December is the perfect time to watch the world’s most famous ball drop at midnight from your own New Year’s Eve NYC Hotel, check into one of our hotels near Rockefeller Center (Rockettes at Radio City, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Ice Skating) or near Central Park for more iconic Ice Skating. We know the summer seems like a silly time to read our
Insider Guide to the best December and Holiday Hotels in NYC, but trust us, the time to book is now. The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square… I’m sure you heard about all these iconic landmarks, am I right? New York City, also known as the “Big Apple”, NY or NYC is the biggest and most populous city in the entire United States! It’s also a dream destination for all types of travelers and a place where “all dreams can come true”. Now that you’re planning a trip to this incredible city, the next problem you’ll need to solve is where to stay in New York City depending on your itinerary and interest. Which, trust me, can be a pretty big challenge and a scary task to complete. That’s why I’m here to help! In this complete guide on New York neighborhoods, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the 7 best areas to stay in NY, together with my hand-picked accommodation recommendations for each of them. NOTE: New York City has a hotel tax of 14.75% of the total price + a flat fee (occupancy tax) of US$3.50 per day. Keep this in mind when calculating your budget for your NYC trip! Most of the hotels that I am recommending in this article include all these taxes I’m talking about, but it’s always good to double-check after. Are you ready? Let’s go! Contents
If you’re in a hurry…If you need to take a quick decision and book immediately, I got your back, check this list of the best hotels located in the central Manhattan:
PRO TIP: There are more than 50 million tourists coming to New York City each year, so needless to say that accommodations are flying fast. My honest advice is to book as far in advance as you can, as the best hotels out there can be sold out even 7 or 8 months in advance! Which area should you choose?New York City is divided into 5 different boroughs (towns/districts): Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Here’s a nice kid’s song to easily learn the name of the boroughs! 🙂 Now, these boroughs are divided into several smaller neighborhoods, each with its own unique charm, advantages, and disadvantages 5 out of the 7 areas I’m recommending in this article are on Manhattan island, which is (almost) the only relevant part of NYC for tourists, especially for those that are traveling to the city for the first time. I’m also recommending Williamsburg in Brooklyn and Long Island City in Queens but their main advantage is that they’re close to Manhattan by public transportation (and affordable!). Here is a map of all of the 7 New York areas I am going to talk about in this post, so you can easily visualize them:
And to make things even clearer for you, here is a table that will help you choose the perfect neighborhood for you from this post:
1. Midtown (Manhattan) – where to stay in NYC for the first time
Even though NYC has tons of interesting attractions and activities everywhere you look, most of the main ones are located in the Midtown area, right in the middle of Manhattan. This can be considered the heart and soul of the city and a very important spot if you’re interested in culture, art and, of course, shopping! Midtown is also a great choice if you prefer walking and want to avoid driving or spending a lot of time using public transportation. Manhattan is organized in a grid system, so it’s extremely easy to orient yourself. The streets are parallel and they start from the North to the South, while the avenues start from the East (1st Avenue) and finish on the West (12th Avenue). That being said, should I also mention that Midtown Manhattan is also the most popular and crowded area in the city? That’s a classic downside of staying in the best location! Some of the highlights of this neighborhood include Times Square, the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), Central Park, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Broadway street with all the musicals and theatres and the famous Fifth Avenue as well. As you can see, all of the important sights in the city and here! Luxury (US$200 and up)
Middle-priced (US$130 – US$200)
Budget (up to US$130)
Things to do in Midtown Manhattan:
2. Lower East Side & SoHo – best for shopping
The Lower East Side (LES) and SoHo (which means South of Houston Street, if you ever wondered) are two super cool neighborhoods, located very close to each other. They’re not that big either, which is why I decided to combine them into a single recommendation and they’re great choices, especially for people who have been to New York City before! NOTE: SoHo in New York is different from the Soho in London, so please don’t mix them up! Both of these areas are residential, so they lack popular landmarks, but they’re still pretty close to the main attractions in the city center (around 20-25 minutes by public transportation) and walking distance to Little Italy and Chinatown as well – bonus points! Another nice activity to do here is just to take a walk on the streets and try out new restaurants, cafes, and shops for all pockets and preferences (including many vintage shops!). And if you’re a shopping lover, SoHo is for you, offering so many fashionable boutiques! Luxury (US$210 and up)
