Can you do NYC in Dec affordably....

[britfish]

or should we wait until spring? We have never been to NYC and we could drive however the only planning site I've looked at said Dec. is very expensive for hotels. We would be going the first or second weekend of Dec..
Any suggestions, ideas, tips, would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Janepod]

It is a very expensive time to visit, but also a magical time. I love seeing the Christmas decorations in the store windows, the tree at Rock Center, the crazy awesome energy from people everywhere you go.

Are you going because you want to see Christmas things? Or just because you want to visit the city? If the latter, your trip will certainly be more affordable in the spring. You can also investigate staying in a New Jersey hotel near a bus or the PATH train. But don't wait long; it's a very busy time of year and many things will already be booked.

 

[mbf]

I've seen some good deals on TravelZoo for hotels in NYC this holiday season. I would check it out.

 

[emilymad]

We are looking to go mid December and I can't find a decent hotel in the city for less than $300 a night. I think we are just going to go up for the day instead.

 

[lukenick1]

I am planning on Dec 13-14 with girlfriends. It helps when you can split the room cost!

 

[eliza61]

I've seen some good deals on TravelZoo for hotels in NYC this holiday season. I would check it out.

LOL unfortunately for Manhattan that's pretty routine. It wouldn't cause me to raise an eyebrow.
Another option is to stay in one of the boroughs. Brooklyn is very up and coming (park slope and Williamsburgh especially) and ridiculously easy to get into the city by train or cab. The nuhotel in brooklyn has a rate of about 200 bucks a night with complementary breakfast and the holiday inn express is about 180 bucks a night in mid december. Queens by JFK will also get you cheaper rates and is an easy train ride into manhattan.

 

[lukenick1]

I just booked the hotel at times square and now I'm thinking it may be better to stay outside the city at a place I can park for free and take the train or subway in. Is there such a place that has free parking that is decent and close to times square?

 

[prncess674]

You would have to stay pretty far out and away from the subway to get free parking. Also don't forget to value your time. If you are very far you won't be able to drop off packages or change clothes before dinner due to the travel time.

 

[mbf]

I just booked the hotel at times square and now I'm thinking it may be better to stay outside the city at a place I can park for free and take the train or subway in. Is there such a place that has free parking that is decent and close to times square?

Check the Travel Inn. It is right off Times Square near Penn Station. I have stayed there and last I knew they had free parking. Rooms were very clean and the price was good (at least in July when I stayed a couple of years ago).

 

[zeferjen]

You can also stay in Pavonia Newport section of Jersey City and take the PATH train into midtown Manhattan.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/travel/ewrnw-courtyard-jersey-city-newport/

 

[lukenick1]

Check the Travel Inn. It is right off Times Square near Penn Station. I have stayed there and last I knew they had free parking. Rooms were very clean and the price was good (at least in July when I stayed a couple of years ago).

WOW looks like a great place I will probably book it! Thanks

 

[Massillon Dad]

take the megabus, stay in New Jersey, take subway/cab into town, have fun!

 

[Becc1]

We have had great sucess with getting a room through Priceline at the last minute. You have to be careful on what areas to highlight that you'll stay in and we never go anything lower than 3 stars but we've stayed at some great hotels (one was going for over $500 a night) and we've never payed more than $150 for the night. We usually stay near Times Square, up by the pricier stores, my DH knows the exact area to highlight but I can't remember what exactly it is. Parking is usually around $25 for the day/night but that's what we pay when we go up for the day and park at Port Authority. Hope you have a great time, we go every December to see the decorations and enjoy the madness of the season.

 

[walkdmc]

We're paying $88/night for a Marriott in Princeton, NJ and spending our days in NYC. We'll take a train up to the city which doesn't take long. I love NYC in the Winter and can't wait to see the decorated windows and ice rink. I get good chills just thinking about our upcoming trip.

I like taking the train because we always stop at Macys to use their bathrooms, once we exit Penn Station. Macys at Christmas is magical, LOL. Seriously, I love it a lot.

Anyway, you don't have to stay in NYC to enjoy NY.

 

[britfish]

We are going because we want to see the city so I am thinking (as the PP mentioned) maybe a spring trip would be better. Thanks for all the advice, I will use it in the spring!

 

[clori]

check out www.newyorkpass.com. Depending on what you plan on doing it may or may not save you money but worth checking out. It is different than the newyorkcity pass. Also for spring we got a great deal on travelzoo for April vacation week 2010. Also if you can do megabus, boltbus etc it may save you money but that depends on where you are traveling from.

I like staying in a hotel near Penn Station when we take megabus/boltbus so we can just walk there. I did that at both Affinia Manhattan which I got for $159 a night thru travelzoo (1 bedroom - 2 queen beds, sofabed, full kitchen, 2 full bathrooms, and free breakfast for 2) for $159. I also walked to Chelsea Savoy from Penn Station which was an l shaped room with two double beds, free rollaway by request in the l hallway section, free small contintental breakfast and around the corner from the subway for Statue of Liberty that I had for July 4th weekend for $135 night (clean, no bedbugs just not fancy). My kids love the skyline hotel which is near the USS Intrepid because of the indoor penthouse level pool but it is quieter for sleeping at night again clean, no bedbugs, $135 a night Dec 26-28 last year.

 

[Momto4boys]

I just went to NYC last month with some girl friends. We got the Doubletree in Jersey City through Priceline for $100/night. It's a VERY nice clean area and less than a 5 minute walk to the train station that gets you into the World Trade Center in under 10 minutes most of the time. The room had 2 double beds and a living area with a pull out sofa. The beds were AMAZING~ Wish I could have packed one I will go back there again.

 

[Nancy F]

We go every Memorial weekend and Labor day weekend. We stay at the Marriott Marquis in Time Sq. We paid $379.00 a night this last Labor Day. Came home and booked Memorial weekend 2012. $599.00 per night.
I'm hoping the price will drop.
Nancy

 

[zeferjen]

We're paying $88/night for a Marriott in Princeton, NJ and spending our days in NYC.

yeah Princeton!

 

[hsmamato2]

IMHO...I hate NYC around christmas time.....it is,in the busier places, wall to wall people,like the kind of crowds where you hang on to your kid for dear life,as the crowd moves you all along and separates your party,all to look at a couple of blinking lights on a building.....ugh. I love WDW light shows,nothing in the city compares, but the crowds.....oh the crowds.... Go in the spring...you'll have more fun! BTW,I think if you check lots of sites you'll find a good hotel deal in NYC,I see them offered frequently......