Need hotels in NYC & DC- on a budget

[Maddie2]

Hotel help needed please! Manhattan - Penn Station area and Washington, DC - Union Station area, please. I don't want anything too gross, but I know we won't be in the room much. I'd rather have a budget hotel (which, I know is relative, esp. in these locations) and then have $$ for other things.

Any help would be much appreciated! TIA!

Here's the tentative plan ...

We live in the midwest and have a whirlwind vacation planned for this summer. One of those we'd better do it all now before the kids are grown and gone vacations. We are driving to the East Coast. Yes. d.r.i.v.i.n.g. It's going to be long and exhausting getting there, but it should be great once we are there.

I should start out that DH is from MA, near Boston. We try to get out there every 2-3 years. Each and every time thus far has been been by plane. Not this time. We have 2.5 days to drive there, which will include 2 nights in hotels - to sleep and then get up and drive some more.

We will then be in MA for a week, mostly relaxing and visiting family. There are a few fun things tossed in, including a Red Sox game, but mostly hanging out and bonding with family.

We then have a week before we need to be back home. The plan is to take Amtrak from Albany, NY to NYC for a couple of days then on to Washington DC for a couple of days and then back to Albany for the drive westward. I have read there is a secure parking ramp at the Albany train station and the plan is to leave our vehicle there.

DH and I have both been to NYC (I lived there one fabulous summer in college/many years ago) and DC and know we will barely have time to scratch the surface of what there is to see and do, but we want to introduce our teenagers to it with the time we do have. They are growing up too fast and before we know it, we will be empty-nesters.

So, I am looking for hotels in NYC - preferably in the Penn Station area and in Washington, near Union Station. Since both trains will be getting into these cities toward the end of the day, a hotel near each train station would be really nice. Additionally, on check out days, we could then leave our bags at these hotels and go out and sightsee - and then return to the hotel, pick up our bags and jump on the train to our next destination.

The Albany/NY/DC/Albany leg of the vacation is the whirlwind part and I know that anything I can do when booking reservations to help to reduce the craziness and insanity will be a good thing.

That being said, I know these are memory-making times and we need to do whatever we need to do to make it happen.

Thank you!!

 

[ammag]

Hey, I live in nyc...I can try to help? Did you mean union square? I am tired tonight so may have missed something lol. I don't have a ton of experience with hotels, but I can give you pre info on neighborhoods and attractions. I know you didn't ask for that but if you want let me know!

 

[ammag]

Omg I am such a fool. Union in Dc, Lol. Oh btw one of our fav things in DC the spy museum, it is soon much fun!

 

[lisaross]

check out the Americana near DC - actually in VA i think a few stops on the railroad

 

[clori]

I usually take the bus from Boston that stops near Penn Station in NYC. From there we have walked to Affinia Manhatten which we got thru travelzoo for $159 for a 1 bedroom suite, Chelsea savoy for $135 which had two doubles and a cot, the Newyorker which was also $159 for a small 1 bedroom suite which was also a travelzoo special. They were all old hotels, clean, and no signs of bedbugs. The Newyorker included a breakfast buffet with a nice panoramic view, the Chelsea Savoy had bagels, and Affinia Manhattan had free breakfast for two.

 

[krcit]

I have stayed at the Radisson Martinique right up the block from Penn. Very convenient location. Keep in mind that rooms can be very small in the city so make sure it has 2 beds!! I used to Hotwire rooms and do pretty well but I don't think the deals are as good as they used to be. If you want to try Hotwire...make sure you pick midtown and I would recommend 4 stars. Good luck..have fun!

 

[jessp1021]

I know this is a little further out than what you were hoping in DC but we have stayed at Bethesda court in MD which is a few short stops from the heart of DC yet MUCH more budget friendly! They have 3 nights for $109/night and breakfast is included. (To me this is always a perk I try to look for, it typically saves us $12-15 per day!!)

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I didn't see dates of when you plan on traveling. That is going to make a HUGE difference. I know the prices in NYC look great but depending on when you plan on being there, down to the days of the week it can be totally off.

 

[shoney]

Will you be in Albany anyway? I can't see taking the train all the way from Albany, if you don't have to.

If it were me, I would just drive. Parking would be around $30 a day. You would save on train fare and you could also find hotels in different areas. (you would just store luggage in the car)

If you didn't want to drive. Park outside of Manhattan and take the train in. Then book Amtrak from NYC to DC.

Hotels in large cities tend to be cheaper on the weekends vs. weekdays. Weekdays are usually booked by business travelers who aren't concerned with the rates.

Time of year also plays into it.

Have fun!

 

[brymolmom]

Not Union Station area but just got back from DC yesterday and wanted to post a review (will post here later - so check back and read if you want some more tips). I would HIGHLY recommend our hotel - it is on the Metro - but North of Union Station at the Silver Spring station.

It is Homewood Suites Silver Spring. I got it for about $105 a night (online on their web site) and it is only $15 parking fee per night - Most places are twice that amount. AND if you are there on a weekend - the parking garage next door is free on Sat and Sun - so you might be able to avoid those charges for some days. It includes a free HOT breakfast (lots of offerings) and if you're there Sun - Thur - dinner and drinks too. We were there on a Thurs and that night it was stuffed shells, rolls, salad and soup - with beer and wine (or soda or water). It was great and could save you a ton of money on food. We only got the one dinner but had big breakfasts all 3 nights we were there - we saved a ton. This hotel is about an 8 minute walk from the Metro station but they do offer a shuttle there- we didn't use it. Metro costs to get into the city for our 2 sightseeing days ran about $9 round trip per person.

