9 NYC Budget Hotels that You Need to Book RIGHT NOW!

Breaking news:

There are NO cheap hotels in NYC! Tune in to channel 7 at 11 pm (Kidding, sort of. I’ll show you the best NYC budget hotels I could find)

Okay:

I bet you already knew that cheap hotels in New York City were few and far between. Well, I didn’t, since I’m a local and don’t really frequent the best secret hotels and hostels in NYC.

At least not when it comes to hotels.

I live here, so clearly I never book cheap hotels in Manhattan NY (Thank God for free things to do in New York City, like the activities in this 4 day New York City itinerary).

But when I finally looked up the price of some of the best hotels in New York City, I nearly choked.

I started to wonder how anyone, besides multi-millionaires and Kim Kardashian, could ever afford to travel to New York City on a budget.

However:

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense since rents here are so completely out of control (Hello Ramen Noodles).

I don’t even live in New York City proper, and I pay over a $1000 a month, and that’s not even for my own apartment (It’s actually pretty sad to look at what I get for my money. I also have two roommates. Part of the reason why I want to move ASAP.).

Come to think of it:

With what I pay in rent, I could easily buy a house in other areas of the United States.

But I digress from our discussion of the best affordable hotels, New York City edition.

 Long story short:

I should not have been surprised to see that hotels in New York City are so damn expensive (cheap hotels in NYC near Times Square are few and far between).

Upon seeing New York City hotel prices:

I started to think about all the normal people out there, like me, who are not Rockefeller’s and who need to scrimp and save for each and every vacation they take.

I wondered how I could make it easier, for normal, everyday people to visit my hometown, find out where to stay in New York City in a budget,

and actually enjoy it (We don’t want you living in a cardboard box while you’re here.)

That’s when it hit me.

I should make a list of affordable New York City Accommodations because realistically, hotels and flights are probably the two biggest expenditures that travelers make.

However:

I didn’t want to list a bunch of crappy, roach motels that rent rooms by the hour and have vibrating beds.

Pretty Woman is a great movie:

But that doesn’t mean you want to live Vivian’s life. To me, that just doesn’t seem like a good time (my vain attempt at a pimp pun).

So, I have harassed my friends and family (They are now no longer returning my calls because of my pestering them about New York City Hotels. I have officially been blacklisted. Lol. All for you!) to provide you with a list of NYC budget hotels that you will actually want to stay in.

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If you’re booking a trip right now then I IMPLORE you to get travel insurance – even if it’s not from me.

After all, this past year has been a wild ride and I don’t want you to lose money because government regulations have changed. 

Truth be told though, I’ve never traveled without travel insurance and don’t think you should either – especially since I think we’ve all had plans drastically change because of the pandemic. 

Therefore, find an insurance agency that covers travel changes related to COVID-19, like my two all-time faves World Nomads and Safety Wing. You can also read more about which policy is right for you in my full review here.

1. Hudson Hotel

The Hudson Hotel is an inviting, clean, and sleekly modern member of the Morgan’s Hotel group is a warm, welcoming, and relaxing space for anyone visiting New York City.

Set right in the heart of Manhattan’s mid-town, just steps away from Central Park, this hotel is perfectly priced, and located, for anyone ready to tackle all the excitement that Manhattan has to offer.

But besides the price and location, this hotel offers guests a rooftop terrace with exquisite views of the surrounding skyscrapers. There is also an expansive outdoor space that makes up for the relatively small size of the starting room types (13 – 16 sqm).

The on-site, Hudson bar is also a hub of activity that is frequented by both locals and hotel patrons alike. Truly the perfect setting for either a relaxed martini or dancing the night away, to the methodical rhythm of the local, house DJ.

Also check out the property’s unique and enticingly chic, library bar, Hudson Common, for a more casual, beer and burger setting.

Address: 358 West 58th Street New York, NY 10019

Phone Number: US – 800 606 6090 and INT – 00800 4969 1770

Rates: Standard rooms start at $128 a night, plus taxes and fees.

Room Amenities: Wifi, i-pod docking station, Flat screen DTV, workspace or desk, and queen or double bed.

2. American Dream Bed and Breakfast

The American Dream Bed and Breakfast is located in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park, this bed and breakfast is just a hop, skip, and jump away from such iconic New York City attractions as the Empire State Building, Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, and Union Square.

But aside from the incredible location, this family-owned bed and breakfast have been offering guests a true, home away from home experience for well over 15 years

Inside, this hostel has rooms with two and four beds, as well as rooms with one double and one single bed. Breakfast is also served from 7 am to 11 am in the main dining area.

