Christmas Hotels in New York: 5 Budget Picks You’ll Like

Where should you stay in New York at Christmas? It's a question that comes up a lot, because finding affordable hotels in New York in December is tough.

Here we'll help you out with a list of cheaper hotels, certainly less expensive compared to the sky-high prices of hotels in New York.

It's a selection of 5 hotels with good prices, right in the middle of a New York Christmas: Midtown Manhattan.

Christmas in New York

If you dream of staying at the Plaza Hotel, shopping at Macy's, skating at Rockefeller Center or walking through a snow-white Central Park, I'd recommend sleeping in Midtown Manhattan, the heart of that Hollywood Christmas so many movies have given us.

The Plaza is a dream, but if you're on a tight budget it's not an option. You can, however, stay very close to it.

Without further ado, here are 5 recommendations for sleeping in New York at Christmas without having to mortgage your house:

1.- Holiday Inn Express

Ten minutes from Times Square and the Broadway theaters, and a few blocks from the giant Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Macy's.

If you're planning to ring in New Year's in New York, you'll be right next to the famous party.

The Holiday Inn has reasonable prices by Times Square hotel standards. The rooms are clean and soundproofed, which matters a lot since you'll be in the part of NYC that never sleeps.

The most common comment is that the rooms are pretty spacious for New York standards.

At this link you can check availability and book without paying anything up front (you pay when you arrive at the hotel).

2.- Best Western Premier Herald Square

A modern hotel very close to Herald Square (a great area if you're going shopping) and to the New York icon itself: the Empire State.

Plenty of traveler reviews praise it for its cleanliness and friendly staff (a rarity in NYC).

Double rooms start at around $150/111€ a night on average.

Here you can book with no extra cost and pay on arrival.

3. Pod 51

It isn't exactly on the budget hotel list, but it offers excellent value for a room of this type in the heart of Manhattan. It'll let you live out your dream of feeling like you're at the center of the world for a few days.

The rooms are small, very modern and clean. Book well ahead and you can lock in good prices for the area. Check prices and availability at this link.

4. Vanderbilt YMCA

From $110 for a double room
Address: 224 East 47 Street, Midtown East
Subway: Lines 4 and 5, Grand Central – 42 St station.

True, I promised you hotels and the Vanderbilt YMCA is a hostel, but it isn't just any hostel. It scores well for its central location and very affordable prices.

The area isn't the prettiest part of Manhattan, but it's safe, one block from the United Nations, a 10-minute walk from Grand Central Terminal and 15 minutes from Times Square.

If you're planning to spend New Year's Eve in Times Square, this hostel puts you close to all the action.

The great thing about this hostel is that you can also use the gym, the pools and the saunas, and the rooms have a small mini fridge that helps a lot with saving money.

Keep in mind the bathrooms are shared. Check prices and availability.

5.- Rent an apartment by the night

Beyond these budget hotel options, short-term apartments are the ideal choice if you're traveling with family.

To find good prices, it's important to book well in advance. In our apartment guide you'll find apartment search tools, with options for every budget.

Merry Christmas!