We went to New York November 2008 stayed at the Novotel fantastic position 5 min walk from Times Square and about 5 to 10 min walk from central park would defiantly stay if we go again

Judith

Hi! Planning a trip to New York City can feel a bit overwhelming -- there is so much to see and do, and it's virtually impossible to include every New York City activity during a single trip.There's truly no other city like it.From the pricey boutiques of soho to the street food of chinatown the stately museums of the upper east side to the teeming nightclubs of chelsea this sprawling metropolis offers the best of all worlds…and that's just Manhattan.

If you are staying on Manhattan Island, everywhere is central or very easy to get to by subway, and at 14 miles long and 3 miles wide, walking is not really a problem either - plus you'll see much more if you walk. Depending on your budget there are loads of places to stay I stayed in a backpacking hostel in the upper west side, I paid around USD$25, for a shared room, but you can always stay at the Plaza if you have the cash. Have a look at Hostelz.com (or Google "hostels in New York") if you are on a budget.

Dale

Hi Lu,

Welcome to the community - great question!

I'm sad to say, I've only ever been to New York once - when I was about 13, so I can't really help with specific recommendations. New York has loads of great places to stay for every budget possible. I think it's worth keeping in mind some classic citybreak tips:

Location - look for somewhere central - find out the location of an attraction or attractions you want to see or where you expect to spend most time. Perhaps you could draw a one mile radius around them on a map and look at hotels within that area? That would help narrow it down.

Cost & availability - Compare the best deals you can find (I'm biased but I'd use travelsupermarket.com's hotel comparison tool!) :) There's no point in finding a great hotel if they don't have any rooms available at a competitive price.

Do plenty of research - If they have one, look at the hotel website and see what you think. You'll get a good feel for what it's like from their website. You could check out as many hotel reviews you can find - but bear in mind that some guests who are reviewing it won't have been looking for the same thing you are! You're on a budget, so prioritise what's important to you. Clean? Comfort? Star Rating? Facilities? Location? Type of room? Bear in mind that you'll probably be out and about so much that the room and hotel facilities aren't really that important. I always prefer city hotels that are in a great location but above all clean and comfortable - it's just somewhere to rest your head at night, not spend most of your holiday!

I hope that helps. Do let us know how you get on.

Does anyone else have any other city break tips - or helpful advice on looking for a cheap hotel in New York?

Hi, new here.

Me and my sister are looking to go New York for a short-break, 3 days. Looking to go in November for my 21st birthday. Pref. 11th Nov onwards... flying from London. Wanting to stay somewhere central, just want to visit some main attractions and have a shop! Any help, advice, tips would be very useful. I have looked up some websites like expedia and last minute.com but to be honest don't even know where to begin. On a low budget too.

Thanks, Lu.