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New York City hotels are notoriously expensive and chock full of additional fees. But if you plan ahead, a trip to the Big Apple doesn’t have to break the bank!
We’ve found 10 of the best hotels in New York where you can stay for free with points!
Looking for the Best Hotels in New York City That You Can Book FREE With Points?
Here Are the 10 Best Hotels in New York City That Are Free With Points
- Casablanca Hotel by Library Hotel Collection using Capital One Venture miles (Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card)
- Park Hyatt New York using Hyatt points (The World of Hyatt Credit Card)
- Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park using Marriott / Ritz-Carlton points (Chase Sapphire Preferred Card)
- Residence Inn New York Manhattan / Midtown East using Marriott points (Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card)
- Hampton Inn Manhattan / Times Square using Hilton points (Hilton Honors American Express Ascend)
- Kimpton Ink48 Hotel using IHG points (IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card)
- Cassa Hotel 45th Street New York using Radisson points (Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® card)
- Four Points by Sheraton Midtown – Times Square using Starwood points (Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express)
- EVEN Hotel New York – Midtown East using IHG points (IHG Rewards Club Premier card)
- The New Yorker Hotel using Wyndham points (Barclays Wyndham Rewards Visa)
How We Chose the Best Hotels in New York City Where You Can Stay Free Using Points
We considered several important factors when deciding on the best hotels in New York City to stay at with points. First, we wanted to make sure that the hotel was well-reviewed by guests who have stayed there before. This was determined by cross-referencing hotels across multiple popular travel review sites.
Second, we wanted to make sure that no excessive additional fees would be charged such as resort fees, destination fees, or Wi-Fi fees. It stinks to book a “free” room only to get stung with additional charges!
With that in mind, here are 10 of the best hotels in New York City to stay at for free using points.
1. Casablanca Hotel by Library Hotel Collection
The rating for the Casablanca Hotel by Library Hotel Collection is off the charts, with 5.0 average rating on TripAdvisor across 6,100+ reviews. People who stay here consistently love the many complimentary perks, like free Wi-Fi throughout the whole hotel, free continental breakfast buffet, free wine & cheese at the hotel eating area between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and free drinks and refreshments served 24 hours a day.
That’s a huge cost savings in a very expensive city!
The rooms are considered spacious and the location is right in the heart of Broadway Theater District. This is just one hotel from the Library Hotel Collection, which includes several other hotels in the city. All of these hotels are highly ranked, so be sure to check out other locations before booking your stay.
You can redeem Capital One Venture miles for a free stay at the Casablanca Hotel. Rooms here, depending on the season, typically cost $250 to $400 per night, or 25,000 to 40,000 Venture miles.
This is a boutique hotel, so they do not have their own points or rewards system. But one of the benefits of the Capital One Venture card is you can redeem your miles at a rate of 1 cent each for any hotel stay, allowing you to experience this independent hotel for free. Just pay with your card and use Venture miles to “erase” the charges!
2. Park Hyatt New York
Team member Jasmin stayed at the Park Hyatt New York a couple of years ago, and she says it’s still one of her favorite hotel stays. It’s incredibly luxurious without being showy or over the top.
Just 1 block from Central Park, the hotel has a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor with 1,750+ reviews. The service is terrific, and there are lots of small touches folks love, such as:
- Floor to ceiling windows
- 2 clothes closets
- Heated bathroom floors
- Nespresso coffee maker in each room
- Smart TVs
- TV in bathroom mirrors
- Huge full tile spa shower with dual shower heads
- Deep jacuzzi tub
Many reviewers state that these are the largest hotel rooms they have seen in New York City. The rooms are stunning with modern finishes and great views of the city or Central Park.
The Park Hyatt New York Hotel usually costs 30,000 Hyatt points per night. During peak season, if you paid cash, rooms can cost in excess of $900 per night, so this is a fantastic way to use points!
And the fastest way to earn Hyatt points is with the Chase World of Hyatt credit card.
3. Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park
You will not find a more perfect hotel location than The Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park. It’s earned a 4.5-star rating from 1,600+ guests on TripAdvisor. The hotel is located with easy walking access to Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, and across the street from Central Park.
