Well, the economy of contemporary times demands a list of cheap hotels in NYC. The Big Apple isn’t always the most budget travel destination but when has that stopped people from dreaming about being in New York! It’s the city of iconic landmarks, exclusive shops, blinding lights, broadways lined with performers, food and most importantly the city of dreams.
We have curated a list that will help you save as much money as possible in your lodging during the trip to New York. However, don’t get it twisted, just because the title says “cheap hotels in NYC” doesn’t mean these places are shoddy and you will get the short stick of things. These hotels are trendy, functional, welcoming, at times gloriously bizarre, and most importantly these hotels know why you come to New York.
CitizenM at Times Square
First on our list of cheap hotels in New York is CitizenM which surprisingly is a Dutch hotel chain. Surprising because CitizenM keenly understands the charm of New York and has built a pragmatic hub for its carefully crafted clientele. There are no uptight traditional hotel cultures like bellboys, and white-gloved staff, instead what you get is a mixture of technology, central location in the Big Apple, and a space filled with enthusiastic and sociable travelers.
The rooms aren’t jaw dropping, there are no “deluxe rooms” or “suite rooms”, all rooms are the same: slightly bigger than 200 sq. ft. But, as mentioned above CitizenM has a carefully crafted clientele: you don’t come to New York to lounge inside your room, you come to go out.
Thus, the rooms have all the amenities you would need, from wall to wall windows, work desk, king sized bed, the bathroom is compact and has luxurious rain showerhead and you get a moonpad. Basically an iPad that controls the lighting of the room. A pragmatic approach, which melts into a vibrant communal vibe when you get to the lobby that is full of popping colours, designs, a place to work, socialize, lounge instead of just a traditional space.
The bar at the 21st floor with stunning views, grab and go meals, and most importantly the great location which is barely 10 minutes walk from Central Park and at the heart of Theater district makes CitizenM one of the best cheap hotels in NYC.
Ace Hotel
Rarely does it happen that a hotel with such a long history can be put on a list of cheap hotels in NYC. Located in the 29th Street NoMad, the building in which the Ace Hotel sits was built in 1904 and to this day retains the 118 year old flooring and lobby roof.
The Ace Hotel has led the change for the NoMad neighborhood which has increasingly become a hotspot for luxury condos and posh hotels. There are loads of great eateries nearby which are packed with after work crowd from the nearby Flatiron district. The weekends are less hectic.
There are 258 rooms in the Ace ranging from bunk rooms to the loft suite which is 711 sq. ft and resembles a New York apartment. The rooms have tasteful design and are decorated with vintage furniture, an acoustic guitar, a minibar apart from the regular amenities. But the crown jewel is the lobby which is packed with creative people, musicians and DJs and is a great place to socialize.
Pod 51
Next in our list of cheap hotels in New York is Pod 51 which gets its name from being located on the East 51st street in Midtown East. Although the location of Midtown West has more tourists than the Midtown East, there are loads of pubs, bars and eateries where you can easily melt in with the local crowd. Times Square, Central Park, United Nations, Rockefeller Center and Greenacre Park are all within walking distance.
If the second half of its name comes from the location, the first half “Pod” comes from its rooms being simple, utilitarian pods. There are dorm rooms with shared baths to Queen rooms with personal bathrooms but all the 350 rooms contain writing desks, a TV and other essential amenities. The service being sharp, the three in-house restaurants, the buzzing location, and the roof deck with city views makes Pod 51 one of the best cheap hotels in NYC.
Moxy Times Square
Our next entry in the cheap hotels in NYC list is Marriott’s biggest establishment in boutique hotel chain, Moxy. One out of the four Moxy hotels in New York, the Moxy Times Square is a 612 room behemoth and is located in West 36th Street in the Garment District. Although, the district itself isn’t the most pleasing to the eye, Times Square, Empire State Building, Chelsea, and Bryant Park are all at a short walking distance.
Despite the fact that the hotel sits in a 1907 made building, the interiors are modern, something you notice as soon as you enter. The lobby is double storied with a sky light and there are separate desks or podiums for check in instead of one singular desk. Rooms range from 150 sq. ft bunk rooms to 350 sq. ft Queen rooms which can seem small at times.
