Make the most of your New York holiday
With so much to see and do in New York, it can be tricky to know where to start, but don’t fret – our essential guide to holidays in New York will have you looking like a local in no time.
Where are the best places to stay in New York?
New York’s sights are spread around the city and there’s no one hub – though Manhattan Island is the key tourist area, and first-timers will want to stay here. Wherever you choose, stay in a hotel near a subway station and you’ll be able to reach many of the city’s attractions.
Times Square, Midtown Manhattan and the Upper East Side are popular areas of the city for travellers. Staying in Times Square means you can say you were in the centre of it all – and it’s well connected, too. Many first-time visitors start here, though it’s very busy. Midtown Manhattan is the district around Times Square. It’s equidistant from many sights and has lots of great restaurants. And if you’re hankering for a luxury hotel with all the trimmings: bells, whistles and bellhops, then the Upper East Side is your best bet. Swanky and often expensive, it’s set near Central Park, the Met and Guggenheim, so visitors consider it prime real estate.
If you’ve visited New York before, then why not try somewhere different? If you want to hang with the fashion crowd, choose a pad near Chelsea and the Meatpacking District on the east side of Manhattan Island. Consider Queens, for a cheaper place to stay and – if you pick a hotel in Long Island City, you’ll be within easy reach of Midtown Manhattan. Elsewhere, Hudson Yards on the west side below Hell’s Kitchen is New York’s newest district.
The Lower East Side puts you near Brooklyn Bridge and the Tenement Museum. Just over the bridge is Williamsburg. Set in Brooklyn, this up-and-coming area is great if you want to drink craft beer with the locals.
Wherever you go in New York, there’s a hotel for every traveller.