How a January trip to NYC can save you tons of money
Thanksgiving week and its many sales may have come and gone, but it's not too late to save on a winter trip to New York City (very) early next year.
Once New Year's Eve is over and Times Square clears out, the "City That Never Sleeps" actually becomes a little sleepy, making it the perfect time to visit. To help sweeten the deal, New York City Tourism and Conventions is back with its annual New York City Hotel Week, a program offering 24% off stays at some of the city's most fabulous hotels across the different boroughs.
How to book
Here's how it works: Starting now, folks who want to see the Statue of Liberty or eat their way through Queens's dynamic food scene can head to the official New York City Hotel Week website to save 24% on stays between Jan. 3 and Feb. 4, 2024, at more than 150 hotels. To get the discount, it's important to go through the New York City Tourism and Conventions website, where you can see and book the various hotels participating with the discount automatically applied.
Where to stay for NYC Hotel Week
With dozens and dozens of hotels on offer, where do you decide to stay? Luckily, here at TPG, we've had the chance to stay at a lot of them. Obviously, we have our favorites.
For a truly iconic stay, The Plaza (as seen in "Home Alone 2" and "Eloise at The Plaza") is available to book with the discount. It really adds value to this top-tier property that's one of the best hotels near Central Park.
For a one-night stay on Jan. 9, you can pay $604 (excluding taxes and fees) per night with the 24% discount, compared to $795 per night. That's a savings of nearly $200 you can use for last-minute Broadway tickets or a trip up to The Edge — one of New York City's coolest observation decks with an outdoor ledge where you can take in all the views.
Also, if you happen to have a furry friend you can't travel without, The Plaza pulls out all the stops for dogs.
Midtown, with its multitude of attractions and landmarks, is a fine place to stay. However, if you really want to get a great feel for the city, consider heading outside of the tourist epicenter. In Washington Heights, you can save on a stay at Radio Hotel, a property that celebrates the neighborhood's Dominican flair; you just might know the area from a little musical-turned-movie called "In the Heights."
Or, get a taste of Brooklyn's effortlessly cool energy at some of the top hotels in the borough, including The Hoxton, Williamsburg or the Ace Hotel Brooklyn. Another notable property is The William Vale, a towering white building with a rooftop bar and deck boasting some of the best views of Manhattan.
For a truly unexpected taste of New York City, book a stay at The Rockaway Hotel and Spa in Rockaway Beach, where locals can escape the hustle and bustle for a calming winter staycation complete with a spa treatment.
If savings is more your game, you can also snag rooms on the lower end of the spectrum. For example, the Holiday Inn Express New York City-Wall Street, an IHG Hotel, has rooms for as low as $121 per night (without taxes and fees); the Hyatt Place New York/Chelsea starts as low as $114.
Other ways to save in New York City this winter
Hotels aren't the only way to save money in the winter. Jan. 16 through Feb. 4 is also New York City Restaurant Week, where many of the city's top restaurants offer great deals on meals, with reservations opening Jan. 9. Those dates are also New York City Broadway Week, where you can snag two-for-one tickets to some of the hottest shows in town. The list of shows and ticket sales also opens up on Jan. 9.
From Jan. 16 to Feb. 4, you can also save on tickets to some of New York's top attractions, museums, tours and more as part of New York City Must-See Week.
Additionally, Mastercard cardholders can have exclusive presale access for New York City Broadway Week and New York City Restaurant Week beginning Jan. 5 through the links above.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.