The rooms are spacious and offer all of the premium luxuries you would expect from a Ritz-Carlton. It’s a perfect spot if you’re celebrating a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday.
Reviews consistently note the quality of service here. The staff go above and beyond to make sure your adventure in New York City is the best you have ever had.
The Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park Hotel usually costs 70,000 Ritz-Carlton or Marriott points per night. Cash rates here during peak season can be over $1,200 a night, so using points is a great way to splurge on a luxury stay you might not usually pay for.
A fast way to earn Ritz-Carlton or Marriott points is with the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. You can transfer the Chase Ultimate Rewards points you earn with this card at a 1:1 to Ritz-Carlton or Marriott, and use them for your next award stay.
4. Residence Inn New York Manhattan / Midtown East
The Residence Inn New York Manhattan / Midtown East is actually one of Marriott’s highest-rated New York hotels at 4.5-stars by ~2,000 guests on TripAdvisor. It’s close to Grand Central Station, Fifth Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. All rooms include a fully-equipped kitchenette and are laid out as studios or one-bedroom suites, which is rare for a New York City hotel!
You’ll also get complimentary Wi-Fi and a hot breakfast buffet.
The Residence Inn New York usually costs 40,000 Marriott points per night. In the summer, rooms here can cost nearly $500 per night, which makes using points an excellent deal.
To earn these points quickly, consider the Marriott Rewards Premier Plus card.
5. Hampton Inn Manhattan / Times Square North
The Hampton Inn Manhattan / Times Square North is surrounded by Broadway theaters, making it perfect for folks looking to take in a show while in New York City. Free hot buffet breakfast is offered to hotel guests, or you can opt for an On the Run breakfast bag (Monday to Friday) if you want something quick while you head out to see the sights. In-room Wi-Fi is also included.
With ~6,000+ reviews on Tripadvisor, this hotel averages 4.5 stars. Visitors love the central location, making it easy to walk to many attractions and a short cab ride away from everything else. The value is unbeatable given the location, and the rooms are larger than most New York City rooms.
The Hampton Inn Times Square North hotel usually costs ~70,000 Hilton points per night. If you paid cash, you’d be on the hook for nearly $400 a night during popular times.
And you can quickly earn Hilton points with the Hilton Honors American Express Ascend card.
6. Kimpton Ink48
Located next to the Port of Manhattan, the Kimpton Ink48 has stunning views of the waterfront. Because it’s a short walks to the cruise ports, many folks leaving or returning from cruises like to use this hotel while in New York. The rooftop garden is open for drinks or to view the river and city on the horizon.
This hotel has a 4.5-star average on TripAdvisor based on ~3,500 reviews. Folks love that the hotel is located in a quieter part of town, but still has great views of the city and the Hudson River. The staff are consistently helpful and go above and beyond to improve your stay. The beds also receive a lot of praise for comfort.
The Kimpton Ink48 Hotel usually costs ~65,000 IHG points per night. Cash prices, depending on the season, can approach $400 a night!
Take a look at the IHG Rewards Club Premier to quickly earn enough points to stay at this hotel.
7. Cassa Hotel 45th Street New York
If you prefer the intimacy of a boutique hotel, but want to use points, check out the Cassa Hotel 45th Street New York. It’s walking distance to shopping on Madison Avenue, visiting Rockefeller Center, or checking out Bryant Park.
TripAdvisor ranks this hotel 4.5 stars from ~2,400 guest reviews. Many guests mention their appreciation for the soundproof rooms, something that the hotel also advertises with pride. Access for guests to the rooftop terrace is another popular perk. Unfortunately, breakfast is not included with this hotel, but most reviewers mention being satisfied with nearby breakfast shops.
The Cassa Hotel on 45th Street usually costs 50,000 Radisson points per night. Rooms during peak season can cost over $500.
You can earn Radisson points quickly with the Radisson Rewards Premier card.
8. EVEN Hotel New York – Times Square South
EVEN Hotels are one of the newest IHG brands, and the EVEN Hotel New York – Times Square South was one of their first hotels under this new brand.