Address: 168 East 24th Street, Manhattan, New York (on 24th between Lexington and 3rd Avenue)

Phone Number : +1 212 260 9779

Rates: Prices are between $55.50-$79.50 per person. Sheets and towels are included but there is an extra $2 room fee

***Nearest subway trains are 6 on 23rd St. and Park Ave. and N/R on 23rd St. and 5th Ave.

3. POD 51 (Pod Hotel NYC)

Pod 51 believes that everyone should have the right to travel, and that starts with creating more affordable accommodation options.

That’s why this Midtown East establishment has created thoughtful, efficient, streamlined designs that are not only appealing but economical.

Here, non-essentials have been stripped away, to create a minimalist feel and, something everyone loves, a lower price.

The guest experience is also enhanced by an assortment of social programs, offered through the hotel, that creates a more authentic, New York City experience.

Not a fan of manufactured social experiences? That’s okay because this hotel is located in the heart of New York’s City’s, vivacious nightlife scene; a scene that includes the Turtle Bay Grill and Lounge, which prides itself as being the “Best Hook Up Bar in NYC”.

However, there is much more to this hotel than it’s exciting location.

While here, you can choose from an assortment of room types that include proper hotel rooms, as well as single and bunk bed pods, all of which have access to free, high-speed wifi. Beds come with extra linens and pillows, with every pod (bed) having its own flat-screen TV.

Bathrooms are shared, but all rooms are equipped with a display light that alerts you when bathrooms are either occupied or vacant. But be forewarned that you do pay for such amenities, in the price of the room, so maybe head down to the bar and find a “friend” or two (Wink wink. Sugar daddy or momma anyone?).

Address: 230 E 51st Street, Manhattan, New York

Phone Number: +1 212 228 1500, thepodhotel.com

Rates: Bunk pods start at $169 a night

4. The Jane Hotel

Step back in time at the Jane Hotel, a building from 1907 that started as a home for sailors. However, as of 2008, this building was refurbished and became a modern, boutique hotel, in New York City’s West Village (adjacent to the ever popular meatpacking district).

However, this hotel still retains some of its vintage charm, as seen in the wood-paneled rooms, which resemble the interior of a vintage sleeper car on a train.

In total, the hotel contains 130 standard rooms, 40 bunk bed cabins with shared bathrooms, and 30 captain’s cabins with en-suite bathrooms. Many rooms also have beds (or bunk bed) with built-in storage and brass hooks for hanging up your clothes.

For a bit more modern feel, iPod docks and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs have been added to many of the rooms. Truly a perfect fusion of modern convenience with historic charm.

There is also a grand ballroom, that generates a historic feel with the room’s mismatched chairs, oriental rugs, and fireplace that is topped with a stuffed ram (totally eccentric but in all the right ways).

There is also an on-site cafe that serves breakfast through dinner;  a delightful space that is warmly bathed in the light of the sun.

Address: 113 Jane Street, New York, NY, 10014

Phone Number: 212-924-6700

Rates: Bunk Bedrooms start at $135, plus taxes and fees

Room Amenities: All room types are equipped with TVs, telephones with voicemail and free local calls, an in-room safe, complimentary, and a robe with slippers.

5. Broadway Hostel and Hotel

Another one of the more Affordable New York City accommodations is Broadway Hostel and Hotel, located on the Upper West Side. Broadway Hostel actually heralds itself as New York’s first, boutique hostel.

Here, friendly and helpful staff go out of their way to ensure that all guests have a stay to remember. Room options include two-bed dormitory-style or private rooms that are superbly renovated with jewel-toned walls and ceiling fans.

Additionally, each room is outfitted with down comforters, plush pillows, iPod docking stations, and European linens that guarantee that every guest’s stay is a comfortable one.

All hotel bathrooms are also adorned with glass-enclosed showers and rain showerheads. Downstairs, there’s a multi-cultural commons area with a library, fireplace, and a stainless steel kitchen. There is also a $2 fee if you want to use their luggage storage facility.

Address: 230 West 101 Street

Phone Number: 212 865 7710

Rates; $55 a night, plus taxes and fees

6. HI (Hostel International) New York

This Hostel’s claim to fame is that it is Hosteling International’s largest hostel in North America (Can I get a woot woot?). And that makes a lot of sense because this hostel is outfitted with a whopping 672 rooms inside a Victorian Gothic building on the Upper West Side, just 2 blocks away from Central Park.

Now, staying here can kind of feel like sleeping in a factory, but that’s okay because there are plenty of room options to choose from. There are 4 to 12-bed coed rooms,  male/female dorms, or private rooms with and without baths.

The entire hostel is also equipped with free and fast internet, along with a laundry facility and guest kitchen that accommodates for all your cooking needs.

There is also a cafe on site (serves all day) as well as an enormous green space that is the largest private green space in New York.

