Best budget friendly hotels in New York City
When it comes to accommodation in New York, your wallet feels the pressure because things can get expensive with the high dollar exchange rate, right? But, as I’m always here trying to simplify things for you, I asked some of my readers to share their experiences in hotels with good value for the money in the city. And since I have the most wonderful readers in the world, here are some reviews that might help you choose a hotel!
It’s worth mentioning that the links below are affiliate links, which means that by clicking on them to make a reservation through Booking.com, it doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it greatly supports my work! So thank you very much in advance!
Oh, before I forget…To see more of my day to day life in NYC and get the hottest tips, join my NYC tips Facebook group HERE, follow me on Instagram (@marthasachser or @blognyandabout) and subscribe to my YouTube channel! And click HERE for my NYC complete guide with step-to-step itineraries!
Washington Jefferson Hotel
“My hotel was the Washington Jefferson Hotel, located on 51st Street and 8th Avenue, just one block away from Times Square.
Cost: The hotel itself is also charming. We were two people and paid $811, including all taxes and fees, for 7 days. The daily rate was $102, with a $14 fee.
Location: Its location is great for those who enjoy walking because you can easily walk to Central Park, Fifth Avenue, and Bryant Park. I loved exploring the city on foot. There’s a subway station on the corner of the hotel, and if you walk a little further to Times Square, there are other subway lines available. There’s a nearby Whole Foods that saved me because I didn’t get along with most of the food in NY.
Highlights: The room had hot water for the winter, a heater, air conditioning for the summer, a private bathroom, and the window could be opened (the best feature for me, as it allowed fresh air into the room). The hotel staff is super friendly and professional, and I made friends with all of them!
Extras: They have a luggage storage system for only $2 per bag. They also offer a separate transfer service, which cost $85 from the hotel to the airport. They serve coffee and tea in the lobby, and there’s an affordable restaurant nearby.
Drawbacks: My room didn’t have a minibar, but there are room options that do have one. In my case, the window served as my “minibar” hahaha. The room is quite small, but the bed is large and comfortable. There’s a small table and a large dresser to store your belongings.
Without a doubt, when I return to NY, I will stay there again.” – Fernanda
Click HERE to reserve the hotel through my link!
Hampton by Hilton Manhattan 35th Street- Empire State
“I stayed in the Hampton by Hilton Manhattan 35th Street – Empire State in the second half of January 2022. It’s located on 35th Street and Sixth Avenue.
Cost: I paid approximately 1,401.08 USD for nine days for two people.
Location: There’s a subway station right on the corner, almost in front of the building. It’s in the same block as the Empire State Building and Macy’s.
Highlights: It’s clean, organized, and provides Neutrogena amenities, with daily cleaning service upon request. The room has a refrigerator, coffee maker, hairdryer, and iron.
The staff is extremely friendly and courteous. Everything was perfect.” – Carol
Click HERE to reserve the hotel through my link!
Tryp by Wyndham- New York City/Times Square
“We stayed at the Tryp by Wyndham – New York City/Times Square in January 2022 (from the 6th to the 13th). There were five adults, and it met our needs very well. It’s located on 35th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenue.
Location: The location is very good, with a nearby subway station and very close to Times Square.
Highlights: It was a two-room suite! The space was good, the bathroom had a top-notch shower! The apartment was cleaned daily. The room had a minibar, a small kitchenette, a coffee maker with daily replenished sachets, 2 TVs, and 2 independent air conditioners!
Drawbacks: Breakfast is not included, but there is a service available at the hotel!
Extras: They stored our luggage free of charge! And they didn’t charge a resort fee!
I would stay there again without a doubt. Oh! They also have a family apartment (even larger than ours) with 2 full bathrooms, accommodating 8 to 10 people!!! I visited it and thought it was great!” – Thelma
Click HERE to reserve the hotel through my link!
Pod 39
“Our experience was in the summer of 2022, in August, and because it was high season, we had a lot of difficulty finding a good hotel with good reviews and an affordable price. After considering many options, we chose Pod 39, and it couldn’t have been better!
