I’ll be honest with you – the first time someone told me they found a decent hotel in Manhattan for under $150 a night, I literally laughed out loud. This was back in 2019, and I’d just spent three nights in what can only be described as a glorified closet in Midtown for $189 per night. The room was so small I had to step into the hallway to change my mind, let alone my clothes.

But then I discovered the Hotel RIU Plaza Times Square, and suddenly my entire approach to visiting New York City changed.

How I Stumbled onto the RIU (Totally by Accident)

Here’s the thing about budget travel – sometimes your best finds come from complete desperation. I was planning a quick trip to NYC to meet with a potential client, and my usual cheap hotel tricks weren’t working. Hostels felt too chaotic for a work trip, Airbnbs in decent neighborhoods were running $200+, and most Manhattan hotels were making my credit card weep.

I was scrolling through booking sites at 11 PM, probably on my third cup of coffee, when I saw it: Hotel RIU Plaza Times Square. Four stars. Times Square location. And the price? $142 for a Tuesday night in October.

My immediate thought was “what’s wrong with it?” Because in my eight years of travel, I’ve learned that if something seems too good to be true in New York, there’s usually a reason. Maybe it was next to a construction site. Or above a nightclub. Or the rooms were the size of airplane bathrooms.

Spoiler alert: I was wrong. Pretty spectacularly wrong, actually.

What Actually Makes the RIU Work for Budget Travelers

The Hotel RIU Plaza Times Square sits right on West 46th Street, and let me tell you what that actually means in practice. You’re literally a three-minute walk from Times Square – which sounds touristy, I know, but trust me, the subway access alone is worth it. You’ve got the N, Q, R, W, and S trains all within easy walking distance, plus you’re close enough to Hell’s Kitchen that you can grab actually affordable meals.

The rooms themselves are what I call “European efficient.” They’re not massive, but they’re thoughtfully designed. I stayed in a standard room last fall, and it had a comfortable queen bed, a surprisingly good shower (better water pressure than my apartment in Austin, honestly), and enough space to open my suitcase without performing acrobatics. The best part? Everything worked. The AC wasn’t loud, the WiFi was solid, and the blackout curtains actually blocked out the neon chaos of Times Square.

But here’s what really sold me: the rooftop bar. After a long day of walking around Manhattan, being able to take an elevator up to the 26th floor and decompress with a view of the city skyline – that felt like a luxury hotel experience, not a budget one.

The Money Reality: What You’ll Actually Pay

Let me break down the real costs, because this is where the RIU becomes genuinely interesting for budget travelers. During my four stays there over the past two years, I’ve paid anywhere from $128 (midweek in January, booked two months out) to $198 (Friday night in December, last-minute booking). Your sweet spot is going to be weekday nights during shoulder season – think late January through March, or September through early November.

Compare that to other Manhattan hotels in similar locations, and you’re looking at $80-150 in savings per night. When I stayed at the RIU for three nights last March, my total came to $441 after taxes. A comparable room at the Hilton Times Square? $712 for the same dates. That’s $271 I didn’t spend on sleeping, which meant I could actually afford to see a Broadway show and eat at some of the restaurants I’d been eyeing.

One thing to watch out for – the RIU doesn’t include breakfast in most rates. But honestly, this works in your favor. There’s a whole world of affordable breakfast spots within walking distance. My personal hack? Joe’s Coffee on West 46th (literally across the street) for a $6 breakfast sandwich and coffee, or walk five minutes to Ninth Avenue for the absolute best bagels you’ll find.

When the RIU Makes Sense (and When It Doesn’t)

I’m not going to pretend the RIU Plaza is perfect for every NYC trip, because it’s not. If you’re trying to stay in Brooklyn to soak up that indie, artsy vibe, then yeah, being in Times Square isn’t going to work. And if you need a room big enough for a family of four to spread out comfortably, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

But if you’re doing what I call a “classic NYC trip” – seeing shows, visiting museums, exploring different neighborhoods via subway – the location is pretty much ideal. I’ve based myself there for work trips, quick weekend getaways, and even a five-night visit when I was between long-term house-sits. Each time, the convenience of being so centrally located saved me both time and money on transportation.