Middle-priced (US$120 – US$210)
Budget (up to US$120)
Things to do in the East Side & SoHo:
3. East Village – where to stay in New York City for nightlife
The East Village is a pretty unique and special area, as it has an interesting mix of old and new, modern and old-school, which can be seen everywhere from the streets to the buildings and the overall vibe. There are also plenty of rooftop bars and late-night clubs here, so you can rest assured that you can never get bored here, even if you try! Luxury (US$220 and up)
Middle-priced (US$120 – US$220)
Budget (up to US$120)
Things to do in the East Village:
4. Greenwich Village & Chelsea – most authentic areasChelsea and Greenwich Village (which includes the well-known Meatpacking neighborhood and West Village as well) are two great, laid-back places to stay in New York in case you already had enough time to explore Midtown and you want to live in the real city! Some of the highlights here are the Flatiron Building, Chelsea Piers, Union Square Market, and Chelsea Market as well. One downside of staying here is that you’ll need to use public transportation to visit the main attractions in Midtown such as Times Square. Instead, you’ll be closer to the interesting sights in the southern part of the city such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and Wall Street (relevant for business travelers only), example. Luxury (US$210 and up)
Middle-priced (US$130 – US$210)
Budget (up to US$130)
Things to do at Greenwich Village & Chelsea:
5. Upper East Side – where to stay in New York for familiesUpper East Side is a well-known upscale and posh area of Manhattan and the perfect spot for those that want to indulge, shop in designer boutiques, and explore some museums. It might sound familiar if you’ve watched Sex and the City or Breakfast at Tiffany’s! It is said that the Upper East Side is a wealthy area – but this kind of started to change lately. Now, the Upper East Side is an interesting area for everyone out there, although one thing stands true: it’s quite impossible to find budget accommodation here (that’s why haven’t proposed them below). So I totally recommend this area to those of you that are looking for the best luxury hotels in NYC! Other than this, this awesome area has plenty of attractions and activities to offer, making it the perfect place to stay with the family! A part of 5th Avenue passes through the area (called the Museum Mile). This is the perfect place to go if you’re an art and museum lover, as you’ll find plenty of them here: the Guggenheim Museum, the Jewish Museum, Neue Galerie, the Frick Collection, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) – all of these and more are located here! Luxury (US$250 and up)
Middle-priced (US$150 – US$250)
Unfortunately, as the Upper East Side is the most well-known upscale, high-end area in the city, there are no good budget hotels or hostels to choose from. If you’re looking for cheap accommodation, I’m recommending the Lower East Side (#3 on my list) or Long Island City (#7 on my list). You can also check for affordable accommodation on Airbnb for this area. Things to do in the Upper East Side
6. Williamsburg (Brooklyn) – the coolest neighborhoodI’m done with my area recommendations for Manhattan and we’re moving on to another popular borough in New York: Brooklyn! The neighborhood I’m recommending here is Williamsburg, which is right across the East River from the East Village, connected by Williamsburg Bridge. Williamsburg is one of the most trendy and creative areas of New York, where you’ll find international restaurants, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and many boutiques and music venues, which give the area a special vibe! This area is great if you don’t want to stay in Manhattan, but still be close to it and all the attractions located there (you’ll get to Times Square in half an hour by public transportation). If you choose to base yourself here, you’ll be surrounded by tons of amazing restaurants, beer gardens, cafes and pubs as well. Luxury (US$230 and up)
Middle-priced (US$50 – US$230)
Budget (up to US$50)
Things to do in Williamsburg (Brooklyn):
7. Long Island City (Queens) – where to stay in NYC on a budgetWe’re heading up to Queens next, more specifically to Long Island City (LIC), a cool and a kind of underrated area in NYC, which makes it perfect if you’re looking for cheap accommodation in New York! This neighborhood is located very close to Midtown (across the East River from it, 15 minutes by public transportation to Times Square to be more precise), which I think is a great advantage because you’ll be able to avoid the huge hotel fees in the center while still being close to all the important landmarks!
