Anyone been to NYC recently! Where to stay? Is it really rough and expensive?

[StrugglingGrief]

I’ve been to NYC twice and it was a long time ago. I’m reading older posts on MN from last year for advice. How is it looking this year for anyone who has been? I’m booking April 2025 we’ll have 13 days but plan on getting the train to Washington too, maybe even staying elsewhere but planning 4 nights in NYC. So we won’t be too exhausted!

Hotel recommendations welcome two DC 13 and 11. Don’t want to spend a fortune! Please help. A lot seems to have changed since I last went in 2012!

It's always been expensive and it used to be much rougher!

I went last year and would perhaps say that it hasn't bounced back from lockdown as well as it might have done. It doesn't feel as busy in the evening in some places, I felt that a lot of workers weren't back into the city. Weed is legalised and the weed shops on every second corner don't help, it's like the UK equivalent of vape shops.

But it's still NYC and it's still brilliant!

You'll get a decent deal in Midtown for a hotel. Cluster your sightseeing so you're not criss-crossing the island every day and get the subway to your 'place' for the day. Look for a breakfast included deal, or get deli/bodega bagels for breakfast. For evening food, look for happy hour deals, they're usually amazing.

I’ve been in the last few months. It’s kind of rough in places. Fair few people hanging round the streets acting strangely. Times Square felt odd.

but it’s still great!

agree with midtown or Nomad / flatiron for hotels. Look at Hotwire for deals - even hotels meant to be secret give you more than enough info to identify them.

food is expensive but portions are big. Grab a bagel for breakfast and you won’t need a proper lunch. Go for things like pizza slices too

I was there just before Christmas last year, and didn’t feel any less safe or feel it was any rougher than my home town-which is a pretty “normal” town with much the same crime rate as anywhere else.

I stayed in the New Yorker hotel in midtown, which was a fantastic location…across the road from Madison Sq Gardens, 10/15 min walk from Times Square, 10 min walk from The Edge/Hudson Yard, half a block from Penn Station…we’re planning on going again next year and might just go back to that hotel.

it can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be!

Thank you! Useful to know. I didn’t realise weed was legal there!