Just because the US dollar is rampant, it doesn’t mean you can’t take a bite out of The Big Apple. Here are our best hotels across a bunch of boroughs that won’t break the bank.
Moxy NYC, Chelsea
There are several Moxy outposts in NYC but we prefer this one in hip Chelsea. There are 350 rooms across 35 stores with the glass-enclosed Fleur Room rooftop lounge offering stellar views. We love the overgrown Starbright Floral Design Residency at the entrance, The Secret Garden Bar and the complimentary #sweatatmoxy workouts. Rooms start at around $400 per night.
Belnord Hotel, Upper West Side
With easy access to Central Park from the Upper West Side, the Belnord has recently had a major reno (after being used as a shelter during the Covid epidemic). The compact rooms now feature timber floors, striking artworks, a flat screen TV and free wi-fi. Rooms start at around $285.
Henn Na Hotel New York, Midtown
Many of the more modest hotels on this list have been around for ages but at Henn Na, the focus is playful contemporary tech. There’s even an animatronic dinosaur in the lobby and, in certain rooms, LG Styler Closets that steam, freshen and clean your clothes. Add a bustling mid-town possie near Bryant Park and it’s even more amazing that you can score a room here from around $268 with a 20 per cent early booking discount applied.
Washington Jefferson Hotel, Midtown
If you’d rather spend your dollars on Broadway tickets than Exxy rooms, this is the place for you. It’s an easy stroll to the heaps of theatres, they put on tea and coffee in the lobby every morning and can even score you a breakfast discount at a local diner. The rooms are neat, clean and comfortable and they’ll knock 20 per cent off the rate if you stay three nights or more. Rooms start at around $367 per night.
The Carlton Arms, Midtown
This is one of those places you tell stories about when you get home. Billing itself as an ‘art hotel’, it has had nearly 200 artists in residence over the past 35 years and murals adorn pretty much every surface that can take paint. Decor aside, the rooms are totes basic with old furniture and beds that droop in the middle but if you’re willing to share a bathroom, two people can score a room from $199 per night.
Americana Inn, Midtown
There are rooms with bathrooms here but if you’re willing to share, this is a genuine bargain in a city where hotels are often exorbitant. Utilitarian is probably the best word to describe the vibe here but then again at $245 a night, you’re still getting a clean private space near Central Park and the Empire State Building.
Aloft, Brooklyn
This offshoot of the Marriott chain does surprise inclusions particularly well. Think onsite gym, 24 hour pantry for jet-lagged snacks, custom amenities by Bliss Spa and walk-in showers. Rooms start at $285 if you’re a member of the Marriott loyalty program.
The Jane Hotel, Downtown
Breathe in when you walk into the rooms here because they are tiny. They are also retro in a low-fi kind of way. Only the Captain’s Cabin rooms have their own bathroom but the location means the High Line and Hudson River are just a stroll away. They even offer free bikes for exploring the ‘hood. Rooms start at around $223 per night.
How much is a hotel in New York?
If you’re traveling on Australian dollars, the ramping greenback means you’ll be looking at around $400 a night for a three or four star hotel. Anything less is a bargain.
See also:
The weird New York building people can’t work out.
Empire State: 9 things you didn’t know.
11 things you probably didn’t know about the Statue of Liberty.
