New York City is packed full of luxury hotels, contemporary boutique hotels, loft-style suites and discounted rooms. Deciding where to stay can become difficult and frustrating for a first-time visitor or someone who has not returned in some time. The easiest way to choose a New York City hotel is to decide which attractions you want to be closest to--and then find something that fits your price range, your tastes and tourist wishes.
Select a budget. Decide whether you want to get loose and spend a huge chunk of your pay check on a hotel or to live frugally. Maybe more than any other city, New York draws in, and accommodates, tourists of all economic backgrounds--choose a hotel that fits your budget. When designing a limit to your accommodation spending, consider how much you want to spend per night or for a weekend.
As of 2010, according to Lonely Planet's NYC Guide, hotel prices start from $86 per night. Consider the purpose of your trip--to relax in a lavish five-star hotel or to spend your money on seeing sites, eating out, and going to a show. Search for hotels based on your budget plan. If you cap your spending limit to $300 per night, note that if a hotel starts at $300 there may be hidden fees and taxes added on. Carefully scour the hotel's listed price to make sure it fits in your cash zone.
Choose attractions. Base your hotel decision on the places in New York City you want to explore. If you want to be walking distance to Greenwich Village, China Town, and Katz's Deli, consider accommodation in the East Village or SoHo. If you would rather hit major art museums packed on Fifth Avenue, select an uptown accommodation on the west side, which settles you neatly near Central Park and Museum Row. Select a hotel that places you near enough to your attractions but not too close that you don't get to see the neighborhoods and tour the streets. Walking, biking, jogging or cabbing through the city bolsters your sense of place and direction.
Visit hotel websites. Use a travel search engine such as TripAdvisor.com. Sift through the myriad hotels until you find three or four hotels that perk your interest. Consult each hotel's website to learn more about the hotels' amenities, services, features, rooms and suites. Search the website for exclusive deals and packages. Some accommodations, like Starwood hotel brand's Le Parker Meridien (Starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien) offer exclusive deals and vacation packages that could cut your accommodation by $100 or more.
Talk to friends who live in the city. Almost everyone has a friend, sibling, long-lost relative, or ex who lives in the city. Write an email or make a phone call to that person saying that you are planning a trip to the city and need hotel advice. Ask about their favorite hotels--even though they live in the city, NYC-dwellers have their eye on new hotels, neighborhoods and even discounts. A friend or relative may even know someone who works in the hotel business--make connections that lead you into a string of word-of-mouth recommendations. Choose your favorite recommendation.
Use social media. Whether you are a fan of social media or not, use it to your advantage when searching for hotels. Log in or sign up for an account on Facebook, Twitter or another social media network. In the message box at the top of your profile page, write the question, "Which hotel should I choose in New York City?" or a similar phrase. Post this question to your friends and contacts. Wait for a response on your wall or email. If you have a lot of online contacts, expect floods of responses. People like sharing their two cents, especially when it comes to Manhattan.