One major flaw might be the noise from the streets continuously pours into the rooms. If you can overlook that, the hotel has five bars and restaurants with an exciting rooftop lounge named Magic Hour. All in all, despite its small flaws, the pleasant service, comfortable lobby, and all catering eateries on-site make it one of the best cheap hotels in NYC.
Row NYC
After a $140 million makeover the Milford Plaza reopened in mid 2014 as the rebranded and significantly upgraded Row NYC. This entry in our list if cheap hotels in NYC is alao one of the largest hotels in New York with a whooping 1,331 rooms. So, if you are looking for a quiet and secluded time, which I don’t think most people traveling to New York look for, the Row NYC may not be the best choice among other cheap hotels in NYC.
This 4 star establishment is located on the 8 th Avenue between 44th and 45th Street which makes it one of the best cheap hotels in NYC to go around sightseeing. Times Square is just a block away, and Jacob Javits Center, The High Line are all a short walk away and various eateries like Shake Shack, Two Boots, Pret A Manger and Starbucks are also nearby.
The rooms are simple, at times can get a bit noisy from the street sounds but are comfortable with all necessary amenities like an iPod docking station, TV, satisfactory attached bathroom and if you are smart when picking the rooms, a gorgeous city view if Midtown may await you. All in all, for the price point Row NYC is one of the best cheap hotels in NYC.
The Harlem Flophouse
A curious, not-so-obvious addition to our list of the best cheap hotels in NYC. The Harlem Flophouse is more of a comfortable refuge, say the hotel version of the soul food that you find in the corner restaurant. Harlem probably isn’t the most glamorous and shiny location in New York, but there is history, culture, a whole lot of good food and The Harlem Flophouse provides you with a budget friendly stay.
For starters, the beautiful brownstone building couldn’t be more New York, but there is a long history behind it as it was first made a lodging house in 1917 for people fleeing slavery from the South. There are just four rooms here, only one of them has a personal bathroom. But don’t think of it as small congested motel, think of glorious old world décor, vintage wooding and furniture and plenty of space.
This is not where you come to be in the thick of things. You come here for the local experience which the Flophouse itself promotes through pamphlets. Despite having no TV, radio or AC, for its authentic New York taste Harlem Flophouse is one of the best cheap hotels in NYC.
11 Howard
Named after the location, Howard and Lafayette, 11 Howard sits right in the thick of the action is SoHo. It is one of those cheap hotels in NYC that brings in style at a budget. You step out of the hotel and are right into the heat of NYC action as Tribeca, The Bowery, East Village are all at a walking distance while Manhattan and Brooklyn can be easily reached as Canal Street Metro is nearby.
Unsurprisingly, the rooms are compact but if you want something extra the terrace Suite has a personal kitchen as well as a wrap-around balcony. With modern amenities and compact but functional bathroom, you might want to specifically ask for rooms that look out onto the street. For its underrated Scandinavian inspired style and budget-friendly prices, 11 Howard is definitely ine if the best cheap hotels in NYC.
Freehand
One of the newest hotels in our list of the best cheap hotels in NYC, Freehand is located on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. The building itself isn’t new however, it is housed in what was once the George Washington Hotel which was beloved by wroters and artists. Out of everything else, the first thing that struck me personally was there was a garage near by that offered overnight parking at $50.
We have featured Freehand Hotels beforehand on our otger lists, but unlike in LA or Miami, you cannot book a single bed in a bunk room due to New York laws. So, if you are travelling with a group of friends this can be one of the best cheap hotels in NYC. One can clearly notice that the hotel was aimed at a younger audience with its living room inspired working space as well as three restaurants, and two bars.
The Jane
Our next entry in the cheap hotels in NYC list sits right on the banks of the Hudson next to the West Side Highway, what might seem at first glance as a middle of nowhere kind of location. It is true that this exposed brick beauty on a cobblestone street has a more discreet location but the locale is West Village. The Meatpacking District, Hudson River Park, High Line elevated park, and Chelsea Market are all nearby.
