Page 284 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

282  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

Travelers with Disabilities hostels are not as prevalent in
By law, new hotels must New York as they are in large
provide facilities for disabled European cities. For those
visitors. Many older buildings looking for the bare essentials,
have also been renovated so as inexpensive rooms are avail able
to comply with this regulation. in several areas, particularly in
To find out which hotels offer Chelsea, the Garment District,
the best facilities, check their and the Upper West Side, and
websites. These are provided for to a lesser extent in such prime
all the hotels listed on pp284–9. neighborhoods as Upper Midtown.
When booking, let the hotel Although some of these budget­
know of any specific needs. price rooms are comfortable,
Guide dogs are allowed in most with private baths or showers,
hotels, but it is also advisable to others may be rather small,
check in advance. perhaps with no air conditioning
The Mayor’s Office for People and shared bathrooms.
with Disabilities produces the Sitting area at the Akwaaba Mansion
“Official Accessibility Guide,” (see p284) Suites
with useful information about
hotels for disabled travelers. Increasingly, one of the most If you’d like extra space – or
affordable ways to stay in New are planning on an extended
York is by renting out a private stay in NYC – opt for an apart­
Traveling with Children room or property. A number of ment or all­suite hotel, which
American hotels are generally services facilitate this, including feature sizeable kitchenettes.
very welcoming toward children. the very popular – and well run Suites offer extra space
Cots or cribs as well as lists of – Airbnb (www.airbnb.com), plus cooking facilities and a
reliable babysitters are usually which offers a wide range of refrigerator. Most suites can
available, and most hotel restau­ accommodation in over 35,000 accommodate up to four
rants cater to young guests. private homes and apartments people, which makes them
Traveling with children need in New York, from town houses popular with families.
not be expensive. Many hotels on the Upper East Side to
do not charge for children if student flats in the East Village Beyond Manhattan
they stay in their parents’ room, and Brooklyn. There are
or make only a small charge for currently regulations that As Manhattan becomes more
an extra bed. There is usually a restrict the rental of entire expensive, accommodation
limit of one or two children per apartments for 30 days or less, options are emerging in the
room in these cases, and most as opposed to a room in a outer boroughs for savvy
hotels stipulate that the children shared apartment, so it is best travelers. In addition to
must be under a certain age, to check the situation with the Brooklyn and Harlem, cheaper
most often 12. Parents of older property host before booking. chain hotels can be found in
children are expected to pay Rates for private apart ments the outer boroughs of Queens,
the full price, although the age vary from about $100 to $300. Staten Island, and the Bronx.
limit is occasionally extended Be aware that if the address is Across the Hudson, Jersey
to 18. Ask about family rates remote or inconveniently far City offers budget apartment
when you make your reservation. from bus routes or subway rentals, along with boutique
stations, your costs will rise, as and business hotels. Visitors
you will need frequent cabs. can find apartments on Airbnb,
Budget Accommodations
Ask about location and often rented out at a fraction
Though primarily located in the amenities when you reserve. of the price of similar
outer boroughs, bed­and­ Another source for budget apartments in Manhattan.
breakfast accommodations in lodging is Couchsurfing (www. As always, cheaper deals
private apartments are also avail­ couchsurfing.org), which has can often be negotiated or
able in Manhattan. While they many member­hosts in New York. found on hotel websites.
are often reasonably priced, the New York’s youth hostel and
higher budget options provide YMCA dormitories offer lodgings
a very personable experience as for those on a tighter budget. Recommended Hotels
well. Bed­and­breakfast lodgings For the longer­term visitor, the Our hotels are divided into five
can be found through many free 92nd Street Y, a non­sectarian categories: bed­and­breakfast
booking services. Some agencies hostel in the Upper East Side, (B&B), boutique, budget,
have a two­or­more­night mini­ has good­value rooms for business, and luxury. B&Bs
mum stay. Rates for a double students, with prices starting offer a friendly, personable
room typically start at $130 a from around $1,900 a month. experience, with cozy rooms
night, depending on whether There are no camp sites in and a hearty breakfast. Boutique
you have a private bathroom. Manhattan, and, sadly, youth hotels are generally smaller,

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