These hotels are targeted towards people who live active lifestyles. Folks will find enhanced fitness centers with premium equipment not usually found at other hotel gyms (or even normal gyms for that matter) like Peloton bikes and Woodway treadmills. And each room comes stocked with basic fitness equipment like yoga mats, balance balls, and dumbbells, plus the in-room TV streams fitness workouts.
The meal options at the hotel are also designed around healthy eating and natural foods. Million Mile Secrets contributor Chris stayed at an EVEN Hotel in New York and had a very good experience.
This hotel has a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor and ranks 4.5 stars. Guests love the proximity to Penn Station and nearby attractions. The Wi-Fi is very good, and the whole hotel is newly remodeled. Many guests also enjoyed the mood lighting in the rooms under the beds and around the windows.
The EVEN Hotel in Times Square usually costs 50,000 IHG points per night. If you paid cash, rates are often over $300.
You can earn lots of IHG points with the IHG Rewards Club Premier card to use for a free stay here!
9. Four Points by Sheraton Midtown – Times Square
The Four Points by Sheraton Midtown – Times Square is an affordable hotel with great guest rankings. It costs fewer points than many other Starwood hotels in the city, so you can stretch your points and stay longer. Unlike the Westin (another Starwood brand) hotels in New York City, which charge a destination fee, this hotel doesn’t add any extra charges. So your free stay with points will truly be free.
Guests on TripAdvisor rated this 4 stars from ~2,400 guest reviews. Folks enjoy staying here with their family because it’s in a less busy part of the area, but still close enough to be convenient. The free amenities like Wi-Fi are also a big plus, and the staff are always friendly and helpful.
The Four Points by Sheraton Midtown – Times Square Hotel usually costs 12,000 Starwood points per night. In the summer, cash rates can be $350+!
The Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express is a great way to earn Starwood points towards free hotel stays like this one.
10. The New Yorker – A Wyndham Hotel
The New Yorker Hotel is a Midtown New York architectural icon with loads of history, which makes it extra special to stay here! The Tick Tock Diner never closes (just like how the city never sleeps) and is attached to this hotel, making it a must-try spot for breakfast or a late-night meal.
Million Mile Secrets team member Jesse recently stayed at The New Yorker on a work trip to the city. He says it’s an ideal location if you want to be within walking distance of lots of attractions. And he appreciated the opportunity to check-in early (8:00 am) for a $50 charge because it meant he could shower and change before his business meetings.
This hotel has received a whopping 12,000+ guest reviews on TripAdvisor averaging 4 stars. Many guests choose to stay here while visiting New York for concerts and shows at Madison Square Garden. Getting to public transit is super easy with it being right next to Penn Station and many subway stops.
The New Yorker Hotel, like all Wyndham hotels, costs 15,000 Wyndham points per night. Otherwise, you’d pay nearly $300 cash!
The fastest way to earn Wyndham points is with the Barclays Wyndham Rewards Visa credit card.
Bottom Line
A trip to New York City is much more affordable when you use points to stay at one of these top-rated hotels for free!
- Casablanca Hotel by Library Hotel Collection using Venture miles (Capital One Venture)
- Park Hyatt New York using Hyatt points (The World of Hyatt Credit Card)
- Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park using Ritz-Carlton points (Chase Sapphire Preferred)
- Residence Inn New York Manhattan / Midtown East using Marriott points (Marriott Rewards Premier Plus)
- Hampton Inn Manhattan / Times Square using Hilton points (Hilton Honors American Express Ascend)
- Kimpton Ink48 Hotel using IHG points (IHG Rewards Club Premier card)
- Cassa Hotel 45th Street New York using Radisson points (Radisson Rewards™ Premier Visa Signature® card)
- EVEN Hotel New York – Midtown East using IHG points (IHG Rewards Club Premier card)
- Four Points by Sheraton Midtown – Times Square using Starwood points (Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express)
- The New Yorker Hotel using Wyndham points (Barclays Wyndham Rewards Visa)
You can’t go wrong with any of these hotels, because they all have impressive guest reviews and offer amazing amenities. The final decision might come down to which rewards program you collect points with or where you’ll be visiting in the city.
Have you stayed free in New York City with points? Share your favorite hotels in the comments!