Brian enjoys exploring major cities along public transit lines and writing about it on his blog, imayroam.com, which he started in 2016. He also writes about topics like food tours, how to get the most out of a layover, and exploring movie and musical landmarks. Brian has traveled to 58 countries as well as every state, and contributes to outlets such as Fodor's, InsideHook, Travel + Leisure and USA Today.

On weekends, he leads music and film-focused walking tours of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. His five-star rated Goodfellas Tour of NYC was featured in Airbnb Magazine. Always happy to offer tips to aspiring travel writers and tour guides, Brian has been featured multiple times at the New York Times Travel Show as part of their Meet the Experts panel and has spoken at events like TBEX and the Travel & Adventure Show.

Brian Cicioni

Brian Cicioni

Contributing writer

Follow Brian Cicioni:

Articles (4)

The 10 best budget-friendly hotels in New York City

The 10 best budget-friendly hotels in New York City

The Big Apple is pricey, and any traveler paying this marvelous city a visit will soon find that the bagels, pizza slices, museum tickets and cab fares add up to a fair amount of cash—but you don’t have to throw loads away on your hotel just to avoid breaking the bank. In fact, quite the opposite.  What are hotel prices like in New York City? New York City has many wonderful qualities, but being easy on the wallet is not one of them. Hotel prices can be steep even if you are pretty organised when it comes to booking, but we’re here to help. What you’ll find on this list is hotels which have not been skimpy on that effortlessly cool New York style, but which cost no more than $215 per night—no horrid dorms or leaky showers here.  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in New York City
The 14 best hotels in New York City with a view

The 14 best hotels in New York City with a view

There’s a long (and we mean really long) list of reasons why one might choose to visit old New York—the food, the theatre, the bars and the art galleries, to name a few—but up there with the best things about this city is, without a doubt, its skyline. And while heading up to Top of the Rock or the One World Observatory are worthy ways to soak it up, your hotel room could be, too. So, that’s why we’ve compiled a round up of the best hotels in NYC with proper, show-stopping views. Sit back and enjoy. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in New York City
The 15 best luxury hotels in New York City for 2025

The 15 best luxury hotels in New York City for 2025

Does anywhere do luxury quite as well as New York City? Well, according to our round-up of high-end hotels, the answer is probably not. From sleek, glassy, towering stays which overlook Columbus Circle and Central Park to tiny little boutique hotels which feel more like ridiculously fancy private homes, luxury comes in all grandiose shapes and glitzy sizes here.  New inclusions are the Park Terrace Hotel and Loews Regency New York, but they’ve joined regal institutions The Knickerbocker, Mandarin Oriental, Thompson Central Park New York, and, of course, The Plaza. And we aren’t just talking about cloud-like bedding and pretty decor – luxury also means gorging on dishes crafted by world-class chefs, being in prime New York locations, and enjoying polished, attentive service. So, looking to splash out on an ultra-luxe stay in NYC? Here’s where we would recommend. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see
The 17 coolest hotels in New York City for 2025

The 17 coolest hotels in New York City for 2025

New York City is iconic (there’s no arguing with that) and while there’s an abundance of luxury spaces, stays with knockout views or spots with incredible pools which would really make your trip, you can’t beat finding a hotel which embodies everything that makes this city so effortlessly, timelessly cool.  After all, a hotel might just be a place you’re planning to rest your weary, tired head after a long day of shopping, eating and sightseeing, but when you think about it, they’re basically your gateway into the city. From oh-so-authentic downtown spots to swish FiDi skyrises and boutique Brooklyn outposts, there’s plenty to choose from. New additions to Time Out’s list for 2025 include The William Vale, The Hoxton, Williamsburg, and The Standard, High Line, but scroll on for an expertly-curated list of the coolest hotels on the block when it comes to where to stay in NYC. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more in

Listings and reviews (3)

Radio Hotel

Radio Hotel

4 out of 5 stars
The Radio Hotel has got to be one of the most striking New York buildings north of central park. Looking at the eight different colored sections stacked like Lego toys, with the green one atop proclaiming ‘Radio Hotel’ adds a massive splash of much-needed color to the journey along the congested Cross Bronx Expressway. Even truckers who hate journeying into New York will have a little joy injected into their day.  Why stay at the Radio Hotel? The Radio Hotel is modern, clean, has a really good restaurant  and won’t set you back anywhere near as much as the average hotel south of Washington Heights. Is it central? No, but it is good value. This is your chance to spend time in a Manhattan neighborhood that’s a far cry from the Hop-On Hop-Off bus route, away from the chaos.  What are the rooms like at the Radio Hotel? Colourful, to say the least. The unfinished ceilings give this place a little bit of edge, but it being the Radio Hotel, all the bluetooth speakers are shaped like little radios—antenna and all—and are powerful enough to be heard even if you’re enjoying the (surprisingly spacious for a Manhattan hotel) shower.  And while this place is comfortably removed from the bustle of more central neighborhoods in Manhattan, you are still in Manhattan, meaning the cacophony of car horns is unavoidable (even from the very top floors). Still, you’re close-by to landmarks like the George Washington Bridge, Highbridge Park, and the Harlem River.  What is the food like at the Radio
Loews Regency Hotel New York

Loews Regency Hotel New York

5 out of 5 stars
The large black awning nearly extending to the edge of the Park Avenue sidewalk between 61st and 62nd Streets feels very Upper East Side, and that tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the Loews Regency New York.  Guests swan into the lobby an air of confidence distinctive to this side of Central Park. The high ceilings are grand, but stacks of New York’s two major print newspapers hint at this hotels’ popularity among business travelers. However, the location, with Bloomingdales to the east and Central Park to the west, make this an ideal base from which to explore the Upper East Side’s famous high-end shopping, all with the comfort of a luxe and spacious room to rejuvenate you afterwards.  Why stay at the Loews Regency New York? Here, you’ll have the five-star experience in a charming older hotel, which has been hosting guests since it opened way back in 1963. While it’s recently been renovated, the old-timey details bleed through: hallways of all 21 floors are adorned with framed black and white photos of old New York, and strolling along them does evoke the sense that you’ve slipped back into a different era.  As for the contemporary touches, those are most present in the facilities, such as the Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa or the adjacent Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar, which serves desserts you've probably never heard of but need to try. What are the rooms like at the Loews Regency New York? The smallest rooms are the 250-square-foot Superior King, while
The William Vale

The William Vale

5 out of 5 stars
The William Vale is effortlessly cool. Nestled on the border between the ultra-hip Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods of northwest Brooklyn, the five-star stay opened back in 2016, has 183 guestrooms over 23-floors and resembles something you’d see in an up-and-coming neighborhood in Tokyo or Seoul.  With a gym, pool, rooftop bar(s), and three dining spots that get many of their fresh herbs from the on-property Vale Garden, there’s enough here to enjoy The William Vale as an urban resort, all with the perk of being nestled in a lively, walkable part of New York area that’s not overcrowded like much of Manhattan. Why stay at The William Vale? First up, while in Manhattan hotels can feel pretty cramped, visitors to the William Vale will instead enjoy spacious, modern rooms (which each have their own balcony), plus access to the gym, pool, and three different drinking and dining options—you don’t need to leave the hotel if you don’t want to.  But, as it’s close to some of the museums, restaurants, bridges, and public spaces that make New York America’s top tourist destination, William Vale allows you to enjoy the Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods as a proper, temporary local What are the rooms like at The William Vale? There are 15 different room types, from the Queen rooms to the Vale Garden Residence, which has a large deck with a hot tub. And in case you don’t have the energy to make it down to the gym, the Vale Garden Residence has its own Freemotion Coach bik