 

[Maddie2]

We are going in July - so prime vacation season - and likely some of the highest rates of the year. Days of the week are uncertain at this point, but thinking a Sunday thru Thursday travel time.

Thank you for all the suggested hotels! I've checked them out and we are looking at rates somewhat higher than what some of you have listed, but with the time of year, that is expected. I had never heard of most of these, so it has been nice to have these options and to know that you have stayed there and were fine with them.

Regarding Albany as a starting place. Yes, we will be there anyway. It is on our route from Boston to our home in the midwest. Yes, we could drive down and leave the car outside of NYC, but part of my reasoning to take the train from Albany is to give us a break from driving. We'll be doing PLENTY before and after this portion of the vacation. Also, I wasn't sure there was a secure parking place (our vehicle will still have quite a bit of stuff in it) anywhere outside of NYC. The Albany parking ramp at the train station was listed as secure and that gives me peace of mind.

And now, a new wrinkle in the plans. In talking with DH last evening, we don't know if we should try to do 2 cities in 4-5 days. Is it better to barely scratch the surface in both NYC and DC, or is it better to just go to one place and do more? And if just one, which one (I say NYC, he says DC).

Lots to consider. Two cities or one city. If just one city, money-wise I think it would be comparable. Without the extra fare from NYC to DC, we could do a Broadway show, etc. Hotel rates are not much different. DC has lots of free things to do (Smithsonian, etc). He has friends in DC that he wants to see, I have old stomping grounds in NYC that I want to see again. Places I've talked about for years and told our kids stories about. They've seen some of the places through Google Maps and that's fun, but I want us to go to these places. I suggested we 'just' take another week off from work and summer activities and do it all, but unfortunately that is not an option.

We usually agree and compromise easily, but this might not be an easy decision. If we ask our kids, we'll probably end up with more confusion, not less.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions - keep them coming!

 

[hsmamato2]

I just found the Milford times square on travelzoo for July 5th at 159-189...doesn't look overly fancy, but it's cheap and central! (NYC cheap,that is LOL)

 

[crazyme5kids]

Another thing you could do that might work: unless your plans for your MA portion of the trip are set in stone, maybe you could spend a few days with family, then take the train from Boston to DC, then heading back to Boston stay in NYC. This way you can leave your stuff with your husband's family and have no worries about the safety of it. Spend a few more days with your husband's family after the DC and NYC portion of the trip.

That way you can rest and unwind before heading home. Another suggestion I have that might be helpful for the long driving days would be to stop about every two hours and switch drivers. A five minute switch and stretch makes a huge difference in the long run.

 

[Maddie2]

Unfortunately, the Boston part is set in stone. We are renting the family cottage (with family discount, but still expensive). We have it from a Saturday noon to a Saturday noon. No wiggle room, it's fully booked for the entire summer. Could leave early, but I know to not even suggest that.

Thanks for the hotel suggestion - I'll check it out!

What to do???

Planning WDW and DL vacations are SO much easier!

 

[lisaross]

1 city - i say NYC

 

[hlg22]

I work near Union Station in DC. There are not really any "budget" hotels that would be within a short walk - the Washington Court or Phoenix Park would probably be the cheapest of the options, and then there's the Hyatt, Liason, and Hotel George. Those hotels' websites should give you an idea of prices. However...the Metrorail system is very easy to use, and you could just transfer to that from your train at Union Station. Picking a hotel on the Red Line would make things easy as you would not have to transfer lines once you get on the Metro, so the Silver Spring option that someone mentioned would be a good bet as it is only a few stops up the red line from Union Station.

If you only have 4-5 days I would definitely just pick one city, rather than trying to cram in both.

 

[krcit]

I say NYC but I'm biased!!

 

[Snoozan]

I just found the Milford times square on travelzoo for July 5th at 159-189...doesn't look overly fancy, but it's cheap and central! (NYC cheap,that is LOL)

I stayed here last year and it was clean and fairly newly renovated. In fact, I have a ressie there for this coming Friday(providing the weather looks better than it is right now!). We had a room with 2 doubles - beds were comfy, but room was tiny! barely room to walk between desk/TV and beds. But, it's a great location, clean and safe enough neighborhood. We hardly spend any time in our room when we're in NYC, so fits our purpose!

 

[hsmamato2]

I stayed here last year and it was clean and fairly newly renovated. In fact, I have a ressie there for this coming Friday(providing the weather looks better than it is right now!). We had a room with 2 doubles - beds were comfy, but room was tiny! barely room to walk between desk/TV and beds. But, it's a great location, clean and safe enough neighborhood. We hardly spend any time in our room when we're in NYC, so fits our purpose!

Oh really! thanks for the review! If you get a chance,check back and here tell us how your latest visit was.... the rate seems great at 159/189

 

[4shinystars]

FYI:
Parking at the Albany-Rensselaer train station is not free. Garage is $12/day, lot outside is $8/day and lot where Mega Bus is located is $7/day.