less, we emphasize things to do that are free, inexpensive, or for which discounts are available.
We’ll keep this page updated as more information about the 2015 season becomes available.
Check additional online event resources such as TimeOut and the Official NYC Guide at nycgo.com to find more events.
Dates, hours of operation, and fees should be verified with the official websites.
For hotels, try TheRealPlaces.com. Their listings of hotels near NYC theaters and landmarks helps with finding a convenient place to stay.
Music, Entertainment, and Events
Radio City Music Hall
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – Santa’s arrival at the end of this big Thanksgiving Day parade helps usher in the holiday season. Thousands and thousands of people line the parade route each year to see the bands, floats, and giant balloons go by. The 2015 parade date is November 26th. The parade starts at 77th Street and Central Park West, turns at Columbus Circle onto Central Park South, continues to 6th Avenuen, then continues south along 6th Avenue until it gets to the end at 34th Street (Macy’s Herald Square).
You can see the Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons inflated outside the American Museum of Natural History on the night before the parade. It’s a great opportunity to see the balloons up close, but lots people show up to see the inflation, so be prepared for lines and crowds.
Winter Solstice Celebration at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine – December 17 – 19, 2015. A non-denominational celebration. This event is a contemporary take on ancient solstice rituals, featuring the Paul Winter Consort, gospel singer Theresa Thomason, Brazilian guitarist/singer Renato Braz, and other special guests.
Handel’s Messiah – Enjoy the New York Philharmonic’s performance of this classical masterpiece. Performances are December 15 – 19, 2015 at Lincoln Center.
Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square – Annual street festival that stretches along Broadway from the Time Warner Center to 68th Street. There’s lots of free entertainment and performances, plus food tastings from neighborhood restaurants. November 30, 2015.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree – This is the big one – and it really is a big tree. The tree, lights and decorations at Rockefeller Center are beautiful and a must-see for any holiday season visit to New York City. The tree lighting event will take place on December 2, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The tree stays lit until 11:30 each night until the lights go off at 8:00 p.m. on January 6th, 2016. Free.
The Origami Tree at the American Museum of Natural History – The holiday tree at the American Museum of Natural History is decorated with a collection of paper-folded origami ornaments. The theme for the ornaments changes each year. It’s a unique and beautiful display. Admission to the museum is free during the last hour of operation each day (4:45 – 5:45), so that’s a good time to visit if you just want to see the tree.
Metropolitan Museum Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Creche – This beautiful tree is decorated with cherubs and angels and a classic Nativity scene is arranged beneath. Lighting ceremonies are held each day, visit the museum website for details. The museum operates on a recommended admission policy, with a recommendation of $25 for adults, $17 for seniors, $12 for students, and free admission for children under 12.
Bryant Park Tree – There’s a big tree next to the skating rink at Bryant Park. The ice skating rink here is free (there’s a charge to rent skates if you don’t have your own). This park also features a very nice holiday market with little shops nestled in between the park’s trees. Bryant Park is located behind the New York Public Library, between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Free.
Park Avenue Memorial Trees – Fir trees along Park Avenue are lit each year in memory of those who have sacrificed their lives at war. This tradition began in 1946 when a group of Park Avenue families lit trees in honor of those lost in WWII. The Brick Church at the corner of Park Avenue and 91st Street holds a tree lighting ceremony and carol sing on the night of the first Sunday in December. The trees stretch along Park Avenue from 54th to 96th Streets. Tree lighting: December 6, 2015. Free.
Star Display at the Time Warner Center
The New York Stock Exchange Christmas Tree – A tree has been decorated in front of the NYSE each year since 1923. The tree is located on Broad Street, between Wall Street and Exchange Place. Free.
Washington Square Park Christmas Tree – This tree has a spectacular location, right at the foot of the iconic Washington Square Arch. The park is located at the foot of Fifth Avenue in the Greenwich Village neighborhood. The park also has a popular holiday market. 2014 Tree Lighting is December 10th. Free.
Lincoln Center Tree – There’s always a nice holiday tree in the plaza in front of Lincoln Center. It’s a pretty setting with the fountain and Lincoln Center’s lighted architecture in the background. While you’re in the neighborhood, pay a visit to the Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium, located on Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets. This public space is open until 10:00 nightly, has free wifi, restrooms, a cafe, free music on Thursdays, and is the box office for discount tickets to same-week performances at Lincoln Center venues. Free.
Holiday Under the Stars at The Time Warner Center – Twelve large stars suspended from the ceiling of the Time Warner Center atrium shift colors in a display choreographed to holiday music. The Time Warner Center is located across from Columbus Circle, where you’ll find an outdoor holiday market. November 13, 2014 – January 3, 2015. Free.
Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens – Think train shows aren’t your thing? You might want to re-think that. This train show is special. Trains run around a landscape of real plants and detailed replicas of New York City’s landmarks, created completely out of natural plant material. It all takes place in the nice warm conservatory building of the New York Botanical Gardens. November 21, 2015 – January 18, 2016.
