Budget Hotels around New York City

While I was planning my most recent trip which was to New York City, I found out just how expensive the hotels in the city are. I wanted to book 2 rooms for 7 nights each but I didn't want to shell out thousands of dollars to do it. Initially I was set on staying in the city so I looked around and tried to find a decent hotel with affordable rates for days before I finally decided that I was better off looking outside the city. 

Once I switched my search to nearby areas the hotel rates dropped immensely and I was able to find a nice chain hotel offering rates that were about half of what the 1 star hotels were going for in the city. I ended up booking the 2 rooms I wanted for 7 nights and I was very pleased with my choice. We didn't end up staying in a trendy boutique hotel in the heart of NY but our rooms were clean and we were able to afford a 7 night stay.

Our hotel offered a free airport shuttle which was very convenient since we weren't familiar with the area when we first arrived and our room had the basic amenities like a fridge, large television and even a microwave which we used for late night snacks. We got up early each day to head into the city and by the time we got back at night we were so tired from sightseeing that we didn't even care that we weren't staying in a luxury hotel. It might seem nice to say that you're staying in a fancy hotel, but at the end of the day all that really matters is that your room is clean and you have a nice place to sleep after a long day.

Budget Travel Tips

Traveling can be fun and exciting, but it can also get expensive- especially when you're travelling with a group or large family. Planning ahead can be very beneficial for travelers because it can allow you to save money on your trip which can be used to extend your trip or applied to another trip in the future.

Spur of the moment trips might seem exciting and spontaneous but they can also be much more costly because they don't allow the time to search and compare websites to find the best rates. Budget travelers should plan their trip ahead of time and keep their schedule slightly flexible while planning to get the best rates.

Many travelers know that hotel rates are higher on weekends, but what most people don't know is that plane rates vary as well. Before booking a flight it is best to compare rates on different websites and check skyscanner.com for variations in prices around your designated travel dates.