However. The real appeal of this place is not in the rooms, but in the assortment of free, communal events and activities that allow guests to experience New York City like a local (here we just call it “the city”).

Address: 891 Amsterdam Avenue

Phone Number: 1 212 932 2300

Rates: $44 a night plus taxes and fees

7. The Bentley Hotel

The Bentley Hotel, a former, high-rise office building, has been reincarnated as a 21-story, 197-room boutique hotel.

Embrace the quieter side of the city that never sleeps in a hotel that is located just outside mid-town, amongst the exquisite views of the East River and the 59th street Bridge (nestled within the Upper East Side of the city). But don’t let the views from the oversized windows fool you, you are still within minutes of Central Park and 5th Avenue.

However, the location isn’t the only reason to stay here. Add in the New York style and flair of some flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and modern chrome-and-wood accents, and you have a hotel that perfectly combines the beauty of nature with the ingenuity of modern architecture.

Take advantage of this area’s natural beauty by strolling along the East River, which is just steps away from the hotel.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head over to the posh, rooftop restaurant that is adorned with orb chandeliers and chic, gilded chairs.

But the ambiance isn’t the only appealing aspect of this rooftop, urban oasis. Take some time to indulge in some Italian-inspired sushi rolls, toro tartare with wasabi olive oil, Long Island duck sliders, and even fried artichokes with a lemon aioli (I wish I could cook because now I want to eat anything that isn’t nailed down).

Address: 500 East 62nd Street, New York, New York, 10065

Phone Number: 212- 644-6000

Rates: Rooms start at $206 a night

8. Jazz on Columbus Circle Hostel

While at Jazz on Columbus Circle Hostel, entrench yourself in the history and culture of New York City. Here, each room has a unique theme that evokes the spirit and vivacity of the city itself. Take a stroll through the hostel and explore the multitude of room available to you.

Room types vary from shared and family options to private rooms that resemble a more traditional, hotel experience.

All patrons can access staff organized outings and events, as well as a free light breakfast, free luggage storage prior to check-in, free linens and towels, free daily housekeeping, and free maps and brochures of the City.

However, this hostel doesn’t just have great amenities. Jazz also has a great location right next to Central Park’s world famous, Columbus Circle (I am shocked to my core since it’s in the name. LoL). 

This hostel is also a short walk away from such cultural delights as Century 21 department store and Lincoln Center (I saw the King and I there and it was awesome. The theater there is small so it’s a really intimate setting for a Broadway show.).

You can also ride a bus or take either the A, B, C, D, or 1 trains to anywhere in NY that you might want to go (Just don’t forget your metro card! Come to the suburbs and visit me! Just kidding. It’s dull as dishwater here.).

With restaurants, art galleries, shops, and clubs all neighboring this affordable accommodation, not only will you save money but you will also feel like you are a part of the pulse of the city.

Pro Tip: You can also check out the best boutique hotels in Chelsea for some great budget accommodations.

Address: 940 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10019

Phone Number: 646.876.9282

Rates: Stays start at $20 a night

Additional Amenities: Secure key-card room access, free in-room lockers, 24-hour reception and security, lounge area with cable-TV and coffee bar, heat/air conditioning in rooms, and washing machines (small fee).

9. Row NYC

Last on the list for NYC budget hotels is Row NYC is in the heart of The Big Apple and has a superb position just a few blocks from the neon signs of Times Square.

Modern, dazzling white rooms with brilliant color accents are offered by this chic hotel, preparing you for the building’s famous surroundings.

However, given the top-notch facilities already in place, it could be difficult for you to leave the building. See, Row NYC contains a sizable dining hall called City Kitchen, which serves up some of the best cuisine in all of New York.

You may find Kuro Obi ramen or Dough’s colorful doughnuts here. Visitors to District M may even savor a hand-pulled Neapolitan-style pizza and then try their hand at spinning at the hotel’s very own disco.

Address: 700 Eighth Ave. New York 10036

Phone Number: 212-869-3600

Rates: $40.16 

Additional Amenities: Café By Day, Lounge By Night, City Kitchen, Internet Lounge, Fitness studio, One stop shop

This Concludes My List of NYC Budget Hotels Midtown (and Beyond)

Yup:

These are all my fave, affordable hotel suites in NYC.

Which is scary because some of these places are still pretty expensive.

Sorry New York isn’t a cheaper place to stay.

***BONUS (Since you made it to the end) The Ace Hotel NYC is also a great budget-friendly hotel in New York City. Located at West 29th Street, Rooms are typically $179 a night. 

Seriously:

This is the one time that I am glad that I live in New York because no way do I want to pay for an insanely expensive hotel room. But good luck and stay away from cardboard boxes (also known as emergency hotel accommodations when all the money’s gone).

You could always become a sugar baby and have the room paid for. LoL. #justsayin