The Secret To Saving Money On Hotels In NYC
There is a hack for finding affordable hotel rooms in expensive cities. Travel at the right time of year.
Last month, the Hampton Inn in Brooklyn was going for between $330 and $400 a night. This month, you’ll pay half that.
If you travel for food and theater and don’t mind the cold, January and February are excellent months to visit New York or Chicago. You’ll find deep discounts on luxury hotel rooms, restaurant promotions worth traveling for and deals on theater tickets.
In Chicago, restaurant week is a 17-day celebration that runs from mid-January through February 5. It’s a great way to have mini-tasting menu experiences at some of the city’s top restaurants for around $50-60 a person. Among your choices: a $59 three-course meal at Bar Esme, whose restaurant tasting menu is usually around $200.
I was invited to try out Esme earlier this month, and it really is an experience worth splurging for. Check out my Instagram reel to see for yourself.
Canape at Esme or a book? You decide.
In New York, this year’s restaurant week runs through Feb. 12. New York also is running a hotel week promotion that cuts 23% from room rates from early January through February 12. Among your choices: the William Vale or Hoxton in Williamsburg and Thompson Central Park, The Pierre or Arlo Nomad in Manhattan.
If you need any more incentive to book that New York getaway, it’s also Broadway Week through February 12, which means two-for-one tickets to shows including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Lion King and Aladdin. Tickets to dozens of popular attractions—including the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Trade observatory and Yankee Stadium tours—are also buy one get one free.
Chicago doesn’t line up its discount weeks so well, but I’m seeing luxury hotel rooms for under $150 a night for winter travel. Plan your trip for mid-February, and you can score deals on theater tickets, too. Chicago’s theater week runs from February 16 through February 26.
Just don’t forget your coat.
✈️ Book by Jan. 26 to save $250 on United Polaris fares between the U.S. and Europe, South Africa, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. You can save $75 on economy fares, but EWR to Cape Town is a 16-hour flight that's worth a splurge.
🚢 If you're looking to book a cruise this year, now is the time to do it. January is wave season when cruise lines cut prices. I've found deals from MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity and Virgin Voyages.
🍸 Forget rooftops. Winter is all about the speakeasy. I rounded up 8 of Chicago's best for TripAdvisor.
🏎️ For Conde Nast Traveler, I wrote about driving a go kart on top of a cruise ship at sea somewhere between Iceland and Ireland.
🚢 Also for Conde Nast Traveler, I wrote about something I've been curious about for years —cruising from New York City. I used to live down the street from the Manhattan cruise terminal and thought it would be so cool to walk to vacation.
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