Cost: We paid around U$2500 for a bunk bed room for two people for 10 days (including taxes). I went with my brother. The price may seem high, but during the summer in NY, it was the most affordable option among those with a good location, cleanliness, and amenities.”
Highlights: The bed is very comfortable, the shower is wonderful, and the room is cleaned daily. The hotel has a youthful vibe, a rooftop bar open to the public, and our room had a view of the Empire State Building! The staff is very helpful and friendly.
There’s no breakfast included, but from 7 am to 11 am, they offer free coffee, tea, milk, creamer (try it in your coffee, it’s delicious!), and water, so that’s one less cost.
Location: It’s close to everything in Midtown: one block from Grand Central and the subway, a pleasant 15-minute walk to Times Square, and along the way, you’ll pass by Bryant Park. Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue are also nearby. There are many pharmacies, cafes, and grocery stores where you can have breakfast. In fact, we bought food to eat and returned to the hotel to enjoy the free coffee.
Drawbacks: The rooms are quite small, but if you have realistic expectations, you’ll get used to it. Even though I have a little bit of claustrophobia, I was fine after a few hours. There are no minibars in the rooms (but I knew that when I made the reservation), and the window in our room couldn’t be opened (which is quite common in hotels in New York).
Conclusion: I loved it so much, and choosing this hotel made our trip much easier and more enjoyable! In short, if you want a clean place, well-located, with a youthful vibe, and excellent value for money, I highly recommend Pod 39!” – Debora
Click HERE to reserve the hotel through my blog’s link!
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What’s inside?
- 16 detailed step-by-step itineraries to explore NYC from morning to evening with all the attractions, shops, spots you can’t miss and restaurants I recommend in each area (organization is key when exploring NYC so don’t worry, I got you!) and much much more. PLUS:
- Travel to and from the airports
- How to use the NYC subway (metro)
- Budget friendly hotels and hostels
- Weather in NYC
- Month by month event calendar
- Store guide
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Oh, before I forget…To see more of my day to day life in NYC and get the hottest tips, join my NYC tips Facebook group HERE, follow me on Instagram (@marthasachser or @blognyandabout) and subscribe to my YouTube channel! And click HERE for my NYC complete guide with step-to-step itineraries!
Discounts in NYC:
Attractions, tours and experiences:
You can book all of the above with a 10% off discount and free cancellation by using my coupon code NYABOUT10OFF HERE!
Where to buy your discount passes for New York attractions:
If you wanna save money on tickets and have plans to visit some of the best attractions, I recommend checking out some of the passes below:
CityPASS at the normal price on the official website HERE!
CityPASS with a 10% discount HERE! (code NYABOUT10OFF)
The Sightseeing DAY PASS at the normal price on the official website HERE! (one of my favorites)
The Sightseeing DAY PASS with a 10% discount HERE(code NYABOUT10OFF) (one of my favorites)
The Sightseeing FLEX Pass at the normal price on the official website HERE! (one of my favorites)
The Sightseeing Flex PASS with a 10% discount HERE (code NYABOUT10OFF) (one of my favorites)
Go City New York Explorer Pass: with a 10% discount HERE! (code NYABOUT10OFF) (one of my favorites)
Go City: The New York Pass with a 10% discount HERE! (code NYABOUT10OFF) (one of my favorites)
How to save money in New York:
Accommodation:
Hotels: Click HERE to check out my post with the best hotels in Queens (super close to Manhattan) and HERE for hotels in NYC in general.
Airport/Hotel Transfer:
Brazilian driver – special discount for my readers: Alex is the blog’s official driver and he offers a special discount on his services when you mention you follow me! You can reach him via text and Whatsapp: (917)6567299 or on instagram HERE
Travel eSims:
I never travel without an international sim card, I ran way too many times into issues with local mobile companies, plus, they are more expensive most of the time. I love that now we can buy digital sim cards, and they are super easy to activate. The two major companies I recommend are:
Airalo: With the code NYANDABOUT10, you receive 10% off HERE!
HolaFly: With the code MARTHASACHSER, you get a discount HERE!