Store Window Holiday Displays – Elaborate holiday window displays are a long-standing tradition in New York City. Macy’s, Saks, Lord & Taylor, Tiffany, Bergdorf Goodman, and Bloomingdale’s are some of the best. If you’re traveling with children, see Mommy Poppins’ “NYC Holiday Windows Walk 2013: Seeing Department Store Christmas Displays with Kids” for good information and photos. And don’t just look in the windows at Macy’s, the interior of the store has great decorations, including the famous Santaland.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center – This is the most famous, and most crowded of the city’s skating rinks. If it’s always been your dream to skate at Rockefeller Center, you show go for it. And if you’re not much of a skater, the rink and surrounding decorations are still something worth seeing. October 10, 2015 – April 2016.
Wollman Rink in Central Park– This is probably the second most famous ice rink in the city. It’s a large rink located near the southern entrance to Central Park, where the city’s skyline provides a picturesque background. Try to go during the week when the rink is less crowded and the fees are lower. 2015 dates have not been announced yet, but the rink usually opens in late October and stays open through early April.
Bryant Park Ice Skating – Skating at Bryant Park is free. The 170′ x 100′ rink here is smaller than the one a Central Park, but larger than the rink at Rockefeller Center. The park also has a nice holiday market. Bryant Park is located right behind the Main Branch of the New York Public Library, so you can stop by there to see the tree in Astor Hall and the wreaths decorating the lion statues at the entrance. October 30, 2015 – March 6, 2016.
South Street Seaport Ice Rink – There’s an open-air skating rink at the corner of Fulton and Front Streets. The 2015 dates have not been announced yet.
Holiday Markets
Holiday shops and tree at Bryant Park
The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park– The glass-enclosed structures that house the shops at the Bryant Park holiday market allow shoppers an opportunity to get out of the cold. There are over a hundred little boutique-type shops set up along the park’s pathways. The glass shops nestled in among the park’s trees makes a very pretty setting. There’s also a skating rink and large Christmas tree here. October 30, 2015 – January 3, 2016.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market– This outdoor market has a great location, right at the southern end of Central Park. Combine shopping here with a trip to nearby Wollman Rink in Central Park or the lights display in the Time Warner Center. Open daily, December 1 – 24, 2015.
Union Square Holiday Market– Vendors of gift and food items sell their wares from temporary outdoor stalls topped with red & white striped awnings. The scene at this popular market is reminiscent of European Christmas markets. Open daily, November 19 – December 24, 2015 in Union Square Park, Greenwich Village.
Grand Central Holiday Fair – Grand Central’s indoor holiday market is a good way to escape from the cold. There are 76 vendors selling a variety of goods. Open daily from November 16 – December 24, 2015. If you’re there in the evening, be sure to check out the light show on the windows in main concourse.
Driving to New York City can be cheaper than flying (and more fun), but if it’s a long trip, you’ll need a place to stay along the way.
TheRealPlaces.com has a new Road Trip Guide feature that shows you the fastest route from point A to Point B and identifies hotels along the way. New York City is one of the first guides they published (they have several others, including the Grand Canyon, Orlando, and New Orleans) and it’s a great tool for planning out a trip.
Here’s what the Flagstaff to NYC route looks like in map view. You can zoom in and click on the hotels for details. There are also tables with driving distances in both miles and hours to hotel centers along the way so you can figure out the best places to stop and spend the night.
Bus travel is one of the most affordable ways to get to New York City. But you’ll want to shop around to make sure you’re getting the best fare. Rates can vary significantly by day of the week and even time of day. And if you’re fortunate enough to live in an area served by more than one bus company, you’ll want to do some comparison shopping. All this is made much easier with Wanderu’s bus fare comparison tool.
At Wanderu.com, all you have to do is enter the starting point and destination for your trip and the date you’d like to travel, and they’ll show you bus routes with fare information. You’ll be able to see if ticket prices vary by time of day. And you can scroll through dates to see if you can save some money by traveling on a different day.
In addition to direct routes, the search shows multiple bus routes that require a transfer at some point during the trip. Sometimes these multiple bus routes are actually faster and less expensive than the direct route. For example, we did a search on travel from Knoxville, TN to New York City and found that by transferring in Washington DC, we could save $42 and arrive an hour earlier than if we took the direct bus. That’s the kind of information that would not be easy to figure out on your own but is simple with Wanderu’s search.
Wanderu partners with 25 transportation providers, and they recently announced that Greyhound, the country’s largest provider of intercity bus transportation, has been added to that team of partnerships. For now, the new Greyhound additions to the search are concentrated in the northeast U.S., but additional stops will be added in the future.
It’s about time someone made comparison shopping for bus travel easier. Good work, Wanderu.
NewYork.com published a great article this month about NYC hotels that cater to solo travelers. They feature hotels that have smaller rooms for single travelers, cost-saving amenities such as free coffee and snack, and singles-friendly activities such as happy hours for mingling.
The eight hotels featured in the article are The Jane, Pod 39, Washington Jefferson Hotel, Premier Hotel New York, Library Hotel, The Bowery House, Ace Hotel, and The James New York.
Some of their picks have rates under $100 a night, which is a great deal for a Manhattan stay. Not all of their selections a inexpensive. Some were picked more for their amenities than their price. All look like good options.
