Boro Hotel, Queens
I did so much research before booking a hotel for our NYC trip. I spent hours trawling through Tripadvisor, travel blogs, Booking.com and I even had a spreadsheet going (anyone else love a travel spreadsheet?). Although Chris and I were really excited about making the most of the post-Christmas holiday vibes and New Year’s Eve in New York, going in December meant that hotel rooms were waaay more expensive than usual. We wanted to find a cool, modern hotel, preferably with a view, but that wouldn’t break the bank. Boro Hotel was a great combination of (relatively!) good price, incredible view, convenient location, and cool minimalist design.
The hotel reception is lovely, with comfortable sofas to hang out in and a modern fireplace in the middle. There’s a lot of space for working or lounging, with sofas and tables at the back and a nice cafe/bar area at the front where you can get food and drinks. I’d love to come back in the summer to make the most of the rooftop view and the outdoor seating area on the ground floor.
The Views
We booked a Corner King Room with Manhattan View Balcony, and it didn’t disappoint! Waking up to the amazing view every morning was such a treat and made us really excited to go out and explore. We also caught some incredible sunsets from our window, the kind that you can’t take your eyes off of and that you want to take a million photos of so that you can remember it. We also had a nice little balcony which would have been great if it weren’t absolutely freezing outside!
The Room
I loved the minimalist design of our room – very scandi-chic. The problem with a minimalist hotel though is that a lot of things you expect to have are missing! When we checked in we were given a list of things that we could request to get sent up to the room: kettle, bathrobes, slippers, mini bar, etc. A kettle got sent to us but we had to buy our own tea and milk. The TV also had a strange selection of channels, most of which were selling stuff like wrinkle cream. Otherwise, we loved the bed and the bathroom was modern and spacious. It would have been nice to have a bath, but there’s an extra charge for that.
The Location
Many tourists think that staying in Manhattan, usually Midtown, is really important so that they can walk around easily. Instead I think everyone should consider staying in Long Island City in Queens because it is so convenient! Boro Hotel is near stations with four different subway lines going into Manhattan. Just get a one week Metro card – you’re only two stops away from Midtown! The W train takes you to Lexington Av/59 St in under 15 minutes.
Boro Hotel prices start around £120, or £160 for a Manhattan view room. If you want a cheaper option (£29 for bed in a dorm) in the same area and with the same rooftop view, try The Local Hostel NYC – it’s cool and modern and is perfect for backpackers, solo travellers or party people. You could even split your stay between the two hotels if you wanted to treat yourself but also save money.
I paid for this hotel myself (no blogger discount or free stay) and would do so again!
Christine Tran
February 9, 2017This is such a wonderful hotel!! I love the view and New York is always a good idea! I lived there for 3 years and want to go back all the time.
Anne-Sophie ~ City Cookie
February 13, 2017Living there must be so much fun! I’d love to give it a try for a year or two.
Megan Indoe
February 9, 2017I love that modern industrial interior decor! What a gorgeous hotel and that view is divine! What a great sunset spot! Incredible photos, we will have to check into staying here when we go to NYC!
Anne-Sophie ~ City Cookie
February 13, 2017The sunsets were really incredible! I’ve never had such a good time without even leaving my hotel room before!
Laura Nalin
February 11, 2017This looks like such an inviting spot. I totally agree with avoiding Midtown. I stayed in Jersey City when I recently visited – so close and much cheaper! I’ll look into this place next time I make it over to America (which means an inevitable stop in NYC)
Anne-Sophie ~ City Cookie
February 13, 2017Although we got on the wrong subway a couple of times (my fault!), I think it’s so easy to travel into Manhattan! I’d much rather go for a nicer hotel that’s a little bit further away from the hustle and bustle.
Samantha Elisabeth
February 12, 2017This looks so gorgeous! I’ve only gone on day trips to NYC, so I need to bookmark this should I decide to stay overnight. That view is stunning and the hotel itself just looks so pretty. NYC for NYE must have been CRAZY!
Anne-Sophie ~ City Cookie
February 13, 2017It’s so worth it if you can stay a night and enjoy the sunset/sunrise from your bedroom!
Oh yeah NYE was crazy in Midtown so we escaped to Williamsburg which was really fun and relaxed 🙂 We had some amazing Korean tacos, yum!
Sarah Attaway
February 13, 2017Oh my gosh, those views! I absolutely adore NYC. I lived there for a summer a few years ago but haven’t been back since. Looks like you had a wonderful time, thanks for inspiring me to return soon!
Best,
Sarah
Anne-Sophie ~ City Cookie
February 13, 2017It must have been so fun to spend the summer there! What did you do there? I want to go back when it’s not so cold!
Wee Gypsy Girl
February 13, 2017I love hotels that have a cute design element so this place really appeals to me. That view looks amazing too. NYC is a place that I have wanted to visit for a long time now! Will definitely revert back to this post when I do!