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With more than 230 hotels and 70,000 hotel rooms, the sleeping options in New York are staggering. Do you want to spend most of your travel budget on a luxurious hotel? Do you want to stay close to the neon and noise of Times Square? Do you want a room with a view of Central Park? Do you want a room vastly bigger than your linen closet back home? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you book a room.
Hotel rates in New York are the most expensive in the United States. In 2005, the average price of a hotel room was close to $230 per night. And not only are you paying more for your room, you are getting less than you would in other cities. Here is a breakdown of what sort of space and amenities you can expect at each price level:
- $99-$150: These hotels are true bargains, but services are sparse. Your room will probably be small, you might have to share a bathroom, and don't expect room service, fitness equipment, movie or cable channels, or bellhops.
- $150-$250: Expect these rooms to be a little larger and of better quality and comfort than those in the first category. You may have access to a fitness center and business facilities, and the hotel may throw in a complimentary continental breakfast and/or free Internet service.
- $250-$350: Typically, you get room service, a phone with a dataport, probably a refrigerator and perhaps some kind of minimal cooking facility, cable TV and/or DVD/VCR, free access to a health club, wireless Internet, complimentary breakfast or beverages (and possibly afternoon wine and cheese), and an on-site restaurant.
- $350-$500: On top of the amenities listed for the preceding category, you can expect plenty of space, fine furnishings, a variety of dining and drinking options in the hotel, and excellent service. Because these hotels often cater to businesspeople, they sometimes offer special amenities like complimentary car service to the Financial District.
- $500 and up: In this range, you get more than a place to stay: You get an experience. These hotels have style, elegance, and a reputation for impeccable service.
To find a great hotel that caters go your specific budget, needs, and interests, read on.
Best Hotel: Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park. The combination of a great location, just across from Central Park, large well-outfitted rooms, and typically excellent Ritz-Carlton service is as good as it gets.
Best Hotel for Modern New York Elegance: The Mercer. The best of the hip, downtown hotels, the Mercer is located in the heart of SoHo. The high-ceilinged, loft-like rooms and suites, some with fireplaces and all with ceiling fans and luxurious bathrooms, are spectacular.
Best for Classic Old World Elegance: Hotel Plaza Athénée. That European feel pervades the hotel from the old-world design to the first-rate concierge service.
Best Trendy Hotel: The Hotel on Rivington. The first major hotel on the increasingly trendy Lower East Side is a glass marvel with floor-to-ceiling windows, views galore, soaking tubs, and THOR, one of the hottest bar/restaurants in the city.
Best Times Square Hotel: Hotel QT. This moderately-priced recent (2005) addition to the Times Square hotel scene was a very welcomed one. There is much to like about the Hotel QT besides its price and location, but what many love best is the swimming pool — in the lobby — with a swim-up bar.
Best Moderately Priced Hotel: The Lucerne. This is my favorite hotel on the Upper West Side and one of my favorites in New York. The homey, neighborhood feel of the hotel combined with exceptional service and nice-sized, well-equipped rooms make this a very attractive mid-priced option.
Best Budget Hotel: Chelsea Lodge. If you don't mind sharing a toilet with other guests, this charming hotel offers impeccable comforts — including an actual sink and shower — at a budget price.
Best for Families: Hotel Beacon. Not only is this hotel a great deal — you can get good-size suites for so much less than you would pay in Midtown — the Upper West Side, with its parks, the Museum of Natural History, and fun, inexpensive restaurants, is also a great neighborhood for children.
Best Romantic Hotel: Sofitel New York. How can an almost 400-room hotel be romantic? Maybe it's because the hotel is French-owned and staying here feels like you've escaped for a naughty tryst in Paris.
Best Hotel Bar: Bemelmans Bar. In the Carlyle Hotel. Named after book illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans, who created the Madeline books and painted the mural in the bar, this romantic, charming bar features white-gloved service and wondrous cocktails.
Best Hotel Renovation: Carlton Hotel. This former flophouse has been restored to its 1904 Beaux Arts grandeur by architect David Rockwell. Its sweeping lobby with a two-story waterfall is a marvel.
Best Hotel Suite: Townhouse Suite in the Kitano New York. Each of the three one-bedroom suites built inside the landmark town house that is part of this hotel features a long hallway leading to a sunken living room with original art, a state-of-the-art stereo system, and a tea maker with green tea.
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