New York, NY Overview

Reserving a hotel room in New York has become much less difficult thanks to the internet. Most of the major hotels will allow you to set up a reservation online, and offer discounts for doing this. There are several websites that will allow you to get a hotel room for much cheaper than walking to the front desk. Using the internet, you can see what the hotel has available in their rooms. The pictures allow you a 360 degree look at way the rooms are set up. There are commercials for bargain sites for hotels that can get you some huge deals and save some serious money. If you have to walk into the hotel to book a room, be sure to ask about any discounts that have available. There are typically discounts for having a certain service or being a member of the armed forces. Asking about the discounts can save you money.

When traveling light on business trips to New York you will appreciate the value of premium hotels because of the little pluses they provide -- everything from luxury bath soaps to valet service. When staying overnight in those down-market rooms you will need to pack a lot more of what you need to get ready for work related meetings, because outside of some little shampoo bottles, you never really know what they are going to supply you with. In terms of toiletries this is what you need to pack at the least: Bring with you a couple of new plastic disposable razors, your toothbrush of course, some deodorant, a small tube (not a can) of shaving cream to save space, a hand-held mirror, a small container of hair gel, a nail file, comb or brush, a fragrance sample, and a shoe-shine kit. Do this, and you'll be ensured you'll always look your best.

There are a bunch of things you need to know before getting a cheap hotel room in New York. Look closely and carefully before booking the first thing that you see. Ask questions, if you are on the phone with a hotel operator and you are trying to find the cheapest ask about the price. See if there are any discounts you can get, for example, airline, part of their reward program or senior citizen. If you are searching on the internet they usually have the cheapest prices around, plus when you call they will give any extra discounts. So take your time when finding a cheap hotel room. And do not get the first one that you find, shop around and you will find what you are looking for.

With so many lodging selections available in New York these days, it is often not easy to decide where to stay during your night out of town or while on vacation. Nowadays it is not about paying the lowest price, but getting the best deal for what you pay for. Sure $20 a night seems good, but would you really want to sleep in a room the size of your car while sharing a bathroom with 10 other people? Probably not, but if you would, a hostel is probably the best option for you. Similarly, there's not much difference between a $200 a night hotel and a $2000 night hotel when it comes to comfort. Sure, you get those extra little perks, but most people end up never using them anyway. Stick with the basics, and you should be all right.

If you are planning a trip to New York, whether it be for business or fun, and you happen to have pets be forewarned that you are likely going to be getting a rough looking room in worst physical location on the property. Also, if you happen to have pets on your trip and you don't smoke, guess what, you are going to smell smoke whether it's permitted in the inn or not because the room you find yourself in is usually close to a smoking area. And believe it or not, some hotels still let people smoke in their room, guess where your room is located? Enough about smokers, not trying to bash them, they all made their choices, but most hotels that allow pets don't usually cater to with such things as room service either. And one final thought, your walls are likely to be thin enough to hear what is going on in the next room.

Things to do in New York

• Visit the Statue of Liberty
• Visit the Museum of Modern Art
• Catch a Broadway Show
• Visit the Empire State Building
• Shop at FAO Schwartz
• Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Dine at Odeon Restaurant
• See a New York Giants game
• Watch a game at Yankee Stadium
• Watch a New York Knicks basketball game
• Have some fun at Coney Island
• Visit the American Museum of Natural History
• Watch a New York Rangers hockey game
• Visit Central Park
• Eat at Sardi’s Restaurant
• Visit the Guggenheim Museum
• Visit The New York Botanical Garden
• Visit the Bronx Zoo
• Dine at the Russian Tea Room
• Watch a New York Mets game
• See a performance at Carnegie Hall
• Watch a New York Islanders hockey game
• Stay or eat at the Four Seasons
• Visit Times Square
• Visit Rockefeller Center
• See a performance at Lincoln Center