Hotel prices in Manhattan have continued to climb — and they’ve now surpassed the already sky-high rates we were seeing in late 2023 and early 2024. During our most recent visit, even many of the generic chain properties were around $350+ per night, while nicer hotels easily crossed the $500 mark. Sure, we’ve been able to use points or free night certificates for some quick trips, but when paying cash? Ouch.
That’s when we remembered something: we loved staying in Long Island City back in 2024 and said we’d be happy to return. Although a few of our trips since then were short enough to justify staying in Manhattan proper, the math this time pointed us back to Queens.
While we were sad to see the secret getting out — hotels closest to subway stations are now regularly $300+ per night — you can still find cheaper options if you’re willing to walk a bit. We stuck to the same general neighborhood as last time because we already knew the subways, where to grab coffee, and where to eat. This time around, we stayed at the Hyatt Place Long Island City — about a seven-minute walk to both Queens Plaza and Queensboro Plaza stations — which made the location just as convenient as before.
Where We Stayed This Time
This trip, we booked the Hyatt Place Long Island City. It wasn’t the absolute cheapest option in LIC, but it hit a nice balance of price, space, and convenience for getting around the city.
Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City has nothing to do with Nassau and Suffolk Counties, which are what most people usually think of as Long Island. Instead, Long Island City is a residential and commercial neighborhood on the extreme western tip of Queens, a borough in New York City in the United States. It is bordered by Astoria to the north; the East River to the west; New Calvary Cemetery in Sunnyside to the east; and Newtown Creek—which separates Queens from Greenpoint, Brooklyn—to the south.
There are several hotel chains with properties in Long Island City, including Aloft, Hyatt Place and Hilton Garden Inn. On our previous visit, we stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Long Island City; this time, we picked Hyatt Place Long Island City and found it just as convenient.
Accessibility to NYC Airports
One of the biggest perks of staying in Long Island City is how easy it is to get to and from both New York airports. On our previous trip, we took the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus from LGA to the subway—a simple, budget-friendly option that drops you just a short walk from the hotels.
This time, we opted for rideshare. Our trip to the hotel — just before rush hour — took about 30 minutes and cost around $50. For our return to LaGuardia on a Sunday morning, the ride took about 20 minutes and cost about $35. It’s pricier than the bus to the subway, but the door-to-door convenience was hard to beat with luggage.
Either way, you’ve got flexible choices depending on your priorities: save money, save time… or a little of both.
Easy Subway Connection to Manhattan
Just as it’s easy to get from Long Island City to the airports, it’s a short subway ride to midtown Manhattan.
We stayed close to the Queens Plaza station, and it was a quick hop on the 7, E, or F trains to get to Penn Station, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, or Grand Central.
Plenty of Restaurants
While it’s a quick ride to Manhattan, there are plenty of places to eat in Long Island City. It’s a very diverse neighborhood, so you can find a variety of types of food, and they’re not as touristy as what you’ll find around Times Square.
On our previous stay, we found an Italian restaurant using Yelp and also went out for ramen. This time around, we spent most of our time in Manhattan, so we didn’t get a chance to try any new spots in LIC.
It Has A Neighborhood Feel
Long Island City has seen significant development in recent years, yet it’s managed to retain its residential vibe. It’s a place where you can see people going about their daily lives — walking their dogs, pushing strollers, and enjoying the community feel. Despite being in such close proximity to the touristy areas of Manhattan, Long Island City feels like a world away.
Final Thought
We’ve now stayed in Long Island City twice — and we’d happily do it again. With easy connections to the airports, a short subway ride to Manhattan, and a great neighborhood vibe, it checks many of our boxes for a place to stay. Even as prices creep up around the subway hubs, LIC still offers better value than much of Manhattan, especially if you’re willing to walk a few extra blocks.
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2 comments
You stayed near the Queensboro Plaza subway station. The Queens Plaza station is a considerable distance away. I’m a local but I’ve stayed in Long Island city for business convenience reasons several times this year. Twice at the Hyatt place and once at the Aloft. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend either. I stayed there for business but as a tourist, you’re not really spending much time in the room. The rooms I stayed in fall into the category of comfortable and clean place to sleep, but not a destination in themselves. The easy access to the subway and buses make a breeze to get to the east side of Manhattan or anywhere else in the city for that matter. There also plenty of good places to eat nearby.
When we stayed at the Courtyard, we were right by Queens Plaza. The Hyatt Place is almost the same walk to either station, and it depends on where you’re going to which one to use. We’ve looked at the Aloft but it’s a bit more expensive and the rooms looked on the smaller size. We got upgraded to a larger room at the Hyatt Place wihch was huge for NY standards.