Quick NYC Staycation Ideas

This post is sponsored by HotelTonight. All opinions are my own.

If there's anything Kobe Bryant's untimely death taught us this week is that time waits for no one. When I sat down to set my tone and goals for 2020, "be more present" rang throughout. So when Hotel Tonight reached out to me to join their #Unplan2020 initiative, I jumped at the opportunity because it aligned with what I'd set out to do this year. So I made the decision Thursday evening of MLK weekend to check into Sixty LES the next day and check out. Within four days I went to a Broadway play, had dinner at a random spot by the hotel, ordered enough take-out for four people and vegged out with movies and basketball as the snow fell. Truly against my nature (I'm an incessant planner when I go on trips - even in my hometown), it felt so good to just throw some stuff in a bag, relax, and discover new things about my city.

Below are some of my tips for a NYC staycation. A staycation may not seem like much of a vacation, but when you are under stress or simply just need a change of scenery for a couple of days, it can help massively.

1. Use HotelTonight App for last-minute deals: The longer you wait to book, the more of a deal you get on HotelTonight! This may be the one time in your life procrastinating may benefit you, haha. I recommend searching by neighborhood instead of simply putting "New York, NY" or "Brooklyn, NY". This is your chance to stay in a neighborhood you've never been! I almost put Gowanus but didn't want to travel too far out. I rarely go to LES outside of bar-hopping or partying, so it was my second choice. (if you're really feeling it, you should type in "High Roller" in your search. It'll show you all of the baller suites in the neighborhood!). 
2. Food Apps are your friend: Yelp and Uber Eats are always clutch, and this situation is no different. I preferred to Uber Eats this weekend because of the snow. Drizly is another one specifically for alcohol delivery if you're too cuddled up to move but want to get saucy.
3. Take advantage of NYC's resources: The NYC.gov website is full of discounts on events happening around the city. It links to all different types of entertainment, and you might discover that it's Restaurant Week or 2-for1-Broadway Tix!
   
4. Check IG Geo-Tags: Whenever I travel, one of the first things I do is search the location on Instagram. Tapping geotags have helped me discover so many places to eat, snap photos, or events that are happening in the area. 

Enjoy your staycation! Leave a comment below to let me know what your favorite hotels in NYC are. Have a favorite restaurant? Sound off!