It is more expensive than ever to stay at NYC hotels this holiday season

Staying the night at a New York City hotel has never really been cheap, but there have always been slightly affordable options for folks trying to save some cash.

That's all changing this holiday season as tourism numbers return to pre-pandemic levels, directly affecting hotel prices that have now hit record highs.

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As of September, the average cost of a hotel room in the city was $417, the highest it's been since the real estate company CoStar started keeping track of them in 1987, according to the New York Times. The analytics company also reported that the only city with higher hotel prices than New York was Maui. 

After a dramatic decline in visitors caused by COVID, tourism in the city is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 65 million folks visiting this year, compared to 66.6 million in 2019. Experts estimate that, in 2025, New York will experience an even higher number of visitors, with more than 68 million people expected to come over. The trend will, in turn, create even more demand for local hotels.

A quick search reveals that room prices in mid-December, just before the peak of the holiday surge, are steep. A stay at the PUBLIC hotel on the Lower East Side is priced at $907 per night, while the Hilton Times Square is charging $829 per night. The Holiday Inn Times Square is asking a staggering $887 per night, and even Margaritaville is pricing rooms at $835 per night.

That is to say: if you were planning on taking a trip to New York but don't yet have your accommodations booked, you might want to wait until after the New Year to embark on your journey.

Willing to wait even longer? Check out these awesome Black Friday hotel room deals, many of which apply to 2025 dates.  

Arlo, for example, is offering up to 40% off stays across its properties in Williamsburg and SoHo on Cyber Monday; the Gansevoort Meatpacking District and Hotel Beacon are also proposing sweet deals. It might really be worth it to move your trip a bit!