I am planning another business trip to New York City. I usually travel to the Big Apple about two or three times a year, and I enjoy the visits very much. Lately, it has become harder and harder to find economical accommodations in the big city.
It now costs $300 or more per night for average accommodations in Manhattan. Most hotels are even more expensive. It has become very difficult to find any suitable hotel room in Manhattan for less than $200 per night. The few remaining hotels that offer inexpensive rooms at are either in less desirable neighborhoods or are less desirable properties,
I have learned a few ways to find less expensive hotels when I visit New York City, and I will share a few of these tips with you.
When I drive to New York City (It is about six hours from my home) or when I fly to Philadelphia and drive 90 minutes north to the Big Apple, I usually stay outside of Manhattan in New Jersey. The hotels in New Jersey are typically less expensive than in Manhattan, they provide larger rooms with more free ameneties including free parking. Some of them are within a 30 to 45 minute commute to Manhattan.
I prefer the hotels in Secaucus. This little town is nestled between major interstates and freeways such as I-95, the New Jersey Turnpike and route 3, the major access road to the Lincoln Tunnel into Manhattan. It is surrounded by industrial and commercial development, but there is a shopping mall and a number of restaurants near the hotels. Check our USATourist web page for Secaucus.
I have also stayed at hotels near Newark Liberty Airport. It is a bit further out than Secaucus, but offers plenty of transportation options into Manhattan. Again, the hotels in the Newark area typically offer larger rooms and more free amenities including free parking for lower prices. Checik our USATourist web page for Newark
If you fly into New York, the hotels near La Guardia, near JFK or in Brooklyn are normally more reasonably priced than the hotels in Manhattan. These hotels are not as convenient. They require a 30 minute or longer commute into Manhattan. Some of the hotels near JFK are in some less desirable neighborhoods. Nevertheless, you can typically find rooms for less than $200 per night in these areas.
In the USA, people who live outside of New York City typically offer this opinion: "New York City is a great place to visit, but who can afford to live there?"