cheap hotel room in New York City

cheap hotel room in New York City

New York's 10 Best Affordable Hotels

Locating an affordable hotel in New York is perhaps one of the toughest asks in travel, anymore – the average nightly rate in the city now hovers somewhere around $300, up more than $100 from barely a decade ago.

Don't be discouraged, though – while you shouldn't expect much more than clean sheets, a hot shower (shared, probably) and a door with a lock when you check into one of the city's budget lodgings, they do still exist. Some of them are actually quite good, offering plenty of charm and authenticity.

While there are times – frigid January, say, or the odd Sunday night – where you can have your pick of hotels under $150 per night, most of the year, that's not the case. Any other day, it might just be one of the following to the rescue.

The Bowery House Nolita

Around the corner from chic Nolita in what used to be the notorious Prince Hotel, you'll find the vintage, cubicle-style accommodation that generations of men called home along the Bowery, back in not-so-olden days. With wooden latticework in place of a ceiling, shared baths and a dearth of natural light, it's definitely not for everyone. Quiet is, as you can imagine, at a premium – bring earplugs or, better still, noise-cancelling headphones. Larger rooms are available at steeper prices; there's a nice common area up on the roof.

The Larchmont Greenwich Village

This 66-room standby on a pleasant residential block north of Washington Square Park has allowed many cash-poor travelers to live out various Village-dwelling fantasies over the years. The décor is relentlessly simple, but the experience remains charming; baths are shared. At this price point, it's almost impossible to find a more genteel location. Starting rates climb to $119 for doubles and fluctuate a little, depending on the time of year. Book ahead.