Luxury (US$150 and up)
Middle-priced (US$100 – US$170)
Budget (up to US$100)
Things to do in Long Island City:
BONUS 1 – best apartments in NYCApartments are a great choice for all travelers that want to feel at home and enjoy some space and a different kind of vibe compared to hotel rooms. Booking an Airbnb while you travel is also a great choice for people that want to save some money (as they tend to be a bit cheaper) or for families or groups of friends that want to stay together. The good news is that New York City is anything but short on apartment options – for all budgets, that is! I have selected the best ones I could find for you below and I grouped them by budget for your convenience. By the way, they’re all in the Midtown area of Manhattan, also known as the best neighborhood for travelers who are coming to New York for the first time: Luxury (US$160 and up)
Middle-priced (US$120 – US$160)
Budget (up to US$120)
BONUS 2 – best hotels in NYC depending on your interestHere I collected the most popular demands! The hotels below are location dependant but not only:
BONUS 3 – what you should know about hotels in NYC
Frequently Asked Questions about New York City🌆 Which is the best area where to stay in New York?The best area to stay in New York is Midtown Manhattan, especially if it’s your first time in the city. We suggest you stay at 1 Hotel Central Park for luxury or at Belnord Hotel. 🧩 What are the best things to do in New York?The best things to do in New York are having a walk in Central Park, enjoying amazing city views from the Empire State Building, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge or strolling around Wall Street! 🕺 Where to stay in New York for nightlife?The best place to stay in New York for nightlife is the East Village, either at Moxy NYC East Village or The Standard, both offering great value for the price! 💰 Where to stay in New York on a budget?ConclusionPhew, congrats, you just reached the end of my complete guide on NYC neighborhoods and accommodations! I hope this post was useful in organizing your New York vacation (I’m sure you’re already an expert by now!) and I also hope you already found the ideal accommodation for your taste and budget. In case you’re still undecided about where to stay in New York, check out my top choices, both with great location in Manhattan:
In this post I have talked about how NYC is organized, the 7 best neighborhoods in the city and I gave you my hand-picked hotel recommendations in each of them, together with some cool apartments and airport hotels as well. In other words, you have everything you need in the post above so get booking because I don’t want you to miss out on your dream hotel! Are you heading to the Big Apple soon? Do you have any other questions or concerns? Let me know in the comments below, I’m happy to help! Happy travels, Romina Is December a good time to go to New York?If you're planning a trip to New York City, you'll find that December is one of the most fun and exciting times to visit. With the coming of the holidays, you'll find a variety of special events, from ice skating, to holiday markets offering seasonal treats, or simply the incredible lighting displays.
What is the best part of NYC to stay in?The 9 Best Neighborhoods in NYC for Tourists. Midtown. ... . Upper West Side. ... . Upper East Side. ... . Tribeca and SoHo. ... . East Village and Bowery. ... . Greenwich Village. ... . Meatpacking District and Chelsea. ... . Lower Manhattan and the Financial District.. Where is the best place in New York for Christmas?These Are My 27 Top Things To Do in New York at Christmas. Bryant Park Winter Village. ... . Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. ... . Visit Dyker Heights in Brooklyn. ... . Christmas Shows in NYC. ... . Christmas Lights in NYC. ... . Enjoy the Empire State Building's annual Holiday Light Show! ... . Visit the beautiful Holiday Markets.. Is it better to stay near Central Park or Times Square?Is it better to stay near Central Park or Times Square? For a first-time visitor, it is better to stay near Times Square due to its location and access to entertainment options.
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