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New York travel guide

New York City spreads across five boroughs at the mouth of the Hudson, but most visitors sleep in Manhattan, the narrow island between the Hudson and East rivers. The subway runs around the clock, so a room in Long Island City, Brooklyn or across the river in Jersey City can work as well as Midtown if it sits near the right line.

By Hotel Unfiltered · Copy reviewed

New York

Getting there and choosing your base

  • John F. Kennedy International (JFK): In south-east Queens, with the heaviest international schedule. The AirTrain runs 24 hours to Jamaica, where you change to the E, J or Z subway or to a Long Island Rail Road train into Penn Station; a hotel near an E or LIRR stop saves a change with luggage.
  • Newark Liberty International (EWR): Across the Hudson in New Jersey. AirTrain Newark links the terminals to a rail station on the Northeast Corridor, where NJ Transit and Amtrak trains run into New York Penn Station at 34th Street, which makes the west side of Midtown the simplest base from this airport.
  • LaGuardia (LGA) and Penn Station: LaGuardia, rebuilt in the early 2020s, is the closest airport to Midtown but handles mostly domestic flights and has no rail link. Amtrak arrivals use Penn Station and the Moynihan Train Hall opposite, while Metro-North commuter trains end at Grand Central on the east side.

Areas to consider

Midtown and the Theater District

Suits first-time visitors who want Broadway, the big department stores and the widest choice of hotels within walking distance. Budget rooms here are often barely bigger than the bed; read the stated room size and whether the bathroom is private before booking.

Lower Manhattan and the Financial District

Suits travellers heading to the 9/11 Memorial, the Staten Island Ferry or the Brooklyn Bridge, and those who want quieter streets at weekends. The area empties after office hours, so look at what is open nearby on a Sunday evening if you want to eat close to the hotel.

Long Island City, Queens

Suits visitors who want lower rates one or two subway stops from Midtown, with skyline views across the East River. Make sure the hotel is near the 7, E, M or N/W lines rather than in the industrial blocks further from a station.

Downtown Brooklyn and Williamsburg

Suits repeat visitors after neighbourhood restaurants, bars and parks rather than tourist sights. Weekend engineering works often reroute or suspend Brooklyn subway services, so look at the MTA service notices for your dates.

When to go

Summers from June to September are hot and humid, and tropical storms occasionally reach the city in late summer and early autumn. Rates are usually lowest in January and February, at the end of August and on Sunday nights. The city is busy all year, so for peak-season dates book months ahead rather than weeks.

Before choosing a room

  • Quoted New York rates normally exclude state and city sales tax, the city hotel occupancy tax and a flat nightly surcharge, so the bill can be noticeably higher than the headline figure; compare prices with taxes included.
  • At the cheaper end, some rooms share a hall bathroom and only have a sink inside; the listing usually says so, but check before paying.
  • Very cheap rooms along the West Side Highway or in outlying parts of Queens can be in motels that are poor bases for sightseeing; check the exact address and the walk to the subway.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

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