Hotel tips: New York City, NY

Remember that when you’re going to New York City, you’re probably not going for the room service. The city is your room service. Unless you’re planning on living in this hotel room; sleep, get up and dressed and then get out and see that city!

With this idea in mind, settling for a cheaper fare in a slightly less than ritzy hotel may not seem so much like settling when the location of the hotel, its proximity to a subway station, or a highly recommended night spot, landmark, park or restaurant is considered.

Booking a room with a shared bath is not an automatic invitation to throw your well-groomed habits out the window. Many hotels actually end up cleaning the shared baths more frequently, and usually you’re only sharing with a few rooms, if ever more than one other – and with so much to do in NYC, and so many times of the day and night to be out there doing them, it will probably be a rare act to actually bump into any of your bathroom-buddies.

Take advantage of continental breakfasts. Even if this just means grabbing a bagel to wrap up and keep with you in your book-bag. Though there is food an average of every 4 1/2 feet in Manhattan, if your hotel offers this complimentary service, in essence, you’ve already paid for it, and with all the walking around you’ll do in this pedestrian friendly city – you’ll need the extra calories to burn.

Don’t be afraid to ask the check-in clerk to name some hot spots for you. Yes they themselves may have just moved to New York from their homeland on Tuesday, but most hotels have a bevy of information at their fingertips and possibly even discounts on tours or attractions, if you only ask.

If you haven’t bought a map before you arrive in the city, don’t be too panicked, they are everywhere, but remember, in such a public transportation filled city as New York, make sure that any map you purchase also has the subway stops clearly marked. Amd before you buy those subway tickets, check and see if there is a three day pass you can get, instead of having to buy a ticket each day, or every couple of hours.

Above all else. Remember, if you’re here to explore and have an adventure, keep an open mind and do just that! Enjoy yourself and you’ll be amazed at what opportunities crop up.