If you are heading to the Big Apple, also known as New York City, for either business or pleasure, you're in for a real treat.
New York is bustling 24-7-365 with things to do and places to see.
Choosing your New York hotel will likely be based on the budget that you have allotted for your trip as well as the goals that you have for your visit to New York - such as sights that you want to see that are within the proximity of your hotel.
For people who have never had the experience of visiting New York, first time visits are often accompanied by a mix of fascination, enjoyment, and oftentimes, confusion.
Having your hotel accommodations set before you reach New York can make your stay in New York more pleasant - and since most New York hotels are booked to capacity for weeks at a time, it really pays to reserve your lodging early enough so that you get the New York hotel that you want.
It is only natural that the biggest concentration of hotels in New York is concentrated in the Midtown Manhattan district which runs from 34th to 59th Streets.
It is in this area that you will find the theater district and Broadway, tons of restaurants, major attractions, and a plethora of businesses.
In fact, this is the most bustling area of the city.
The farther away from this area you move, the less activity you'll find - and it is in the Upper West and Upper East Sides surrounding Central Park that you'll find the luxury hotels of New York.
There are also some hotels located to the South of midtown, such as those in Greenwich Village and Chelsea - and beyond those, you'll reach SoHo, which again, features luxury lodging.
The financial district of New York, which is found in lower Manhattan, has a few hotel choices as well.
When budgeting for lodging expenses for a New York trip, keep in mind that staying in New York is a lot more costly than staying in other cities.
A budget hotel in New York can easily run $250 per night.
And while there are some true budget hotels that offer rooms for less than $100 per night, you can expect that they will be much that - rooms, not suites - basically a place to lay your head, watch some TV, and take a shower.
Expect to pay between $100 and $200 for each night that you're in New York in order to have an average quality room.
Better hotels may run as much as $300 per night - so plan your budget according to the quality of room that you want to stay in for your trip.
Luckily, there are rooms and suites at New York hotels that cater to every budget - so you can plan a trip with limited funds or you can opt for suites that cost as much as $15,000 per night - although these are not for the average Joe - but should be booked well in advance as these luxury rooms are reserved for months in advance.
Unlike many cities in the U.
S.
, because New York is a tourist draw and a business draw, you will find that the old rule of booking during the week in order to save money doesn't apply here.
New York hotels are packed most nights, including the week nights when other cities usually don't see that many travelers.
For this reason, booking early is advantageous even if you plan to visit New York during the week or on the weekend.
Book at least three weeks in advance for some savings, but months in advance for early bird savings that can add up to a significant amount of cash in your pocket.
You might also take advantage of various travel packages that many travel companies offer.
These deals typically offer your accommodation in a New York hotel, airfare to New York and from New York, rental car service, and vouchers for dining at the hotel's restaurant or other New York eateries - and buying a package travel deal might be the cheapest way to stay in and explore the Big Apple.