Central Park features nearly 850 acres of gardens, woods, meadows, and walking paths. Visitors who stay in hotels in Central Park can go ice skating in the winter, rent a paddle boat during the summer, or visit the zoo. Central Park hotels are also near Rockefeller Center, and the famous Theater District. For last minute concerts, Lincoln Center is a short walk away from Central Park New York hotels.

The Plaza Hotel once set the standard for luxury hotels around Central Park. While the design of the hotel has elements from the past, such as early 19th century furniture, a 400 million dollar complete renovation has modernized the hotel considerably. Be sure to stop by the Palm Court restaurant for a traditional afternoon tea service, or visit the elegant champagne Bar for some of the world’s finest champagne. While you will probably be doing the majority of your shopping at the shops of Manhattan, the Plaza hotel has an extensive collections of boutiques. There is also a large fitness center and a spa. All of the rooms feature plasma TVs mounted on the wall as well as designer bath products. The hotel does offer wireless internet service, but at an extra cost. Hotels around central park are convenient if you want to fit dozens of New York attractions into a weekend itinerary. Rooms start at $675 a night.

The Mandarin Oriental is considered to be one of the finest hotels in Central Park. It occupies 19 floors of Time Warner Center’s north high rise, where Upper Midtown, Central Park, and Upper Manhattan come together. Upon entering the lobby, you’ll notice a glass sculpture that was partially designed by Waterford Crystal. Antique silk robes adorn the halls while contemporary Asian design can be found nearly everywhere you look. Floor to ceiling windows offer panoramic views of Central Park. Central Park hotels are becoming increasingly pet friendly. The hotel permits dogs, given that a damage waiver is signed. One of the main highlights of the Mandarin is the two level spa, featuring vitality pools, steam rooms, and separate men and women’s relaxation lounges. There is also a business center and two lounges. Rooms are adorned with cherry wood furniture with a palette of gold, black, silver, and red. Each room offers a flat panel TV with surround sound, CD and DVD players with a complimentary library, as well as wireless internet access. Dining options include French-Japanese fusion cuisine at the 35th floor restaurant, Asiate, a hip lobby bar called MObar, and the more traditional Mandarin Oriental Lobby Lounge which serves appetizers and light fare.

For travelers on a budget, it's possible to find hotels around Central Park under $300 a night. The Park Central New York Hotel is located 3 blocks south of Central Park near Carnegie hall. This affordable choice for Central Park New York hotels has rates starting at $250/night. The hotel offers a variety of helpful resources for travelers, including a business center and a fitness center. For dining, try the Central Park hotels restaurant, Café New York. The café provides a great opportunity for people watching on 7th Avenue while enjoying a buffet breakfast. The 25 story hotel offers over 900 guest rooms that feature wireless internet access, 32 inch flat screen TV, and designer bedding. Although this is a rare practice for hotels in Central Park, Park Central charges a $75 fee for visitors checking in before 4:00.