3 things to check before booking your hotel in New York

1/ Is the hotel well located?

• After price, location is the most important factor when choosing a hotel in a massive city like New York. Is your future base in New York well positioned?
• A recent example from the New York Forum: a visitor booked a non-refundable hotel in Edgewater, New Jersey. The price looked good, but he discovered too late that there was no subway access to Manhattan—only buses at $4.15 per ride and nearly 40 minutes to reach Manhattan.
• Before you enter your credit card details, check what transportation options are available. You’ll find a New York subway map on our page about the subway in New York.
• Also read this article where I explain why it’s worth the cost to stay in Manhattan and make the most of your trip: 5 reasons to choose Manhattan.
• Finally, take a quick look at Google Maps to check the area around the hotel. If the hotel is in Queens near an elevated subway line, you may not sleep much—the subway runs 24/7 in New York.

2/ Is the hotel decent?

• Another essential question before confirming your stay: always check the hotel’s reputation. On the Destination New York Facebook group, I still see too many visitors worried because they booked a place that turned out to be poor quality, only discovering bad reviews afterward. Read reviews BEFORE you confirm, not after.
• You can find independent reviews written by members of the New York Forum on our mini-site about New York hotel reviews.
• I also recommend browsing the best hotels in New York list. This list is based on the best addresses tested and approved by me, our blog team, and forum members. You’ll find ONLY good hotels here, at all price points.
• Finally, if your hotel of interest isn’t on our radar, don’t hesitate to ask on the New York Forum and the Destination New York Facebook group. If no one knows it, don’t take the risk. I’m serious: research before you book, not after. The blog, its forum, and social media are here to help you! 🙂

3/ What’s the total price?

• Be careful to calculate the full cost of your stay. Some hotel booking sites show prices without taxes in small print. Booking.com, for example, doesn’t include the 14.75% tax in the displayed price. You think you’re getting a great deal, but you may end up paying more than if you booked directly on the hotel’s website.
• Tip: before booking, check the total price and compare rates across all booking sites, including the hotel’s own website. You might even find a special promotion available only when booking directly.