I’ve lived in the New York and New Jersey area since 2008, and I’ve spent my career in the travel industry, so “where should I stay in New York?” is the question friends ask me most. My answer is never one hotel. It depends on who you are and what kind of trip you want, so here’s how I’d match you to a neighborhood, plus the booking tips I’ve picked up over the years.
One honest note up front: I’m a millennial who’s slowly graduating from crowds and party scenes, so my personal picks lean quieter. Where my taste and a first-timer’s needs are different, I’ll say so.
Lower East Side: for nightlife and real cocktails
If you’re Gen Z or a millennial who wants to go out at night, stay on the Lower East Side. This is where you’ll find craft cocktails made by legit mixologists, not just a bartender pouring vodka sodas, and the bars stay lively late.
Stay at PUBLIC, the Ian Schrager hotel on Chrystie Street. It fits the neighborhood perfectly. If nightlife is the whole point of your trip, the Meatpacking District is worth a look too.
West Village and Chelsea: for local charm without the crowds
This is my favorite area for HENRYs (high earners, not rich yet) and anyone who’d rather wander than check off landmarks. It has a real local vibe, not many tourists, and some of the prettiest streets in the city for just walking around, with art galleries and small shops everywhere. It’s a great pick for families too.
If you have the budget, Faena New York opened in West Chelsea right on the High Line in 2025 and it’s one of the buzziest hotels in the city. Dream Downtown and The Moore are solid choices that cost less.
Herald Square to Gramercy: right in the middle of everything
If you want to be central without being swallowed by tourist crowds, look at the stretch from Herald Square toward Gramercy, especially the NoMad blocks in between. Almost every subway line is within reach, the dining options are incredibly diverse, and there’s a good number of affordable hotels.
Stay at Virgin Hotels New York City, or The Fifth Avenue Hotel if you have the budget. Arlo NoMad and AKA NoMad are good value options in the same area.
Upper East Side: for luxury and quiet
The Upper East Side is where a lot of the city’s wealthy locals actually live, so it’s polished, residential and great for high-end shopping. If you appreciate a luxury lifestyle, you’ll love it. If you’re a rowdy group, I’d honestly stay somewhere else, because it’s not that kind of neighborhood.
The Mark and The Carlyle are the classics here, and The Mark is known for celebrity guests. For something more affordable in the same neighborhood, voco The Franklin is a good option.
Columbus Circle and Central Park: for the park and concerts
If your trip revolves around Central Park, concerts and that classic uptown feel, stay near Columbus Circle and Central Park South. The subway options are good enough, and you’re a little removed from Times Square, which I count as a plus. Most hotels here are luxury, so it’s not the area for budget travelers. It’s lovely for families who can splurge.
Park Lane New York and The Pierre are my picks.
Quick picks by type of trip
| If you are… | Stay in |
|---|---|
| A first-timer | Times Square or Herald Square |
| A family | Times Square, Herald Square, West Village and Chelsea, or Columbus Circle and Central Park |
| Out for nightlife | Lower East Side, maybe the Meatpacking District |
| On a budget | Times Square or the East Village |
| A HENRY who wants local charm | West Village and Chelsea |
| Into luxury and shopping | Upper East Side |
A word on budget: it’s genuinely hard in New York. Times Square usually has the most options simply because there are so many hotels there, which keeps prices competitive. The East Village can be cheaper too, partly because subway access is more limited there.
Where I personally skip
I avoid Times Square, Midtown, Herald Square itself and Chinatown at all costs now, purely because they’re too crowded for me. If it’s your first time, though, Times Square and Herald Square really are convenient, and that’s why I still recommend them to first-timers. I also skip the Financial District and Kips Bay to Murray Hill, because I find them inconvenient for getting to the places I actually want to go. And for a short trip, I’d stay below the top of the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, so you spend your time exploring instead of commuting.
Consider staying in New Jersey
This is the tip people don’t expect from me. Staying in New Jersey can be a smart alternative, especially Jersey City, which connects to Manhattan on the PATH train. Secaucus and West New York are other options, with NJ Transit buses into the city. You often get more room for your money, and the commute is shorter than people assume.
Booking tips from my career
Timing matters more than anything. Avoid May to June, September to October, and the big shopping weekends in December if you can, because those are peak seasons and prices jump. If you want December, the cheapest week is usually the one right before Christmas.
Expect a resort or destination fee on top of your room rate. Around $40 a night including taxes is pretty standard. Since February 2026, New York City requires hotels to include mandatory fees in the advertised price, so the number you see should be closer to what you’ll actually pay.
Rooms in Manhattan are small. If you like space, book a higher room category instead of the basic one. And skip the hotel’s car service for airport transfers. They charge a premium you don’t need to pay.
Getting in from the airport
| Airport | Cheapest | Middle option | Door to door |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK | Subway (A, or E, J, Z) plus AirTrain, about $11.75 | LIRR plus AirTrain, $14 to $16 | Taxi flat fare $70 plus surcharges and tip, or Uber around $80 to $100 |
| LaGuardia | Free Q70 LaGuardia Link bus plus subway, $3 | M60 bus from upper Manhattan, $3 | Taxi or Uber |
| Newark | AirTrain plus NJ Transit train to Penn Station | NJ Transit bus to Port Authority | Taxi or Uber |
The subway from JFK is a real bargain, but with heavy luggage it can be a journey, so be honest with yourself about how much you’re carrying. A single subway ride is $3 as of 2026, and OMNY, the tap-to-pay system, caps what you spend. Your first tap starts a seven-day window, and once you’ve spent $35 in that window (about 12 rides), every ride for the rest of the seven days is free. You still tap in at the turnstile as usual, it just charges you nothing. The catch is that you have to tap with the same card or the same phone every time.
Looking at this list, I notice my own picks have shifted over the years, from wherever the party was to wherever I can actually walk around and breathe. I think that’s the real answer to where you should stay: figure out what kind of trip you want first, and the neighborhood will follow.