New York City

[mgroshans]

We are thinking about going to NYC for a few days over Labor Day. What is a good, budget friendly location to get a hotel? Is there one that is "ideally" located? We will be driving.
TIA!

 

[Mary Anne]

We are thinking about going to NYC for a few days over Labor Day. What is a good, budget friendly location to get a hotel? Is there one that is "ideally" located? We will be driving.
TIA!

Exactly how budget friendly are you looking at? Marriott in the Times Square area is about $400 a night. Probably something more on the West side or East side would be a little cheaper but I would expect for that weekend not to see anything under $200 a night. Also it is going to cost you an arm and a leg to park your car There is little parking on NYC streets nor will you be able to actually drive the car to many of the places you probably want to see. Public transportation (safe/dependable -- well most of the time -- and cheap) in NYC is the only way to go. Your best bet might be to get a hotel outside of the city and take some kind of mass transit into the city each day.

Where are you driving from?

 

[cornflake]

If you're driving in - and I assume you just mean you're driving in not planning on driving your car around the City - you're going to need to add like $50/day for parking, assuming you get a hotel with an arrangement at a local garage.

As above, what do you consider budget?

 

[mgroshans]

We will be driving from Indiana. We will park our car at the hotel and plan on using public transportation or walking. We want to hit all the popular attractions.

 

[cornflake]

We will be driving from Indiana. We will park our car at the hotel and plan on using public transportation or walking. We want to hit all the popular attractions.

Ok, what does budget mean to you in terms of hotel - and again, plan on an extra $50 a day for the parking, and check any hotel to be sure it has a garage it's affiliated with.

 

[cluvsdisney]

For hotels, I would check club quarters. It's a hotel chain geared towards business travellers so they are located in fairly central locations but are sometimes more reasonable then other hotels.

You might also want to consider staying in Jersey City. There are several hotels located close to the PATH train which will get you to the west side of Manhattan from midtown - downtown. For instance there's a stop at 32rd & Broadway which is right around the corned from the Empire State Building, Penn Station, Macys and just a short walk to Times Square. There's also a stop at the World Trade Center.

 

[mgroshans]

Under $250 would be great, but don't know if that is possible. Ok on the parking cost. We just came from DC and stayed att he Westin in National Harbor- which was $180 per night. I looked on Expedia, but don't know which area to pick.

 

[cornflake]

Honestly, it kind of doesn't matter that much. There are some sketchier hotels in some grubbier areas but they'll be oddly priced and clearly not mainstream hotel type deals. Manhattan is 10 miles long and about 3 miles wide; hence it doesn't matter so much, you're pretty close to anyplace and if you stay in a neighbourhood well, bonus you get to see the neighbourhood.

I'd personally stay out of Times Square and not do the Financial District. Too much crap at the first, nothing at the second. Oh and do not stay at the Hotel Pennsylvania on 7th. They may have deals, you do not want them. Aside from that... There are a lot of hotels here.

I don't know what they're charging for Labour Day wknd at all but in general hotels that are nice or decent and you may find a deal (and there are plenty I'm not mentioning/thinking of, etc) - The Library Hotel is lovely, the Sheraton on Seventh is a big honking Sheraton that sometimes has deals, the On The Ave on the Upper West Side is very nice, there are a bunch of boutiquey places on the lower end of midtown...a new thing with funky lights I can't recall the name of but maybe someone else can, in the 30s, and that place with the pool...not the Gansevoort. The Gansevoort is plenty nice, I'd just wager they'll be out of your price range but can't hurt to look.

Oh, there's also the New Yorker, on 8th and 33rd, that's decent and may be reasonably priced.

If there's something you've found that has a decent-looking deal, post the name/location. Chances are someone either knows of it or will know based on the location.

 

[czycropper]

The Sheraton on 7th Avenue has special parking rates for guests. We live about an hour away from NYC and have stayed there as well as the Radio City Apts when my DD has dance workshops. Also, if you have Marriott awards you may check on any deals you may be able to find. We have also stayed at the Fairfield on 40th which has pretty good rates.

I personally wouldn't stay in Jersey City but that's just my opinion. I really dislike taking the Path from there and some of the hotels are as much as in the City.

Have fun! We love going into the City even during the summer!

 

[Tinetine]

I second club quarters ! I stayed at the one near Rockerfeller Center 2 years ago and I loved it. The room was tiny, though, but it was close to Dean&Deluca, where you can get great sandwiches and snacks (I dislike eating in a restaurant in NYC because of the prices, and because I don't want to waste time). I remember I had gotten a great price on Priceline, less than 200$.
I was surprised staying in midtown over the weekend that a lot of restaurants closed really early, or were simply not open...I guess they cater to workers, so they are open during office hours ? Anyway, that might be something to consider if you stay in midtown.

 

[minnierocks]

We stayed in Secaucus, NJ...and I would do it again. It was 119 per night for a suite with full breakfast and the bus to Port Authority Bus Terminal was right across the street. Also, parking was free in a covered parking deck. The buses ran about every 15 minutes or so and it took us no time at all to get into the city.

 

[wishesuponastar]

minnierocks...pls share the name of the Secaucus Hotel.

