How To Find Cheap Accommodation in New York

New York City is a bucket list destination for so many people! However, most people can’t afford to spend a few thousand dollars for a single week of travel, so you might be looking for more affordable accommodation in New York. 

So don’t worry you can visit Times Square, Central Park, and the Brooklyn Bridge.You may need to cut a few corners, but the memories will still be spectacular! Keep reading to find cheap accommodation in New York.

Tips to Find Cheap Hotels

Most hotel booking websites will have filters that help you find budget hotels. This is a great place to start!

You can also use the filters to look for rooms at different times of the year. You’ll find more cheap hotel options in January and February than in many other months.

Stay away from the 5-star hotels and boutique hotels. But this doesn’t mean you’ll have to sleep in a rat-infested room.

However, the cheapest hotels might still be out of your budget. If that’s the case, keep reading for more tips.

Stay in a Hostel

The average price per night in a hostel is $32. So you should consider staying in a hostel if you want to visit New York City on a budget. These affordable prices are so appealing!

There can be downsides, though. Shared bathrooms and sleeping areas can be annoying. You might not have a 24-hour front desk to stop by with questions. And the air conditioning might be sub-par.

But if you can save hundreds of dollars a night, it might be worth it!

You can also look at reviews of hostels to see which ones seem like they would be a good fit for you.

House Sit in New York

House sitting is another way to save money in New York. This is especially true if you’d like to stay for a week or even longer.

You would stay at someone’s house while they are out of town. They would pay you to feed their pets, water their plants, and get their mail.

If you don’t mind doing simple home maintenance, this is a great way to lower your accommodation costs. And you can enjoy the luxuries of a clean and private bathroom!

Trusted House Sitters is a great website for anyone interested in house sitting. There are others you could choose from, but this is our favorite!

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a website that connects travelers to locals who want to host them.

Some couchsurfing members will have an extra room for visitors to stay in. And it’s free!

It is encouraged that you would share part of your culture with the host and visit with them a bit. This is also a great way for you to learn about New York from a local.

Work for a Room

Most people think about Workaway in terms of international travel. Did you know they also have programs in New York?

Most of the work in NYC consists of basic house chores. So that might be an easy way to find an affordable room!

This is one of the few ways to stay in the city center without breaking the bank.

Cheapest Neighborhood to Stay in New York

High-end neighborhoods like Midtown Manhattan have lower crime rates. However, they also have higher hotel prices. You’ll have to decide which neighborhood to stay in based on this information.

It is helpful to stay somewhere within walking distance of the central locations. Since the popular tourist sites are in pricier parts of town, you might want to stay further away. Prime locations usually mean premium prices.

In this case, you should find a hotel within walking distance of the subway train. An ideal location would be affordable and within a few blocks of the closest subway station.

• Jersey City and Long Island City are two affordable places to stay. Because of the subway system, it will be easy to travel to the rest of the city.
• Greenwich Village is a fairly affordable and excellent location. West Village is a bit pricier, but people love this fabulous location!
• The Upper East Side and the Upper West Side have a variety of hotels to choose from. They vary from cheap to expensive.

You may want to check online reviews if you choose to stay in one of these budget hotels. Because of its convenient location, there may be a reason why a room is cheap. Hotels may cut corners to keep accommodation options low.

How to Save Money in New York

• Join a Facebook group for New York locals or travelers. This is a great place to find good deals and tips for saving money in New York.
• Driving, taking a bus, or flying on budget airlines will decrease your overall cost of travel. If you choose to fly, make sure to check different days and times of flights. This will help you find the best deal on a flight.
• If you stay somewhere with a kitchen, you can cook your meals. This is a great way to save on food!
• Even if you don’t want to cook every day, find somewhere with a refrigerator and a microwave. This will let you save leftovers and reheat them. So you can eat authentic New York food without going to a restaurant 3 times a day.
• Find discounts online for different restaurants and attractions. Groupon and Living Social are great websites for discounts.
• Or search for the best free activities in New York. If your entertainment is affordable, you’ll have more money to spend on other things.
• Walking by the Empire State Building or the Flatiron Building is still neat. You don’t have to take a tour of every single historic building and iconic landmark.

Even if your room doesn’t have great views of the city, you’ll still be able to see the city. There are budget-friendly places to look at the view! There are affordable options if you avoid marble bathrooms and walk-in showers. You’ll find even more if you don’t need daily housekeeping.

Whether you stay in an affordable hotel or someone’s house, you can enjoy the city!