The rooms make you feel like you are sleeping in a carriage of a vintage train. These bunk bed rooms are comically small but cleverly designed and have shared bathrooms. However, there are what the Jane calls as “Captain’s Room” which are 250 sq. ft with private bathroom. The presence of Moroccan French restaurant Café Gitane, a rooftop terrace bar and Jane Ballroom along with its proximity to areas with great nightlife makes it one if the best cheap hotels in NYC.
La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Long Island City
La Quinta by Windham has more than one property in New York like the Upper West Side one. But the one that has made into our list of the best cheap hotels in NYC is located in Long Island City. At a surficial glance, the neighborhood is not the most aesthetically pleasing and has an industrial grit and noise about it but that is the part of the charm.
Don’t take the place as a luxurious outpost, but as a clean, smart, bright and popular crash pad, somewhere you can sleep and rest in comfort and stroll around Queens and Manhattan. Unlike several other hotels in our list of cheap hotels in NYC, La Quinta Inn provides you with plenty of space for the price point. Although the bathrooms could have been larger, the rooms have TV, Wifi, Ironing board, mini-fridge and cherry wood wardrobes. All that with free breakfast, a gym and a small business center makes La Quinta one of the best cheap hotels in NYC.
Arlo NoMad
If you hadn’t heard of it by now, let us tell you that space is expensive in the Big Apple. What makes Arlo NoMad one of the best cheap hotels in NYC is that it proves that you don’t need to be humongous to be impressive. The location of Arlo is elite: sitting at the meeting point of Korea Town, Herald Square, and Murray Hill, you are near to the Empire State Building, Bryant Park, New York Public Library, Madison Square Garden and numerous luxury boutiques , trendy shops and bars.
The rooms are small, no doubt, but the floor to ceiling windows give you stunning city views and the interior is quite sharp and clean. Top Chef fame Dale Talde has his restaurant Massoni in-house while bars Barlo and the roof top “The Heights” are sure to satisfy your social quench. Several events and programs which are very popular with the locals also makes it one of the best cheap hotels in NYC.
HGU New York
Located on the Gramercy and Murray Hill, our next entry in the best cheap hotels in NYC list offers you a bit of tranquility from the bustle of the city while still being near and dear the top tourist sites. Four minutes away is the Empire State Building while the Madison Square Garden and Park, Grand Central Terminal, and The Chrysler Building are all under 15 minutes of walk. LaGuardia and various subway lines are also nearby.
Despite being in our list of cheap hotels in NYC, the HGU is anything but cheap in vibes. The Beaux-Arts building built in 1905, the mid century modern furniture, the lobby being decked out with art work, pulls in a lot of well to do hip crowd. You are also bound to see open mic nights and parties and events while you stay here and the hotel’s rooftop bar with the Empire State Building views solidifies its case for being one of the best cheap hotels in NYC. .
BKLYN House
Edgy is something that perfectly describes both the location as well as the hotel in our next entry in the best cheap hotels in NYC list. Although Bushwick isn’t the most touristy area, it has a rapidly growing art scene and there are several art galleries as well as the open air Bushwick Collective nearby.
The art also plays a big part inside the hotel as the edginess of the industrial design is softened by murals and artworks by local artists and the popping leather sofas in the lobby.
As compared to other cheap hotels in NYC in this list, the BKLYN House is a smaller property with only 113 rooms. The rooms however are minimal with hardwood floors and white walls with open stirage area. However, there is no on site restaurant but it does serve free buffet breakfast each morning.
HI New York City Hostel
HI New York is one of the several Hostel International properties around the world. They are a non profit organization looking to build relationships through travel so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that HI New York makes into our list of best cheap hotels in NYC. The humble setting is more than made up by its enviable location as it sits in Manhattan’s Upper West Side with Central Park, Guggenheim and Met only a short walking distance away.
True to its name of being a hostel, there are only bunk rooms here which have 4 to 12 beds which makes it one of the best cheap hotels in NYC for people travelling in groups. The rooms include private locker while other facilities are shared. However, what also makes it one of the best cheap hotels in NYC is the presence of banquet rooms for meetings, and large patio where more than once an impromptu soccer game breaks out.
