Best places to stay in New York
New York is made up of five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Manhattan is the city’s epicentre and is home to most of its iconic sights, so it’s the ideal choice for first-time visitors. Beyond the bustle of Midtown (see below), check out areas like the Lower East Side for residential cool, the Meatpacking District for high-end nightlife, and Harlem for delicious soul food and the gorgeous architecture of NYC’s brownstone townhouses. In the south of Manhattan, neighbouring Chinatown and Little Italy are vibrant districts where you can enjoy the patchwork of cultures that make up this truly global city.
Where to stay to be near the popular attractions
If you’re in New York to see the big-name sights, then Midtown (roughly the central third of the borough) is the place to be. It’s here that you’ll find the world-famous silhouettes of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, plus the frenetic energy and neon billboards of Times Square. The northern limit of Midtown is the city’s green lung, Central Park, where you’ll definitely want to take a stroll and maybe visit the incredible Metropolitan Museum of Art. The area is also home to Grand Central Station – not just the place to go for onward train travel, but well worth a visit in its own right for its palatial concourse.
Where to stay with your family in New York
In Manhattan, Battery Park City down at the southern tip of the island is a great option for families. Quiet and safe yet still well connected to the main sights via the subway, it boasts numerous parks including the eponymous Battery Park, where kids can ride the aquatic-themed SeaGlass Carousel and thrill at the view of the iconic Statue of Liberty out in the bay. Just across the road is One World Observatory, where you can climb 102 floors in just 47 seconds and enjoy a panorama like nothing else. For accommodation, Conrad New York Downtown is a luxurious yet child-friendly option offering views over the water.
Where to find cheap hotels in New York
If you’re after budget hotels in New York, you could do a lot worse than The Pod Hotels, a collection of affordable accommodation in coveted locations. Pod Times Square, Pod 39 and Pod 51 are all in uber-central Midtown, while Pod Brooklyn is just across the water in the arty hipster hub of Williamsburg. All the hotels boast rooftops and/or courtyards, lounges for work and play, and free guided tours. Alternatively, if you’re booking last minute, check out Ravel Hotel in up-and-coming Long Island City, where you can snag a room for less than £100 at short notice.
Where to stay as a solo traveller
Manhattan may have a glitzy, high-class image, but there are still plenty of good-quality hostels where solo travellers can get the “backpacker” experience. Nap York Central Park Sleep Station boasts an unbeatable location at the southeast corner of the park and offers twin-size pods with sleekly designed privacy dividers. HI New York City is in the quiet, leafy Upper West Side and is a great place to meet fellow travellers with its huge outdoor patio and garden. If having your own bathroom is a deal-breaker, check out Ace Hotel New York, which has comfortable single rooms with an en-suite and minibar right in the heart of Manhattan.