The other situation where the RIU shines? Solo travelers and couples who plan to be out exploring most of the day. You’re not paying for space you won’t use, but you’re also not sacrificing comfort or location.

My Actual Booking Strategy (That’s Saved Me Hundreds)

Okay, here’s where I’m going to share the stuff that’s made the biggest difference in what I actually pay. First off, I always check the RIU’s official website alongside the major booking platforms. Sometimes – maybe 30% of the time – they’ll have a member rate that undercuts everything else by $15-30. It’s free to join their loyalty program, and it takes like two minutes.

The timing sweet spot I’ve found is booking 6-8 weeks out for non-peak times. Book too early and you won’t catch potential rate drops. Book too late and you’re competing with everyone else who procrastinated. That said, I did snag a last-minute deal once when I booked four days ahead for a random Tuesday in February. Got the room for $119, which felt like winning the New York lottery.

I also use Google Hotels to set price alerts. When the RIU drops below $145 for my target dates, I get a notification. This saved me on my last trip – I’d been watching a Thursday-Sunday stay in September, and when the rate dropped from $168 to $142 per night, I jumped on it immediately. Saved $78 over three nights just by being patient and letting technology do the monitoring for me.

The Stuff Nobody Tells You (But Should)

After four stays, I’ve picked up on some things that aren’t in the hotel description but make a real difference. The rooms on higher floors are quieter – request anything above the 15th floor if possible. Times Square is, well, Times Square, and the street noise is real if you’re lower down.

The rooftop bar (Bar 54) can get busy after 8 PM on weekends, but if you go up around 6 PM, you can usually snag a seat and watch the sunset over Manhattan without fighting crowds. Also, drinks aren’t cheap up there (we’re talking $15-18 for cocktails), but the view is free if you’re just hanging out. I’ve definitely brought a coffee up there more than once.

The gym is small but functional – two treadmills, some free weights, and a few machines. I’m not a huge workout person, but it’s nice to have when you’ve been eating your way through New York’s food scene like I tend to do.

One potential downside: the elevators can be slow during peak check-in times (usually 3-6 PM). If you’re carrying heavy luggage and in a hurry, it might get a little annoying. I’ve learned to just embrace it and use the wait time to plan my evening.

Making the Most of Your RIU Stay

The location gives you so many options for free or cheap activities that it almost feels unfair. Bryant Park is a 10-minute walk and has free yoga in the summer, ice skating in winter (you pay for skate rental, but admission is free), and year-round free WiFi if you need to catch up on work. The New York Public Library is right there too – the Rose Reading Room is absolutely worth seeing, and it costs exactly zero dollars.

For food, walk west toward Ninth Avenue instead of staying in the Times Square tourist trap zone. I’m talking places like Totto Ramen (cash only, around $15 for incredible ramen), Los Tacos No. 1 (life-changing tacos for under $10), and Schmackary’s for cookies that’ll ruin you for all other cookies. These are all within a 5-15 minute walk from the hotel.

The Broadway TKTS booth is also walking distance if you want to catch a show without paying full price. I’ve gotten orchestra seats for $79 that would normally cost $180+. Pro tip: the TKTS booth under the red steps in Times Square usually has shorter lines in the evening than at noon.

My Final Thoughts on the Hotel RIU Plaza

Look, I’m not saying the Hotel RIU Plaza Times Square is going to change your life or anything. But for budget travelers who want to experience New York without hemorrhaging money on accommodation, it’s become one of my most reliable options. The combination of location, decent amenities, and pricing that doesn’t make me question all my financial decisions – that’s pretty hard to beat in Manhattan.

Since I first stayed there in 2019, I’ve recommended it to at least a dozen readers and friends. Most of them have reported back with similar experiences: pleasant surprise at the quality, relief at the price, and genuine enjoyment of being able to walk to most major attractions.

If you’re planning a New York trip and your accommodation budget is in the $120-180 per night range, definitely check out the RIU. Set up those price alerts, be flexible with your dates if you can, and remember that weekday nights in shoulder season are your best friend. And if you do end up staying there, send me a message – I’d love to hear how it works out for you.

---