It used to be that travelers looking for discount hotel rooms and cheap vacation packages tended not to consider New York City. Now that appears to be changing due to new hotels opening in Harlem and the outer boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.
Almost 40 percent of the new hotels scheduled to open in New York City this year are located outside of Manhattan.
Aloft Harlem is a 124 room hotel located on Frederick Douglas Boulevard near a stretch of new bars and restaurants opened last year. Central Park and the Apollo Theater are a short walk away as is 125th St. which offers many subway and bus lines to Manhattan. Doubles start as low as $170.
Aloft is run by the same company behind the W chain of hotels. Aloft New York Brooklyn will open this summer with 176 rooms in Downtown Brooklyn nearby Brooklyn Bridge and locals favorite Juniors Most Fabulous Cheesecake and Desserts restaurant. Several subway and rail line connections are close by. Rates start at $169 for a double room.
A new Bed & Breakfast called 3B will also be opening in Downtown Brooklyn this summer. The hotel will be run by eight young artists and writers and has high ceilings, wood floors, and large windows which provide plenty of natural light. This B&B has four rooms: two private rooms with queen beds, one private room with two single beds, and a fourth room with two bunk beds that can sleep up to four guests. A complimentary breakfast will be served with rates starting at $120.
Several chains are also opening locations in the outer boroughs. Best Western Plus opened a hotel in Brooklyns Prospect Park in late 2010. Fairfield Inn & Suites as well as Sheraton will open Brooklyn properties later this year. www.cheapfares.com