6 Best Hotels In New York City For The Budget-Minded

Posted by Nick on August 31, 2010

If you’re planning a trip to New York City, you may be overwhelmed by the price of hotel rooms in NYC. Hotel rooms in NYC are notoriously expensive and tiny. If you’re trying to stay on a budget for your trip to the Big Apple, you may be looking at cheap New York City hotels but no too thrilled about the idea of ending up in a dump.

As a frequent traveler to NYC, I am always on the lookout for the best hotel deals in NYC. I don’t need luxury, but I don’t want to stay in a dirty hotel. I like to spend around $150 max on a NYC hotel room, but will go up to $175 if I have to. I think this is really as low as you can go in New York City and expect to have a decent stay in a decent hotel.

Here is my tested list of the 6 best hotels in New York City for the budget-minded:

Millennium UN Plaza Hotel

The Millennium UN Plaza Hotel is one of my favorite hotels in NYC. The average room rate is somewhere between $300 and $400 dollars but I have stayed here several times for under $150. A couple of years ago, I even spend a week at this hotel from Christmas through New Years for $159 a night. Getting a cheap room at this hotel is really all about luck. When I have found the low rate, it has always been through the MillenniumHotels.com website. It’s worth giving it a try when you are looking for a hotel. The only disadvantage of this hotel is its closest subway stop is a bit of a trek.

Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea (West 28th St.)

The Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea has been a super clean NYC hotel each time I’ve stayed there. I’ve been successful in getting it for the $150 or less per night in the past. And the big bonus to this hotel is that each room has a mini-fridge and microwave in it. You can pop over to a nearby grocery store and stock up the fridge with water, beer or whatever. It is also convenient to a subway stop. As of this writing, the TripAdvisor page for this hotel has a 15% off offer as well!

Four Points By Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea

Also in a convenient location, the Four Points By Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea is another great choice for travelers on a budget in NYC. I stayed here for $149 a night the last week of December one year. The rooms are clean but VERY tiny – even for New York City standards.

Ink48 – a Kimpton Hotel

If you’re looking for a cheap boutique hotel near the near Javits Center in Hell’s Kitchen, give Ink48 a try. It’s on 11th & 48th, which isn’t convenient to any subway stops – about 5 blocks to the nearest one. This hotel does have a really cool rooftop bar though. And most important – it’s super clean and you can get it for $175 or under if you find a deal. It is also a pet-friendly hotel, if that is important to you.

Hampton Inn Manhattan Chelsea

The Hampton Inn Manhattan Chelsea is your typical Hampton Inn experience – clean, free breakfast and free wi-fi. It has a great location near some subway stops. And you can regularly get a room for way under $200 a night.

Wyndham Garden Hotel Chelsea

About a year ago I booked a three-night stay at the Wyndham Garden Hotel Chelsea and canceled the last two nights to move over to the Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea. This hotel makes the list because it falls in the budget price range and it was clean enough. In my opinion, the service was terrible and I would never return to this hotel again. However, if you have no other options you can probably get this hotel in your price range. And I remember the hotel restaurant being decent enough.

The key to getting a great deal on a hotel in NYC is to do your research. Check the direct hotel websites and look on travel deal sites like TravelZoo. And if all else fails, you can use Priceline.com for a deal – you just never know what hotel you’ll end up with on Priceline!