Hotels

It’s no doubt that New York City hotels are among the finest in the world. From high-design luxury icons like the Mandarin Oriental and hip, modern towers like the Gansevoort Hotel to grand dames like the Carlyle and The Plaza, the range of New York City hotels is staggering. And though high-end hotels abound here, the city also provides a plethora of equally stunning and affordable options. We’ve provided a range of recommendations from which to choose.

What You’ll Really Pay

The rates quoted in the listings in this guide are “rack rates”—the maximum rates that a hotel charges for rooms. I’ve used these rack rates to divide the hotels into four price categories, ranging from Very Expensive to Inexpensive, for easy reference. But rack rates are only guidelines, and there are often ways around them.

The hotels listed here have provided their best available rates for 2011, and all quoted rates were correct at press time. Be aware, however, that rates can change at any time. Rates are always subject to availability, seasonal or even daily fluctuations, and plain-old rate hikes. The holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s always sees a shift upward in prices. So it’s smart to expect price movement in both directions in late 2011 and 2012 as hoteliers adjust to new demand patterns.

Pet Policies --I’ve indicated those hotels that accept pets. However, understand that these policies may have limitations, such as weight and breed restrictions; may require a deposit and/or a signed waiver against damages; and may be revoked at any time. Always inquire when booking if you’re bringing Fluffy or Spike—never just show up with a pet in tow.

What’s New in Accommodations

New York added 6,600 hotel rooms in 2010. In 2011 there are even more to come. Some of the early openings of 2011 include the 55-room Nolitan (www.nolitanhotel.com) in, where else, but NoLita, at 30 Kenmare Street, the first major hotel to open in that small slice of cutely named, expensive real estate.

Also opened in spring 2011 was the Mondrian Soho, a member of the Morgan’s Hotel Group. The 270-room Mondrian Soho, is the second hotel to open on tiny Crosby Street in the past few years. The Crosby Street Hotel being the other.

Moving a bit further uptown to the Flatiron District, is the cleverly named, 64-room Flatiron Hotel. At Broadway and 26th Street, the Flatiron Hotel, which at press time had not opened yet, will be across from Madison Square Park and very close to the penultimate food court, Eataly and will feature a two-story aquarium in its lobby.

Besides the Hyatt openings of their Wall Street and Fifth Avenue boutique branch, Andaz Hotels, the Grand Hyatt New York underwent a $130 million renovation transforming the hotel’s 1,311-rooms into a more sleek, modern “Manhattan” look.

Also in the works from Hyatt is a new property called Hyatt48Lex. Guess where it’s located?

Another big hotel brand, Hilton, as in Conrad, has plans to transform the Embassy Suites, at 102 North End, in New York’s Financial District into a Conrad Hotel. No dates for the transformation were given at press time.

Finally, the biggest news in the New York hotel scene was that the legendary Hotel Chelsea was up for sale. The home for a time for luminaries such as playwright Arthur Miller, singers Janis Joplin and Patti Smith, has been immortalized in songs by Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, and even in a film, Chelsea Girls, made by Andy Warhol. The sale price is around $100 million if anyone is interested in picking up a New York icon for a souvenir.

Plenty of Room at the Inn

When you think of accommodations in New York, you usually think big—tall monoliths with hundreds of rooms. You don’t think of quaint antiques-laden guesthouses or inns where a home-cooked breakfast is served. But New York is a diverse city, and that diversity can be found in its accommodations, too. If you want an alternative to the quintessential huge hotel and would prefer a taste of urban hominess, here are a few options.

• Inn at Irving Place
• Inn on 23rd St
• Colonial House Inn
• Inn New York City
• County Inn the City
• Harlem Flophouse
• Akwaaba mansion
• Bed & Breakfast on the Park