New York City is one of the most unique cities in the world. There is truly nothing like it which is why it is one of the most visited cities in the world. NYC is also one of the most expensive cities in the world. So finding good deals and reasonable accommodations is often a hard task. But I am here to share my favorite hotel with you and the reasonable price tag with it.

CitizenM Hotel 

CitizenM has hotel locations across 14 cities in 9 countries. 5 of the locations are in the US and 2 of which are in NYC. There is a location in Time Square but I stayed in the CitizenM Bowery location in SoHo/Lower Manhattan. To say I'm obsessed would be an understatement. 

The Room:

Each room is pretty much the same across all hotels, which is nice to know exactly what you are getting. Each room has a wall to wall king sized bed against the huge bed to ceiling window. The bed is plush with a great down comforter and two fluffy pillows. As someone who always travels with her own pillow (sounds insane I know but I'm picky), I love the pillows here. 

One of the most unique things about the rooms is that everything is controlled by an iPad. The curtains and blinds can move with one button, climate control, and even the tv. (No more touching gross hotel tv remotes!) The lights are also controlled by the iPad... but not just normal lights. The bathroom/shower has beautiful colored lights which you can adjust the color and brightness from the iPad. Personally I like to bounce between a purple or blue to create a chill vibe but its beautiful any color you pick. The shower has a waterfall and handheld shower head option which provides a relaxing shower whichever way you choose. 

Lobby and Check in:

All CitizenM hotels are contactless check in and check out. There are staff there to help if you need assistance or have any questions. Having stayed at locations both pre and post covid, the cleanliness and contactless check in has always been a great bonus. 

The lobby itself where you check in is relatively small but take a walk downstairs and you'll find the real lobby with lots of seating to get work done and hang out. Free wifi throughout the hotel and a few desktop Mac computers were there for use as well. Next to all that you have the open dining area, the perfect spot to grab breakfast before a full day running around the city. 

Rooftop Bar:

Even after a full long day exploring the city, it would be a crime to not visit the rooftop bar. When I stepped off the elevator my jaw genuinely dropped. The panoramic view of the city is out of this world. With options to sit indoors or outdoors you have incredible views everywhere you look. Sights of the Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan and the One World Trade Center, all the way up to midtown and the Empire State Building. It's the perfect place to watch the sunset and watch the city light up. The bar opens at 5PM so I recommend heading up right at opening to get the best seat. The food was okay, drinks were great, and view was unmatched. 

P.S. Go check out the bathroom for some even crazier and trippy views.

CitizenM is all about affordable luxury and I absolutely believe they execute on that promise. With taxes & fees I spent $110 for one night. For much of the world that seems insane but in NYC you can spend $300-400 a night on certain hotels that aren't even considered luxury. The location, unique experience, price, and quality truly makes this hotel chain a hidden gem. Whether it is for a weekend getaway, stay-cation, or a long term work remotely home, CitizenM is a great option. 

Extra hidden gem: The stairwell is FULL of beautiful street art. Each floor is different and absolutely worth the steps.