 

[cornflake]

I know people do it, people stay in Weehawken, Jersey City, Secaucus... but I'd say don't unless you have no other option at ALL.

I mean yeah, there's a bus to and from Secaucus but it doesn't run every 15 minutes around the clock and it runs through the Lincoln Tunnel, which means that if there's no traffic, the trip is like 15 minutes. If there is traffic, which is not in any way rare or restricted to certain times, you can sit for an hour waiting to get into the tunnel on either end.

Pretty much at least once daily the tunnel traffic gets that bad. Yes, there's a bus lane in rush hour and yes, you can try to avoid rush hours but there are also games, accidents, etc.

In addition, you'll be... in Secaucus, which is a little slice of strip mall hell. There's nothing there, and the place is a dump besides. It's a highway with strips of decrepit, sad retail on either side, mostly geared toward the office buildings and the little outlet mall. There's nothing, it's gas stations and Olive Garden and nothingness and you need a car to get anyplace beyond the little strip you're in. At night, it's dead.

I just looked - the buses stop running around midnight. Then what do you do? A cab from the City into Secaucus would make up the cost of the room if you'd stayed in the City, heh.

 

[slmjam]

We were just in New York the second week of June and stayed at the Fairfield Inn Marriott at 8th and 40th. The rooms were on the small side, but I would expect that of most NYC hotels. We found a special rate of about $250 a night and that included free breakfast and free internet. It was only a 5 minute walk to Times Square. There's also a Staybridge Suites right next door to the Fairfield that looked nice. Both of these hotels are directly behind the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

 

[scorpad99]

We are thinking about going to NYC for a few days over Labor Day. What is a good, budget friendly location to get a hotel? Is there one that is "ideally" located? We will be driving.
TIA!

th skyline hotel is located right at the tip of hells kitchen , its nice with a skyline view of the whole city, 3 blocks from center of town, and 2 queen sized beds in each room, I paid 250 a night for 4 of us and they have a free parking lot for the duration of your stay, everything is just a 6-8 dollar cab ride away............ hotel is clean, they have an indoor pool. google it and have the best time in nyc!

 

[Carlyzmom]

You might try looking into Hampton Inn. We stay in those any time we can!! Always nice, clean and FREE breakfast!!

 

[mgroshans]

Thanks everyone for the replies We will have to look at all the suggestions. It just seems very overwhelming to try and find a decent one in a good location. We realize parking will be expensive- we are ok with that- not a lot you can do about that. Ultimately, we would like to be in a location that is within walking distance to most of the major attractions- bear with me on that, have to look on a map and see where they are all located-lol!

 

[bamor]

Thanks everyone for the replies We will have to look at all the suggestions. It just seems very overwhelming to try and find a decent one in a good location. We realize parking will be expensive- we are ok with that- not a lot you can do about that. Ultimately, we would like to be in a location that is within walking distance to most of the major attractions- bear with me on that, have to look on a map and see where they are all located-lol!

OP, The Skyline is a good suggestion. Have a look at the Travel Inn (roof top pool and the only hotel in Manhattan to offer free parking). Not the greatest place we've ever stayed but certainly not the worst. Be sure to check travelzoo for any NYC lodging specials.
Also, before booking any hotel in NYC I would be sure to check the trip advisor reviews. The trip advisor travel forum can be a great source of info as well. Some budget suggestions: ride the Staten Island Ferry (free and a great way to view the Statue of Liberty from the Water), walk the Brooklyn Bridge, tour the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens on a Saturday morning when admission is free, Am Mus of Natural History and Met Mus of Art are suggested donation, check out broadwaybox.com for theater discounts, menupages.com for menus by area of the city, hopstop.com for walking and subway directions.

 

[cornflake]

Thanks everyone for the replies We will have to look at all the suggestions. It just seems very overwhelming to try and find a decent one in a good location. We realize parking will be expensive- we are ok with that- not a lot you can do about that. Ultimately, we would like to be in a location that is within walking distance to most of the major attractions- bear with me on that, have to look on a map and see where they are all located-lol!

It's really more about what you think of as major attractions, which differs for everyone. Some people want to go to the Statue of Liberty (hint: not within walking distance of anything ), some people consider Saks, Lord & Taylors and Tiffany's major attractions.

 

[alice99]

I'd try to stay as close to Times Square/Midtown area as possible. Anything in the 40's or 30's should be fine. There's really no reason to go above the 70's, unless you walk all the way up town inside Central Park.

If you get a hotel in the 40's ideally...
You can walk up (north) to 57 St. where Columbus Circle, Central Park are (that's the most s/w edge of the park) . Museums are located around outskirts of Central Park, Met Museum of Art and Museum of Natural History.
You can walk down (south) to the 30's, 34th Street has Macy's and great shopping.
You can take a short train ride (south) to Greenwich Village, Union Square (blocks are teens) and the Financial District if you'd like (that's all the way south).

I'd definitely not stay outside the city. You'd be wasting time commuting, besides I think you'd lose some of the experience.

My husband was trying to convince me to go to the city today and tomorrow and he found a hotel on Hotwire , 4 stars for 120$. I don't know how you feel about the element of surprise.... but just wanted to let you know.

Have a great time.

PS - Reading this thread has just made me want to travel into NYC this weekend