MADE Hotel
Moving away from humble hostels in our list of the best cheap hotels in NYC, we land right at the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Madison Square Park is barely a five minutes walk away, Times Square and Chelsea around a 15 minutes walk, while shopping enthusiasts will find themselves in Fifth Avenue after a short walk away. Although, the area feels a bit more gritty owing to its past of wholesale retail businesses, it still has a lot of trendy cafes and bars.
The rooms have a distinct industrial, loft like vibe to them with wood flooring minimal design being cintrasted by exposed concrete ceiling. Make sure you get the rooms at the higher floors as they have glorious views of Gotham. However, one thing I found particularly not-so-private is the transparent glass separation between the living area and the bathroom.
The Paul NYC
Like so many other entries in our best cheap hotels in NYC list, The Paul is also located in Flatiron district in the happening NoMad neighborhood. However, it is not as flashy as some other cheap hotels in NYC mentioned above which does mean that you can save a bit of money. However, Times Square, Oenn Station, MSG, and Empire State Building are all under 20 minutes walk away.
Rooms are small, NYC standard small but oacked with all necessary amenities. The noise maybe a bit of a problem, but you won’t have trouble sleeping with the Egyptian cotton sheets and comfy beds. Free breakfast as well as the in house Paul Bar and Restaurant that serves all kinds if meals makes it one if the best cheap hotels in NYC.
Carlton Arms Hotel
The only establishment in our list of the best cheap hotels in NYC that is located on a pedestrian only block. One face of the hotel faces the East 25th Street which is the pedestrian only section and it is usually full of college students sitting in cafes as the Baruch College is right next door. You will be wiser to get rooms towards this face as the other face is right next to the noisy 3rd Avenue street.
I am not sure how to describe the interiors and rooms: you may call them weird, fascinating, invoking or if you don’t have an inclination towards art: disturbing, this might not be one of the best cheap hotels in NYC for you. You do get a selection between rooms with private bathroom to shared ones.
Yotel Times Square
We have visited quite a lot of hotels in Midtown in this list of the best cheap hotels in NYC. However, despite being located on the West 42nd Street, Yotel feels a bit removed from the thumping heart of Midtown West as it is set in Hell’s Kitchen on the edges of the area. There aren’t many trendy bars or restaurants here and the area can feel a bit quiet dueing nught time but a 10 minute walk and you will be in Times Square.
It’s a pod hotel with a leniency towards technology and it is plenty evident in the rooms the 669 rooms here are clean, sharp with large TVs, comfortable beds, wi-fi, great city views from the windows. However, the weird trend of having see through glass panes between the sleeping area and bathroom leaves no room for privacy.
You can try Mediterranean cuisine at the in house Green Fig Restaurant which also hosts parties at night. Apart from this, there is also a gym and venues for private and business meetings. Despite not having the best location, for all its clean rooms and services Yotel at Times Square is definitely one of the best cheap hotels in NYC that you can stay in.
Mint House at 70 pine
New York is one of the most expensive cities in the whole world and as soon as you say “Cheap Hotels in NYC”, we know where the compromise is made: in the space. Evidently, we see so many hotels try to get around it in creative ways: from pod hotels to ship cabin like rooms. However, at Mint House located in the heart of Financial District, you get full apartment styled rooms with plenty of space.
The bowling alley, Art Deco theme, vintage furniture, vinyl records all come from the era when the building, named 70 Pine, was built: 1932. Wall street, Manhattan and Battery Park are all nearby while there is a fitness center inside the premises of the hotel. What adds the icing on the cake is the presence if a Michelin Star restaurant.
The Hoxton
Set in the hipster haven of Williamsburg, our next entry in the best cheap hotels in NYC list is too cool for school. Wythe Avenue once had a distinct industrial build and now has undergone gentrification to have myriad of cool restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and clothing stores. The hotel itself fits gorgeously into the industrial vibe with its modular make up.
The rooms are compact with clever use of space with kettles, and small fridges inside the room itself. While there is also an in-house restaurant, Klien that is open from 7 AM to midnight. For the good location and top notch, comfortable services, The Hoxton deserves its spot in our list if the best cheap hotels in NYC.
